[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 159 (Wednesday, October 28, 2015)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1145-D1146]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing 
and Urban Development, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to 
examine unmanned aircraft systems and the steps being taken to 
successfully integrate this technology into our National Airspace 
System, after receiving testimony from Michael Huerta, Administrator, 
Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation; Marty 
Rogers, Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence, 
Fairbanks, Alaska, on behalf of the University of Alaska Fairbanks' 
Unmanned Aircraft Systems program; and Tim Canoll, Air Line Pilots 
Association, International, Washington, D.C.
DOE NATIONAL LABORATORIES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development concluded a hearing to examine realizing the potential of 
the Department of Energy national laboratories, after receiving 
testimony from TJ Glauthier, and Jared Cohon, both a Co-Chair, 
Commission to Review the Effectiveness of The National Energy 
Laboratories, Department of Energy.
RURAL BANKING
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on 
Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection concluded a hearing to 
examine the state of rural banking, focusing on challenges and 
consequences, including S. 1491, to provide sensible relief to 
community financial institutions, to protect consumers, after receiving 
testimony from Terry Foster, Mifflin County Savings Bank, Lewistown, on 
behalf of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers; Roger 
Porch, First National Bank, Philip, South Dakota; Carrie Wood, 
Timberland Federal Credit Union, DuBois, Pennsylvania; and Sarah 
Edelman, Center for American Progress, Washington, D.C.
NOMINATION
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded 
a hearing to examine the nomination of Jessica Rosenworcel, of the 
District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Federal Communications 
Commission, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senator Thune, 
testified and answered questions in her own behalf.
U.S. ROLE AND STRATEGY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to 
examine the United States role and strategy in the Middle East, after 
receiving testimony from Anne W. Patterson, Assistant Secretary for 
Near Eastern Affairs, and General John R. Allen, USMC (Ret.), Special 
Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, both of 
the Department of State.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to 
examine the nominations of Peter William Bodde, of Maryland, to be 
Ambassador to Libya, Marc Jonathan Sievers, of Maryland, to be 
Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, Elisabeth I. Millard, of Virginia, 
to be Ambassador to the Republic of Tajikistan, and Kenneth Damian 
Ward, of Virginia, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of 
service as United States Representative to the Organization for the 
Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, all of the Department of State, and 
John Morton, of Massachusetts, to be Executive Vice President of the 
Overseas Private Investment Corporation, after the nominees testified 
and answered questions in their own behalf.

[[Page D1146]]


BIODEFENSE
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee 
concluded a hearing to examine the state of our nation's biodefense, 
after receiving testimony from former Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, New 
York, New York, and Thomas J. Ridge, former Secretary of Homeland 
Security, Washington, D.C., both a Co-Chair, Blue Ribbon Study Panel on 
Biodefense.
RETIREMENT PLAN OPTIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Subcommittee on 
Primary Health and Retirement Security concluded a hearing to examine 
retirement plan options for small businesses, after receiving testimony 
from Scott Anderson, Static Peak, LLC, Jackson, Wyoming, on behalf of 
the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Lance Schoening, The Principal Financial 
Group, Des Moines, Iowa, on behalf of the American Benefits Council; 
John J. Kalamarides, Prudential Retirement, Hartford, Connecticut; and 
David Certner, AARP, Washington, D.C.
VA MENTAL HEALTH
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to 
examine Department of Veterans Affairs mental health, focusing on 
ensuring access to care and action needed to improve access policies 
and wait-time data, after receiving testimony from Debra A. Draper, 
Director, Health Care, Government Accountability Office; Harold Kudler, 
Chief Consultant for Mental Health Services, Veterans Health 
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Roscoe G. Butler, The 
American Legion, and Jacqueline Maffucci, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans 
of America, both of Washington, D.C.; Nicholas Karnaze, Stubble and 
'Stache, Arlington, Virginia; and Dean S. Maiers, Seymour, Connecticut.