[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 183 (Wednesday, December 16, 2015)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1328-D1329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
EXAMINING THE CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU'S MASS DATA 
COLLECTION PROGRAM
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Examining the Consumer 
Financial Protection Bureau's Mass Data Collection Program''. Testimony 
was heard from former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt 
Gingrich; and public witnesses.
THE FUTURE OF U.S.-PAKISTAN RELATIONS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Future of U.S.-Pakistan Relations''. Testimony was heard from 
Richard Olson, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, 
Department of State.
EGYPT TWO YEARS AFTER MORSI, PART II
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East and North 
Africa held a hearing entitled ``Egypt Two Years After Morsi (Part 
II)''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD, OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS, AND OFFICE 
OF SPECIAL COUNCIL REAUTHORIZATION
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Government Operations held a hearing entitled ``Merit Systems 
Protection Board (MSPB), Office of Government Ethics (OGE), and Office 
of Special Council (OSC) Reauthorization''. Testimony was heard from 
Walter M. Shaub, Jr., Director, Office of Government Ethics; Carolyn N. 
Lerner, Special Counsel, Office of Special Counsel; and Susan Tsui 
Grundmann, Chair, Merit Systems Protection Board.
SENATE AMENDMENT TO THE MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS AND 
RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2016
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on Senate amendment 
to H.R. 2029, the ``Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016''. The committee granted, by 
record vote of 9-2, a rule that provides for consideration of the 
Senate amendment to H.R. 2029. The rule makes in order a motion offered 
by the chair of the Committee on Appropriations or his designee that 
the House concur in the Senate amendment with two House amendments: 
Amendment #1 (consolidated appropriations) consisting of the text of 
Rules Committee Print 114-39 modified

[[Page D1329]]

by the amendment printed in the Rules Committee report; Amendment #2 
(tax extenders) consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 114-40. 
The rule provides one hour of debate on House amendment #1 equally 
divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the 
Committee on Appropriations. The rule provides one hour debate on House 
amendment #2 equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means. The rule waives all 
points of order against consideration of the motion and provides that 
the Senate amendment and the motion shall be considered as read. The 
rule provides that the question shall be divided between the two House 
amendments. No further division of the question is in order. The rule 
provides that either portion of the divided question may be subject to 
postponement as though under clause 8 of rule XX and shall be 
considered in the order specified by the chair. The rule provides that 
clause 5(b) of rule XXI shall not apply to the motion. In section 4, 
the rule provides that if only House amendment #2 is adopted, that 
amendment shall be engrossed as an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute to the Senate amendment to H.R. 2029. In section 5, the rule 
provides that the chair of the Committee on Appropriations may insert 
in the Congressional Record at any time during the remainder of the 
first session of the 114th Congress such material as he may deem 
explanatory of the Senate amendment and the motion. In section 6, the 
rule provides that on any legislative day of the first session of the 
114th Congress after December 18, 2015: the Journal of the proceedings 
of the previous day shall be considered as approved; and the Chair may 
at any time declare the House adjourned to meet at a date and time to 
be announced by the Chair in declaring the adjournment. In section 7, 
the rule provides that on any legislative day of the second session of 
the 114th Congress before January 5, 2016: the Speaker may dispense 
with organizational and legislative business; the Journal of the 
proceedings of the previous day shall be considered as approved if 
applicable; and the Chair may at any time declare the House adjourned 
to meet at a date and time to be announced by the Chair in declaring 
the adjournment. In section 8, the rule provides that the Speaker may 
appoint Members to perform the duties of the Chair for the duration of 
the period addressed by sections 6 and 7. In section 9, the rule 
provides that each day during the period addressed by sections 6 and 7 
of the resolution shall not constitute calendar days for the purposes 
of section 7 of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1546). In section 
10, the rule provides that each day during the period addressed by 
sections 6 and 7 of the resolution shall not constitute a legislative 
day for the purposes of clause 7 of rule XIII (resolutions of inquiry). 
In section 11, the rule provides that it shall be in order at any time 
through the legislative day of December 18, 2015, for the Speaker to 
entertain motions that the House suspend the rules and that the Speaker 
or his designee shall consult with the Minority Leader or her designee 
on the designation of any matter for consideration pursuant to this 
section. Finally, in section 12, the rule waives clause 6(a) of rule 
XIII (requiring a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on the same day it 
is reported from the Rules Committee) against any resolution reported 
from the Rules Committee through the legislative day of December 18, 
2015. Testimony was heard from Chairman Rogers of Kentucky, Chairman 
Brady of Texas, and Representatives Lowey, Levin, Amash, Carney, 
Griffith of Virginia, Tonko, Lummis, and Mulvaney.

Joint Meetings
KHADIJA ISMAYILOVA
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded 
a hearing to examine Azerbaijan's persecution of Radio Free Europe/
Radio Liberty reporter Khadija Ismayilova, after receiving testimony 
from Shelly Han, Policy Advisor, Commission on Security and Cooperation 
in Europe; and Nenad Pejic, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Delphine 
Halgand, Reporters Without Borders, and T. Kumar, Amnesty International 
USA, all of Washington, D.C.