[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 19 (Tuesday, February 2, 2016)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D89-D92]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Agriculture: Full Committee held a business meeting to 
consider the Budget Views and Estimates Letter of the Committee on 
Agriculture for the agencies and programs under the jurisdiction of the 
Committee for fiscal year 2017. The committee's Budget Views and 
Estimates Letter was approved.
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN DIRECT MARKETING--A VIEW FROM THE FIELD
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture 
and Research held a hearing entitled ``Opportunities and Challenges in 
Direct Marketing--A View from the Field''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
AFGHANISTAN IN 2016: THE EVOLVING SECURITY SITUATION AND U.S. POLICY, 
STRATEGY, AND POSTURE
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Afghanistan in 2016: The Evolving Security Situation and U.S. Policy, 
Strategy, and Posture''. Testimony was heard from General John

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Campbell, Commander, Operation Resolute Support, U.S. Forces-
Afghanistan.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Full Committee held a markup 
on H.R. 4293, the ``Affordable Retirement Advice Protection Act''; and 
H.R. 4294, the ``Strengthening Access to Valuable Education and 
Retirement Support Act of 2015''. H.R. 4293 and H.R. 4294 were ordered 
reported, as amended.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held 
a hearing entitled ``Legislative Hearing on Eight Energy Infrastructure 
Bills''. Testimony was heard from Ann F. Miles, Director, Office of 
Energy Projects, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Max Minzner, 
General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission; Bill Bottiggi, General Manager, Braintree Light 
and Electric Department; and public witnesses.
STATUS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY BROADBAND NETWORK
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Communications and 
Technology held a hearing entitled ``Status of the Public Safety 
Broadband Network''. Testimony was heard from David Furth, Deputy Chief 
Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications 
Commission; and TJ Kennedy, President, First Responder Network 
Authority.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee began a business 
meeting on the Committee's views and estimates on the budget.
UNSUSTAINABLE FEDERAL SPENDING AND THE DEBT LIMIT
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Unsustainable Federal Spending 
and the Debt Limit''. Testimony was heard from Representatives 
McClintock and Pocan and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Homeland Security: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
4408, the ``National Strategy to Combat Terrorist Travel Act of 2016''; 
H.R. 4407, the ``Counterterrorism Advisory Board Act of 2016''; H.R. 
4403, the ``Enhancing Overseas Traveler Vetting Act''; H.R. 4402, the 
``Foreign Fighter Review Act of 2016''; H.R. 4401, the ``Amplifying 
Local Efforts to Root out Terror Act of 2016''; H.R. 4404, the 
``Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel Exercise Act of 2016''; H.R. 
4383, the ``DHS Human Trafficking Prevention Act of 2016''; and H.R. 
4398, the ``DHS Acquisition Documentation Integrity Act of 2016''. The 
following bills were ordered reported, as amended: H.R. 4403, H.R. 
4383, H.R. 4402, and H.R. 4404. The following bills were ordered 
reported, without amendment: H.R. 4408, H.R. 4407, H.R. 4401, and H.R. 
4398.
FISA AMENDMENTS ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``FISA Amendments Act''. This hearing was closed.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual 
Property, and the Internet held a hearing on H.R. 1057, the ``Promoting 
Automotive Repair, Trade, and Sales Act of 2015''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans 
held a hearing on H.R. 3070, the ``EEZ Clarification Act''; and H.R. 
4245, to exempt importation and exportation of sea urchins and sea 
cucumbers from licensing requirements under the Endangered Species Act 
of 1973. Testimony was heard from Representatives Zeldin; Pingree of 
Maine; and Poliquin; and Joe Leask, Diver and Chairman, Sea Urchin Zone 
Council, Maine Department of Marine Resources; William Woody, Chief, 
Office of Law Enforcement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Daniel 
Morris, Deputy Regional Administrator, Greater Atlantic Region, 
National Marine Fisheries Service; and public witnesses.
THE NEED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PUERTO RICO FINANCIAL STABILITY AND 
ECONOMIC GROWTH AUTHORITY
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and 
Alaska Native Affairs held a hearing entitled ``The Need for the 
Establishment of a Puerto Rico Financial Stability and Economic Growth 
Authority''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee began a markup on H.R. 
482, the ``Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park Boundary Revision 
Act of 2015''; H.R. 812, the ``Indian Trust Asset Management 
Demonstration Project Act of 2015''; H.R. 890, to correct the 
boundaries of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System Unit 
P16; H.R. 894, to extend the authorization of the Highlands

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Conservation Act; H.R. 1296, to amend the San Luis Rey Indian Water 
Rights Settlement Act to clarify certain settlement terms, and for 
other purposes; H.R. 1475, the ``Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of 
Remembrance Act of 2015''; H.R. 1815, the ``Eastern Nevada Land 
Implementation Improvement Act''; H.R. 2273, to amend the Colorado 
River Storage Project Act to authorize the use of the active capacity 
of the Fontenelle Reservoir; H.R. 2538, the ``Lytton Rancheria 
Homelands Act of 2015''; H.R. 2857, to facilitate the addition of park 
administration at the Coltsville National Historical Park, and for 
other purposes; H.R. 2880, the ``Martin Luther King, Jr. National 
Historical Park Act of 2015''; H.R. 3004, to amend the Gullah/Geechee 
Cultural Heritage Act to extend the authorization for the Gullah/
Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission; H.R. 3036, the 
``National 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center Act''; H.R. 3079, to 
take certain Federal land located in Tuolumne County, California, into 
trust for the benefit of the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians, and for 
other purposes; H.R. 3371, the ``Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield 
Park Boundary Adjustment Act of 2015''; H.R. 3342, to provide for 
stability of title to certain lands in the State of Louisiana, and for 
other purposes; H.R. 3620, to amend the Delaware Water Gap National 
Recreation Area Improvement Act to provide access to certain vehicles 
serving residents of municipalities adjacent to the Delaware Water Gap 
National Recreation Area, and for other purposes; and H.R. 4119, to 
authorize the exchange of certain land located in Gulf Islands National 
Seashore, Jackson County, Mississippi, between the National Park 
Service and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and for other purposes.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: INVESTIGATION OF THE CIO
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``U.S. Department of Education: Investigation of the 
CIO''. Testimony was heard from the following Department of Education 
officials: Danny A. Harris, Chief Information Officer; Sandra Bruce, 
Deputy Inspector General; Susan Winchell, Assistant General Counsel for 
Ethics; and John B. King Jr., Acting Secretary.
SEEKING JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF PALESTINIAN TERRORISM IN ISRAEL
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National 
Security held a hearing entitled ``Seeking Justice for Victims of 
Palestinian Terrorism in Israel''. Testimony was heard from Brad 
Wiegmann, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, National Security 
Division, Department of Justice; and public witnesses.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION CUSTOMER PROTECTION ACT OF 2015; ENCOURAGING 
EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP ACT OF 2015
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 766, the 
``Financial Institution Customer Protection Act of 2015''; and H.R. 
1675, ``Encouraging Employee Ownership Act of 2015''. The committee 
granted, by record vote of 9-4, a structured rule for H.R. 1675. The 
rule provides one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled 
by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Financial 
Services. 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 114-43 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 A of the Rules Committee 
report. Each such 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 A of the report. The rule 
provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. The rule 
also grants a structured rule for H.R. 766. The rule provides one hour 
of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and 
ranking minority member of the Committee on Financial Services. 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 114-41 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 Rules Committee report. Each such 
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

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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. Testimony was heard from Chairman Hensarling and 
Representatives Ellison and Perlmutter.
PARIS CLIMATE PROMISE: A BAD DEAL FOR AMERICA
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Paris Climate Promise: A Bad Deal for America''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
SBA MANAGEMENT REVIEW: OVERSIGHT OF SBA'S ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT 
OFFICES
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and 
Capital Access held a hearing entitled ``SBA Management Review: 
Oversight of SBA's Entrepreneurial Development Offices''. Testimony was 
heard from Tameka Montgomery, Associate Administrator, Office of 
Entrepreneurial Development, Small Business Administration; and Barb 
Carson, Associate Administrator, Office of Veterans Business 
Development, Small Business Administration.
CHOICE CONSOLIDATION: EVALUATING ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR CARE IN 
THE COMMUNITY
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Choice Consolidation: Evaluating Eligibility Requirements 
for Care in the Community''. Testimony was heard from Baligh Yehia, 
M.D., Assistant Deputy Undersecretary for Health for Community Care, 
Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; and 
public witnesses.
REACHING AMERICA'S POTENTIAL: DELIVERING GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL 
AMERICANS
Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Reaching America's Potential: Delivering Growth and Opportunity for 
All Americans''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.