[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 20 (Wednesday, February 3, 2016)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D96-D97]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
U.S. DEFENSE POLICY IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
an independent perspective of United States defense policy in the Asia-
Pacific region, after receiving testimony from Michael J. Green, Center 
for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C.; and 
Lieutenant General Thomas L. Conant, USMC (Ret.), former Deputy 
Commander, Pacific Command, Wilmington, North Carolina.
UNDERSTANDING ISIL
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and 
Capabilities concluded a closed hearing to examine counterterrorism 
strategy, focusing on understanding ISIL, after receiving testimony 
from officials of the intelligence community.
SPENDING ON UNAUTHORIZED PROGRAMS
Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
spending on unauthorized programs, after receiving testimony from Keith 
Hall, Director, Congressional Budget Office; Jessica Tollestrup, 
Specialist on Congress and the Legislative Process, Congressional 
Research Service, Library of Congress; Paul L. Posner, George Mason 
University School of Policy, Government and International Affairs, 
Arlington, Virginia; and James A. Thurber, American University School 
of Public Affairs Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, 
Washington, D.C.
STREAM PROTECTION RULE
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded a 
hearing to examine the Stream Protection Rule, focusing on impacts on 
the environment and implications for Endangered Species Act and Clean 
Water Act implementation, after receiving testimony from Joseph G. 
Pizarchik, Director, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and 
Enforcement, Department of the Interior; Lanny E. Erdos, Ohio 
Department of Natural Resourses Chief of the Division of Mineral 
Resources Management, Columbus; Clay Larkin, Kentucky Coal Association, 
Lexington; and Matt Wasson, Appalachian Voices, Boone, North Carolina.
STRAINS ON THE EUROPEAN UNION
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to 
examine strains on the European Union, focusing on implications for 
American foreign policy, after receiving testimony from Damon M. 
Wilson, Atlantic Council, and Julianne Smith, Center for a New American 
Security Strategy and Statecraft Program, both of Washington, D.C.
CANADA'S FAST-TRACK REFUGEE PLAN
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee 
concluded a hearing to examine Canada's fast-track refugee plan, 
focusing on implications for United States national security, after 
receiving testimony from Dean Mandel, Border Patrol Agent, Buffalo 
Sector, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, 
on behalf of the National Border Patrol Council; Guidy Mamann,

[[Page D97]]

Mamann, Sandaluk and Kingwell, LLP, Toronto, Canada; David B. Harris, 
INSIGNIS Strategic Research Inc., Ottawa, Canada; and Laura Dawson, 
Wilson Center Canada Institute, Washington, D.C.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the 
following business items:
  S. 1125, to authorize and implement the water rights compact among 
the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, the State of 
Montana, and the United States, with an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute; and
  S. 1983, to authorize the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians 
Water Rights Settlement.
INDIAN HEALTH CARE
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded an oversight hearing 
to examine the substandard quality of Indian health care in the Great 
Plains, after receiving testimony from former Senator Byron L. Dorgan, 
The Aspen Institute Center for Native American Youth; Mary Wakefield, 
Acting Deputy Secretary, Andy Slavitt, Acting Administrator, and Thomas 
Hamilton, Director, Survey and Certification Group, Center for Clinical 
Standards and Quality, both of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services, and Robert McSwain, Principal Deputy Director, Indian Health 
Service, all of the Department of Health and Human Services; Victoria 
Kitcheyan, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, Winnebago; Sonia Little Hawk-
Weston, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Pine Ridge, South Dakota; William Bear 
Shield, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Gregory, South Dakota; and L. Jace 
Killsback, Northern Cheyenne Tribal Board of Health, Lame Deer, 
Montana.
TRANSPARENCY IN THE ASBESTOS TRUSTS
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
the need for transparency in the asbestos trusts, including S. 357, to 
amend title 11 of the United States Code to require the public 
disclosure by trusts established under section 524(g) of such title, of 
quarterly reports that contain detailed information regarding the 
receipt and disposition of claims for injuries based on exposure to 
asbestos, after receiving testimony from Peggy L. Ableman, McCarter and 
English LLP, Wilmington, Deleware; former Washington State Attorney 
General Robert M. McKenna, Orrick, Herrington and Sutcliffe LLP, 
Seattle; Mark Behrens, Shook, Hardy and Bacon L.L.P., Washington, D.C.; 
Elihu Inselbuch, Caplin and Drysdale, Chartered, New York, New York; 
and Susan Vento, St. Paul, Minnesota.