[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 25 (Thursday, February 11, 2016)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D136-D139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
IMPACTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S ACTIONS ON THE RURAL 
ECONOMY
Committee on Agriculture: Full Committee held a hearing to consider the 
impacts of the Environmental Protection Agency's actions on the rural 
economy. Testimony was heard from Gina McCarthy, Administrator, 
Environmental Protection Agency.
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE: ARE WE PREPARED?
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign 
Agriculture held a hearing entitled ``Foot and Mouth Disease: Are We 
Prepared?''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
APPROPRIATIONS--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a budget hearing on the Internal Revenue 
Service. Testimony was heard from John A. Koskinen, Commissioner, 
Internal Revenue Service.
U.S. ENGAGEMENT IN CENTRAL AMERICA
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, 
and Related Programs held an oversight hearing entitled ``U.S. 
Engagement in Central America''. Testimony was heard from William 
Brownfield, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of International 
Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs; Elizabeth Hogan, Acting 
Assistant Administrator, Latin America and Caribbean Bureau, U.S. 
Agency for International Development; and Francisco Palmieri, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary of State, Central American and Caribbean, Bureau of 
Western Hemisphere.
APPROPRIATIONS--OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
budget hearing on Office of the Secretary, Department of Agriculture. 
Testimony was heard from the following Department of Agriculture 
officials: Thomas Vilsack, Secretary; Robert Johansson, Chief 
Economist; and Michael Young, Budget Officer.
APPROPRIATIONS--BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development held a budget hearing on Bureau of Reclamation. Testimony 
was heard from Estevan R. Lopez, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation.
FISCAL YEAR 2017 BUDGET REQUEST FOR ATOMIC ENERGY DEFENSE ACTIVITIES
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a 
hearing entitled ``Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Request for Atomic Energy 
Defense

[[Page D137]]

Activities''. Testimony was heard from Frank Klotz, Administrator, 
National Nuclear Security Administration; Monica Regalbuto, Assistant 
Secretary for Environmental Management, Department of Energy; and Joyce 
Connery, Chairwoman, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
CARRIER AIR WING AND THE FUTURE OF NAVAL AVIATION
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection 
Forces held a hearing entitled ``Carrier Air Wing and the Future of 
Naval Aviation''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Communications and 
Technology concluded a markup on H.R. 2666, the ``No Rate Regulation of 
Broadband Internet Access Act''; H.R. 1301, the ``Amateur Radio Parity 
Act of 2015''; and the ``Small Business Broadband Deployment Act''. 
H.R. 2666, H.R. 1301, and the ``Small Business Broadband Deployment 
Act'' were forwarded to the full committee, without amendment.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power 
concluded a markup on H.R. 3021, the ``AIR Survey Act of 2015''; H.R. 
3797, the ``Satisfying Energy Needs and Saving the Environment (SENSE) 
Act''; the ``Blocking Regulatory Interference from Closing Kilns 
(BRICK) Act''; H.R. 4444, the ``EPS Improvement Act''; H.R. 2984, the 
``Fair RATES Act''; H.R. 4427, to amend section 203 of the Federal 
Power Act; H.R. 4238, to amend the Department of Energy Organization 
Act and the Local Public Works Capital Development and Investment Act 
of 1976 to modernize terms relating to minorities; H.R. 2080, to 
reinstate and extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a 
hydroelectric project involving Clark Canyon Dam; H.R. 2081, to extend 
the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric 
project involving the Gibson Dam; H.R. 3447, to extend the deadline for 
commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project involving the 
W. Kerr Scott Dam; H.R. 4416, to extend the deadline for commencement 
of construction of a hydroelectric project involving the Jennings 
Randolph Dam; and H.R. 4434, to extend the deadline for commencement of 
construction of a hydroelectric project involving the Cannonsville Dam. 
H.R. 3021, H.R. 3797, the ``Blocking Regulatory Interference from 
Closing Kilns (BRICK) Act'', H.R. 4444, H.R. 2984, H.R. 4427, H.R. 
4238, H.R. 2080, H.R. 2081, H.R. 3447, H.R. 4416, and H.R. 4434 were 
forwarded to the full committee, without amendment.
THE FUTURE OF HOUSING IN AMERICA: EXAMINING THE HEALTH OF THE FEDERAL 
HOUSING ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance 
held a hearing entitled ``The Future of Housing in America: Examining 
the Health of the Federal Housing Administration''. Testimony was heard 
from Edward L. Golding, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of 
Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development.
SHORT-TERM, SMALL DOLLAR LENDING: THE CFPB'S ASSAULT ON ACCESS TO 
CREDIT AND TRAMPLING OF STATE AND TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial Institutions 
and Consumer Credit held a hearing entitled ``Short-term, Small Dollar 
Lending: The CFPB's Assault on Access to Credit and Trampling of State 
and Tribal Sovereignty''. Testimony was heard from Greg Zoeller, 
Attorney General, State of Indiana; David Silberman, Acting Deputy 
Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection; and public 
witnesses.
IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL OVERSIGHT: IMPLEMENTATION AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Iran Nuclear Deal Oversight: Implementation and Its Consequences''. 
Testimony was heard from Stephen D. Mull, Lead Coordinator for Iran 
Nuclear Implementation, Department of State; and John Smith, Acting 
Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department of the Treasury.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE; JORDAN: A KEY U.S. PARTNER
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East and North 
Africa held a markup on H. Res. 148, calling on the government of Iran 
to fulfill their promises of assistance in this case of Robert 
Levinson, the longest held United States civilian in our Nation's 
history; hearing entitled ``Jordan: A Key U.S. Partner''. H. Res. 148 
was forwarded to the full committee, as amended. Testimony was heard 
from Gerald M. Feierstein, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau 
of Near Eastern Affairs, Department of State; Paige Alexander, 
Assistant Administrator, Bureau for the Middle East, U.S. Agency for 
International Development; and Fatema Z. Sumar, Regional Deputy Vice 
President, Europe, Asia, the Pacific and Latin America, Department of

[[Page D138]]

Compact Operations, Millennium Challenge Corporation.
THE FUTURE OF U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific held 
a hearing entitled ``The Future of U.S.-Taiwan Relations''. Testimony 
was heard from Susan A. Thornton, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of 
East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State; and public 
witnesses.
THE FUTURE OF IRANIAN TERROR AND ITS THREAT TO THE US HOMELAND
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and 
Intelligence held a hearing entitled ``The Future of Iranian Terror and 
Its Threat to the US Homeland''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
IMPROVING THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY'S BIOLOGICAL DETECTION 
AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMS
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, 
Response, and Communications held a hearing entitled ``Improving the 
Department of Homeland Security's Biological Detection and Surveillance 
Programs''. Testimony was heard from Kathryn Brinsfield, Assistant 
Secretary, Office of Health Affairs, Department of Homeland Security; 
Reginald Brothers, Under Secretary for Science and Technology, 
Department of Homeland Security; and Chris P. Currie, Director, 
Emergency Management, National Preparedness and Critical Infrastructure 
Protection, Homeland Security and Justice Team, Government 
Accountability Office.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 759, 
the ``Recidivism Risk Reduction Act''; and H.R. 2947, the ``Financial 
Institution Bankruptcy Act of 2015''. H.R. 759 and H.R. 2947 were 
ordered reported, as amended.
IS THE INVESTOR VISA PROGRAM AN UNDERPERFORMING ASSET?
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``Is 
the Investor Visa Program an Underperforming Asset?''. Testimony was 
heard from Nicholas Colucci, Chief, Immigration Investor Program, U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Services; Rebecca Gambler, Director, 
Homeland Security and Justice Issues, Government Accountability Office; 
and public witnesses.
RESOLVING ISSUES WITH CONFISCATED PROPERTY IN CUBA, HAVANA CLUB RUM AND 
OTHER PROPERTY
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual 
Property, and the Internet held a hearing entitled ``Resolving Issues 
with Confiscated Property in Cuba, Havana Club Rum and Other 
Property''. Testimony was heard from Kurt Tong, Principal Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, 
Department of State; Mary Denison, Commissioner for Trademarks, Patent 
and Trademark Office; and public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a 
hearing on H.R. 87, the ``Shiloh National Military Park Boundary 
Adjustment and Parker's Crossroads Battlefield Designation Act''; H.R. 
295, to reauthorize the Historically Black Colleges and Universities 
Historic Preservation program; H.R. 1621, to modify the boundary of 
Petersburg National Battlefield in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and 
for other purposes; and H.R. 2817, the ``National Historic Preservation 
Amendments Act of 2015''. Testimony was heard from Representatives 
Blackburn; Clyburn; and Turner; Stephanie Toothman, Associate Director, 
Cultural Resources, Partnerships and Science, National Park Service; 
and public witnesses.
IRS: REVIEWING ITS LEGAL OBLIGATIONS, DOCUMENT PRESERVATION, AND DATA 
SECURITY
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``IRS: Reviewing Its Legal Obligations, Document 
Preservation, and Data Security''. Testimony was heard from the 
following Internal Revenue Service officials: Terry Milholland, Chief 
Technology Officer; Jeff Tribiano, Deputy Commissioner, Operations; and 
Ed Killen, Director of Privacy, Governmental Liaison, and Disclosure.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a 
markup on H.R. 4489, the ``FAA Leadership In Groundbreaking High-Tech 
Research and Development Act''. H.R. 4489 was ordered reported, as 
amended.
EXPORT CONTROL REFORM: CHALLENGES FOR SMALL BUSINESS? PART II
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Export Control Reform: Challenges for Small Business? (Part II)''. 
Testimony was heard from Kevin J. Wolf, Assistant Secretary of Commerce 
for Export Administration, Bureau of Industry

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and Security, Department of Commerce; and Brian Nilsson, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for Defense Trade Controls, Bureau of Political-
Military Affairs, Department of State.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Full Committee held a 
markup on Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Views and Estimates of the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure; and H.R. 4441, the ``Aviation 
Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act''. The Fiscal year 2017 
Budget Views and Estimates were adopted. H.R. 4441 was ordered 
reported, as amended.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  February 11, 2016, on page D139, the following appeared: 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Full Committee 
held a markup on Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Views and Estimates of 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and H.R. 4441, 
the `Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act`. H.R. 
4441 was ordered reported, as amended.
  
  The online version should be corrected to read: Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure: Full Committee held a markup on 
Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Views and Estimates of the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure; and H.R. 4441, the `Aviation 
Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act`. The Fiscal year 2017 
Budget Views and Estimates were adopted. H.R. 4441 was ordered 
reported, as amended.


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 

CHOICE CONSOLIDATION: IMPROVING VA COMMUNITY CARE BILLING AND 
REIMBURSEMENT
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Choice Consolidation: Improving VA Community Care Billing 
and Reimbursement''. Testimony was heard from Randall B. Williamson, 
Director, Health Care, Government Accountability Office; Gary K. Abe, 
Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audits and Evaluations, Office 
of Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs; Baligh Yehia, 
M.D., Assistant Deputy Undersecretary for Health for Community Care, 
Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; and 
public witnesses.
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S BUDGET PROPOSALS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee held a hearing on President 
Obama's budget proposals for fiscal year 2017. Testimony was heard from 
Jacob J. Lew, Secretary, Department of the Treasury.

Joint Meetings
ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded 
a hearing to examine an update on the Organization for Security and Co-
operation in Europe, focusing on religious freedom, anti-Semitism, and 
rule of law, after receiving testimony from Michael Georg Link, 
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Office for 
Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Vienna, Austria.