[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 16, 2016)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D268-D272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the National Park Service. 
Testimony was heard from Jon Jarvis, Director, National Park Service.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND 
ECONOMICS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
budget hearing on Department of Agriculture, Research, Education, and 
Economics. Testimony was heard from Catherine E. Woteki, Under 
Secretary, Research, Education and Economics; Chavonda Jacobs-Young, 
Administrator, Agricultural Research Service; Sonny Ramaswamy, 
Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture; Mary Bohman, 
Administrator, Economic Research Service; Joseph Reilly, Administrator, 
National Agricultural Statistics Service; and Michael Young, Budget 
Officer, Department of Agriculture.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a budget hearing on the Department of the 
Treasury. Testimony was heard from Jack Lew, Secretary, Department of 
the Treasury.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education held a budget hearing on the National 
Institutes of Health. Testimony was heard from Francis S. Collins, 
Director, National Institutes of Health.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the National 
Science Foundation. Testimony was heard from France A. Cordova, 
Director, National Science Foundation.
APPROPRIATIONS--INDIAN AFFAIRS; BUREAU OF INDIAN EDUCATION SCHOOLS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a budget hearing on Indian Affairs; and an 
oversight hearing on Bureau of Indian Education Schools. Testimony was 
heard from Lawrence ``Larry'' Roberts, Acting Assistant Secretary, 
Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior; Charles ``Monty'' Roessel, 
Director, Bureau of Indian Education; and Michael Black, Director, 
Bureau of Indian Affairs; and Melissa Emrey-Arras, Director, Education, 
Workforce, and Income Security, Government Accountability Office.
APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, 
and Related Programs held a budget hearing on U.S. Agency for 
International Development. Testimony was heard from Gayle Smith, 
Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development.

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THE FISCAL YEAR 2017 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST FROM 
THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Budget Request 
from the Military Departments''. Testimony was heard from Patrick J. 
Murphy, Acting Secretary of the Army, U.S. Army; General Mark A. 
Milley, Chief of Staff of the Army, U.S. Army; Ray Mabus, Secretary of 
the Navy, U.S. Navy; Admiral John M. Richardson, Chief of Naval 
Operations, U.S. Navy; General Robert B. Neller, Commandant of the 
Marine Corps, U.S. Marine Corps; Deborah Lee James, Secretary of the 
Air Force, U.S. Air Force; and General Mark A. Welsh III, Chief of 
Staff of the Air Force, U.S. Air Force.
FISCAL YEAR 2017 BUDGET REQUEST FOR U.S. CYBER COMMAND: PREPARING FOR 
OPERATIONS IN THE CYBER DOMAIN
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and 
Capabilities held a hearing entitled ``Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Request 
for U.S. Cyber Command: Preparing for Operations in the Cyber Domain''. 
Testimony was heard from Admiral Michael Rogers, USN, Commander, U.S. 
Cyber Command.
FISCAL YEAR 2017 ARMY AND AIR FORCE ROTORCRAFT MODERNIZATION PROGRAMS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land 
Forces held a hearing entitled ``Fiscal Year 2017 Army and Air Force 
Rotorcraft Modernization Programs''. Testimony was heard from 
Lieutenant General Arnold W. Bunch, Jr., USAF, Military Deputy, Office 
of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition); Lieutenant 
General James M. ``Mike'' Holmes, USAF, Deputy Chief of Staff for 
Strategic Plans and Requirements; Lieutenant General Michael E. 
Williamson, USA, Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army 
(Acquisition, Logistics and Technology); and Major General Michael D. 
Lundy, USA, Commander, Army Aviation Center of Excellence.
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
Committee on the Budget: Full Committee held a markup on the Concurrent 
Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2017. The Concurrent 
Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2017 was ordered reported, as 
amended.
EXAMINING THE POLICIES AND PRIORITIES OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department 
of Labor''. Testimony was heard from Thomas Perez, Secretary, 
Department of Labor.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held 
a markup on the ``Pipeline Safety Act of 2016''. The ``Pipeline Safety 
Act of 2016'' was forwarded to the full committee, without amendment.
DISRUPTER SERIES: DIGITAL CURRENCY AND BLOCK CHAIN TECHNOLOGY
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, 
Manufacturing, and Trade held a hearing entitled ``Disrupter Series: 
Digital Currency and Block Chain Technology''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
THE SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Semi-Annual Report of the Bureau of Consumer Financial 
Protection''. Testimony was heard from Richard Cordray, Director, 
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
THE FDIC'S TARGETING OF REFUND ANTICIPATION LOANS
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``The FDIC's Targeting of Refund 
Anticipation Loans''. Testimony was heard from Fred W. Gibson, Jr., 
Acting Inspector General, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a markup on H. Res. 
343, expressing concern regarding persistent and credible reports of 
systematic, state-sanctioned organ harvesting from non-consenting 
prisoners of conscience in the People's Republic of China, including 
from large numbers of Falun Gong practitioners and members of other 
religious and ethnic minority groups; and H.R. 4678, to prohibit 
modification, abrogation, abandonment, or other related actions with 
respect to United States jurisdiction and control over United States 
Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, without congressional action. H. 
Res. 343 was ordered reported, as

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amended. H.R. 4678 was ordered reported, without amendment.
DHS IN TODAY'S DANGEROUS WORLD: EXAMINING THE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET AND 
READINESS TO COUNTER HOMELAND THREATS
Committee on Homeland Security: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``DHS in Today's Dangerous World: Examining the Department's Budget and 
Readiness to Counter Homeland Threats''. Testimony was heard from Jeh 
C. Johnson, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on House Administration: Full Committee held a markup on a 
resolution to amend the Committee regulations collectively known as the 
Guide to Outfitting and Maintaining an Office of the U.S. House of 
Representatives; a resolution to approve regulations pursuant to H. 
Res. 5 regarding Congressional Member Organizations; a resolution to 
amend the Committee regulations collectively known as the Members' 
Congressional Handbook; and a resolution to amend the Committee 
regulations collectively known as the Committee Handbook. The 
resolution to amend the Committee regulations collectively known as the 
Guide to Outfitting and Maintaining an Office of the U.S. House of 
Representatives and the resolution to approve regulations pursuant to 
H. Res. 5 regarding Congressional Member Organizations were adopted, 
without amendment. The resolution to amend the Committee regulations 
collectively known as the Members' Congressional Handbook and the 
resolution to amend the Committee regulations collectively known as the 
Committee Handbook were adopted, as amended.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 4731, 
the ``Refugee Program Integrity Restoration Act of 2016''. H.R. 4731 
was ordered reported, as amended.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee concluded a markup 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. 329, the ``Indian Employment, Training and 
Related Services Consolidation Act of 2015''; H.R. 496, the ``Alabama 
Hills National Scenic Area Establishment Act''; H.R. 1621, to modify 
the boundary of Petersburg National Battlefield in the Commonwealth of 
Virginia, and for other purposes; H.R. 1838, the ``Clear Creek National 
Recreation Area and Conservation Act''; H.R. 2009, the ``Pascua Yaqui 
Tribe Land Conveyance Act of 2015''; H.R. 2733, the ``Nevada Native 
Nations Land Act''; H.R. 3070, the ``EEZ Clarification Act''; H.R. 
3211, to provide for the addition of certain real property to the 
reservation of the Siletz Tribe in the State of Oregon; H.R. 3826, the 
``Mount Hood Cooper Spur Land Exchange Clarification Act''; H.R. 4579, 
the ``Utah Test and Training Range Encroachment Prevention and 
Temporary Closure Act''; and H.R. 4680, to prepare the National Park 
Service for its Centennial in 2016 and for a second century of 
promoting and protecting the natural, historic, and cultural resources 
of our National Parks for the enjoyment of present and future 
generations, and for other purposes. The following bills were ordered 
reported, as amended: H.R. 87, H.R. 295, H.R. 329, H.R. 496, H.R. 1621, 
H.R. 1838, H.R. 2009, H.R. 2733, H.R. 3070, H.R. 3826, H.R. 4579, and 
H.R. 4680, H.R. 3211 was ordered reported, without amendment.
REBUILDING AFGHANISTAN: OVERSIGHT OF DEFENSE DEPARTMENT INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROJECTS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Rebuilding Afghanistan: Oversight of Defense 
Department Infrastructure Projects''. Testimony was heard from John 
Sopko, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction; 
Christine S. Abizaid, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia, Department of Defense; Howard 
Strickley, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Transatlantic Division, 
Department of Defense; and Randy Brown, Director, Air Force Civil 
Engineering Center, Department of Defense.
VA CYBERSECURITY AND IT OVERSIGHT
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Information Technology held a hearing entitled ``VA Cybersecurity and 
IT Oversight''. Testimony was heard from LaVerne Council, Assistant 
Secretary for Information and Technology, Chief Information Officer, 
Department of Veterans Affairs; and Brent Arronte, Deputy Assistant 
Inspector General for Audits and Evaluations, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.
EXAMINING THE RENEWABLE FUEL STANDARD
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on the 
Interior; and Subcommittee on Health Care, Benefits and Administrative 
Rules, joint hearing entitled ``Examining the Renewable

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Fuel Standard''. Testimony was heard from Christopher Grundler, 
Director, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Environmental 
Protection Agency; and public witnesses.
HOUSE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SPEAKER TO APPEAR AS AMICUS CURIAE ON 
BEHALF OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE MATTER OF UNITED STATES, 
ET AL. V. TEXAS, ET AL., NO. 15-674
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a markup and hearing on H. Res. 
639, authorizing the Speaker to appear as amicus curiae on behalf of 
the House of Representatives in the matter of United States, et al. v. 
Texas, et al., No. 15-674. H. Res. 639 was ordered reported, without 
amendment. The committee granted, by record vote of 7-3, a closed rule. 
The rule provides one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by 
the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Rules. The 
rule waives all points of order against consideration of the 
resolution. The rule provides that the resolution shall be considered 
as read and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the 
question. The rule provides one motion to recommit. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives Gowdy and Lofgren.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF 
STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Research 
and Technology held a hearing entitled ``An Overview of the Budget 
Proposal for the National Institute of Standards and Technology for 
Fiscal Year 2017''. Testimony was heard from Willie E. May, Director, 
National Institute of Standards and Technology.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND 
ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on 
Environment held a hearing entitled ``An Overview of the Budget 
Proposal for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for 
Fiscal Year 2017''. Testimony was heard from Kathryn Sullivan, 
Undersecretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, Department of Commerce, and 
Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
SBA MANAGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE CHALLENGES: THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S 
PERSPECTIVE
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``SBA Management and Performance Challenges: The Inspector General's 
Perspective''. Testimony was heard from Peggy E. Gustafson, Inspector 
General, Small Business Administration.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURE
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity; 
and Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on draft legislation to 
improve the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to hire and 
retain physicians and other employees of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs. Testimony was heard from Carolyn Clancy, M.D., Deputy Under 
Secretary for Health for Organizational Excellence, Veterans Health 
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; and public witnesses.
PRESERVING AND STRENGTHENING MEDICARE
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Preserving and Strengthening Medicare''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 4472, 
the ``Modernizing the Interstate Placement of Children in Foster Care 
Act''; H.R. 4722, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require 
inclusion of the taxpayer's social security number to claim the 
refundable portion of the child tax credit; H.R. 4723, the ``Protecting 
Taxpayers by Recovering Improper Obamacare Subsidy Overpayments Act''; 
and H.R. 4724, the ``Reducing Duplicative and Ineffective Federal 
Funding Act''. The following bills were ordered reported, as amended: 
H.R. 4472, H.R. 4722, H.R. 4723, and H.R. 4724.
FBI FY 2017 BUDGET
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Emerging 
Threats held a hearing on FBI FY 2017 Budget. This hearing was closed.

Joint Meetings
VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS LEGISLATIVE PRESENTATIONS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Senate Committee concluded a joint 
hearing with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to examine the 
legislative presentation of multiple Veterans Service Organizations, 
after receiving testimony from Virgil Courneya, Fleet

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Reserve Association, Carson City, Nevada; Senior Master Sergeant Larry 
Hyland, USAF (Ret.), The Retired Enlisted Association, Palm Bay, 
Florida; David Brasuell, Idaho Department of Veterans Services, Boise, 
on behalf of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans 
Affairs; Commander Rene, A. Campos, USN (Ret.), Military Officers 
Association of America, Alexandria, Virginia; Chief Master Sergeant 
Robert L. Frank, USAF (Ret.), Air Force Sergeants Association, 
Springfield, Virginia; Charles Susino, Jr., American Ex-Prisoners of 
War, Metuchen, New Jersey; Sergeant Major H. Gene Overstreet, USMC 
(Ret.), Non Commissioned Officers Association, Seguin, Texas; Jerome 
Blum, Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America, Colchester, 
Connecticut; and Paul Rieckhoff, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of 
America, New York, New York.