[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 16, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1541-S1543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   EXECUTIVE AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS

  The following communications were laid before the Senate, together 
with accompanying papers, reports, and documents, and were referred as 
indicated:

        EC-4696. A communication from the Acting Director of the 
     Legislative Affairs Division, Natural Resources Conservation 
     Service, Department of Agriculture, transmitting, pursuant to 
     law, the report of a rule entitled ``Conservation Stewardship 
     Program'' (RIN0578-AA63) received in the Office of the 
     President of the Senate on March 10, 2016; to the Committee 
     on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
        EC-4697. A communication from the Secretary of Defense, 
     transmitting a report on the approved retirement of Vice 
     Admiral Mark I. Fox, United States Navy, and his advancement 
     to the grade of vice admiral on the retired list; to the 
     Committee on Armed Services.
        EC-4698. A communication from the Assistant Secretary for 
     Export Administration, Bureau of Industry and Security, 
     Department of Commerce, transmitting, pursuant to law, the 
     report of a rule entitled ``Additions to the Entity List'' 
     (RIN0694-AG82) received in the Office of the President of the 
     Senate on March 10, 2016; to the Committee on Banking, 
     Housing, and Urban Affairs.
        EC-4699. A communication from the Special Inspector 
     General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, transmitting, 
     pursuant to law, the October 2015 Quarterly Report to 
     Congress of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled 
     Asset Relief Program; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
     and Urban Affairs.
        EC-4700. A communication from the Special Inspector 
     General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, transmitting, 
     pursuant to law, the January 2016 Quarterly Report to 
     Congress of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled 
     Asset Relief Program; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
     and Urban Affairs.
        EC-4701. A communication from the Director, Office of 
     Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled ``OMB 
     Sequestration Preview Report to the President and Congress 
     for Fiscal Year 2017''; to the Committees on the Budget; and 
     Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
        EC-4702. A communication from the Assistant Secretary for 
     Legislation, Department of Health and Human Services, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled ``Final 
     Report to Congress on the Community First Choice State Plan 
     Benefit''; to the Committee on Finance.
        EC-4703. A communication from the Chief of the 
     Publications and Regulations Branch, Internal Revenue 
     Service, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant 
     to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Work Opportunity Tax 
     Credit (WOTC) Guidance and Transition Relief'' (Notice 2016-
     22) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on 
     March 10, 2016; to the Committee on Finance.
        EC-4704. A communication from the Assistant Secretary for 
     Legislation, Department of Health and Human Services, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled ``Temporary 
     Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program Eleventh Report 
     to Congress''; to the Committee on Finance.
        EC-4705. A communication from the Assistant Secretary, 
     Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Department of State, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, an addendum to a 
     certification, of the proposed sale or export of defense 
     articles and/or defense services to a Middle East country 
     regarding any possible affects such a sale might have 
     relating to Israel's Qualitative Military Edge over military 
     threats to Israel (OSS-2016-0350); to the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations.
        EC-4706. A communication from the Assistant Secretary, 
     Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Department of State, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, an addendum to a 
     certification, of the proposed sale or export of defense 
     articles and/or defense services to a Middle East country 
     regarding any possible affects such a sale might have 
     relating to Israel's Qualitative Military Edge over military 
     threats to Israel (OSS-2016-0352); to the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations.
        EC-4707. A communication from the Assistant Secretary, 
     Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Department of State, 
     transmitting,

[[Page S1542]]

     pursuant to law, an addendum to a certification, of the 
     proposed sale or export of defense articles and/or defense 
     services to a Middle East country regarding any possible 
     affects such a sale might have relating to Israel's 
     Qualitative Military Edge over military threats to Israel 
     (OSS-2016-0351); to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
        EC-4708. A communication from the Secretary of Health and 
     Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, an annual 
     report on mining activities as required by the Mine 
     Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006; to the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
        EC-4709. A communication from the Director of Regulations 
     and Policy Management Staff, Food and Drug Administration, 
     Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, 
     pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``New Animal 
     Drugs for Use in Animal Feeds; Removal of Obsolete and 
     Redundant Regulations'' (Docket No. FDA-2003-N-0446) received 
     in the Office of the President of the Senate on March 10, 
     2016; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions.
        EC-4710. A communication from the Director, Office of 
     Civil Rights, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, 
     pursuant to law, the Agency's fiscal year 2015 annual report 
     relative to the Notification and Federal Employee 
     Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act); 
     to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs.
        EC-4711. A communication from the Chairman of the Consumer 
     Product Safety Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the 
     Commission's Annual Performance Report for fiscal year 2015; 
     to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs.
        EC-4712. A communication from the Chairman, Defense 
     Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, transmitting, pursuant to 
     law, the Board's fiscal year 2015 Performance and 
     Accountability Report; to the Committee on Homeland Security 
     and Governmental Affairs.
        EC-4713. A communication from the Executive Director, 
     Mississippi River Commission, Department of the Army, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, the Commission's Annual Report 
     for calendar year 2015; to the Committee on Homeland Security 
     and Governmental Affairs.
        EC-4714. A communication from the Director of the Office 
     of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action, Bureau of 
     Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior, transmitting, 
     pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Rights-of-
     Way on Indian Land'' (RIN1076-AF20) received in the Office of 
     the President of the Senate on March 10, 2016; to the 
     Committee on Indian Affairs.
        EC-4715. A communication from the Assistant Secretary for 
     Legislation, Department of Health and Human Services, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled ``Office of 
     Refugee Resettlement: Annual Report to Congress, FY 2014''; 
     to the Committee on the Judiciary.
        EC-4716. A communication from the Supervisory Regulations 
     Specialist, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 
     Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to 
     law, the report of a rule entitled ``Improving and Expanding 
     Training Opportunities for F-1 Nonimmigrant Students with 
     STEM Degrees and Cap-Gap Relief for All Eligible F-1 
     Students'' (RIN1653-AA72) received during adjournment of the 
     Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on March 
     11, 2016; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
        EC-4717. A communication from the Human Resources 
     Specialist (Executive Resources), Small Business 
     Administration, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report 
     relative to a vacancy in the position of Chief Counsel, Small 
     Business Administration, received in the Office of the 
     President of the Senate on March 10, 2016; to the Committee 
     on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
        EC-4718. A communication from the Director of Regulation 
     Policy and Management, Veterans Health Administration, 
     Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting, pursuant to 
     law, the report of a rule entitled ``Vet Centers'' (RIN2900-
     AP21) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office 
     of the President of the Senate on March 11, 2016; to the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
        EC-4719. A communication from the Chief Impact Analyst, 
     Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans 
     Affairs, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule 
     entitled ``Veterans Transportation Service'' (RIN2900-AO92) 
     received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of 
     the President of the Senate on March 11, 2016; to the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
        EC-4720. A communication from the Director of Regulation 
     Policy and Management, Veterans Health Administration, 
     Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting, pursuant to 
     law, the report of a rule entitled ``Applicants for VA 
     Memorialization Benefits'' (RIN2900-AO95) received during 
     adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of 
     the Senate on March 11, 2016; to the Committee on Veterans' 
     Affairs.
        EC-4721. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison 
     Officer, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Department 
     of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of 
     a rule entitled ``Establishment of the Loess Hills 
     Viticultural Area'' (RIN1513-AC20) received in the Office of 
     the President of the Senate on March 10, 2016; to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
        EC-4722. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison 
     Officer, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Department 
     of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of 
     a rule entitled ``Establishment of the Willamette Valley 
     Viticultural Area'' (RIN1513-AC21) received in the Office of 
     the President of the Senate on March 10, 2016; to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
        EC-4723. A communication from the Attorney-Advisor, U.S. 
     Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, 
     pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Safety Zone; 
     Witt-Penn Bridge Construction, Hackensack River; Jersey City, 
     NJ'' ((RIN1625-AA00) (Docket No. USCG-2014-1008)) received 
     during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the 
     President of the Senate on March 11, 2016; to the Committee 
     on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
        EC-4724. A communication from the Attorney-Advisor, U.S. 
     Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, 
     pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Safety Zone; 
     Delaware River; Marcus Hook, PA'' ((RIN1625-AA00) (Docket No. 
     USCG-2015-0998)) received during adjournment of the Senate in 
     the Office of the President of the Senate on March 11, 2016; 
     to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation .
        EC-4725. A communication from the Attorney-Advisor, U.S. 
     Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, 
     pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Safety Zone; 
     Great Egg Harbor Bay; Somers Point, NJ'' ((RIN1625-AA00) 
     (Docket No. USCG-2015-1031)) received during adjournment of 
     the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on 
     March 11, 2016; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation.
        EC-4726. A communication from the Acting Division Chief, 
     Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications 
     Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a 
     rule entitled ``Implementation of Section 224 of the Act A 
     National Broadband Plan for Our Future'' ((RIN3060-AJ64) (FCC 
     15-151)) received in the Office of the President of the 
     Senate on March 14, 2016; to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation.
        EC-4727. A communication from the Vice President of 
     Government Affairs and Corporate Communications, National 
     Railroad Passenger Corporation, Amtrak, transmitting, 
     pursuant to law, a report relative to Amtrak's Executive 
     Level 1 salary for 2015; to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation.
        EC-4728. A communication from the Director of Legislative 
     Affairs, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, transmitting, 
     pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Margin and 
     Capital Requirements for Covered Swap Entities'' (RIN3064-
     AE21) received in the Office of the President of the Senate 
     on March 10, 2016; to the Committee on Agriculture, 
     Nutrition, and Forestry.
        EC-4729. A communication from the Director, Office of 
     Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled ``OMB Report 
     to the Congress on the Joint Committee Reductions for Fiscal 
     Year 2017''; to the Committees on the Budget; and Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs.
        EC-4730. A communication from the Secretary of the 
     Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, an annual report 
     related to the Colorado River System Reservoirs for 2016; to 
     the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
        EC-4731. A communication from the General Counsel, Federal 
     Energy Regulatory Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, 
     the report of a rule entitled ``Transmission Operations 
     Reliability Standards and Interconnection Reliability 
     Operations and Coordination Reliability Standards'' (Docket 
     No. RM15-16-000) received in the Office of the President of 
     the Senate on March 10, 2016; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.
        EC-4732. A communication from the General Counsel, Federal 
     Energy Regulatory Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, 
     the report of a rule entitled ``Third-Party Provision of 
     Primary Frequency Response Service'' ((RIN1902-AE96) (Docket 
     No. RM15-2-000)) received in the Office of the President of 
     the Senate on March 10, 2016; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.
        EC-4733. A communication from the General Counsel, Federal 
     Energy Regulatory Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, 
     the report of a rule entitled ``Revisions to Emergency 
     Operations Reliability Standards; Revisions to Undervoltage 
     Load Shedding Reliability Standards; Revisions to the 
     Definition of 'Remedial Action Scheme' and Related 
     Reliability Standards'' ((RIN1902-AF06) (Docket Nos. RM15-7-
     000, RM15-12-000 , and RM15-13-000)) received in the Office 
     of the President of the Senate on March 10, 2016; to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
        EC-4734. A communication from the General Counsel, Federal 
     Energy Regulatory Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, 
     the report of a rule entitled ``Revised Critical 
     Infrastructure Protection Reliability Standards'' (Docket No. 
     RM15-14-000) received in the Office of the President of the 
     Senate on March 10, 2016; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.
        EC-4735. A communication from the Administrator of the 
     Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to 
     law, a report entitled ``Clean Watersheds Needs Survey 2012 
     Report to Congress''; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.

[[Page S1543]]

  

        EC-4736. A communication from the Assistant Secretary for 
     Legislation, Department of Health and Human Services, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled ``Evaluation 
     of the Medicare Patient Intravenous Immunoglobulin 
     Demonstration Project: Interim Report to Congress''; to the 
     Committee on Finance.
        EC-4737. A communication from the Assistant Secretary, 
     Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, 
     pursuant to law, nine (9) reports relative to vacancies in 
     the Department of State, received in the Office of the 
     President of the Senate on March 10, 2016; to the Committee 
     on Foreign Relations.
        EC-4738. A communication from the Chief Counsel, Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled 
     ``Suspension of Community Eligibility'' ((44 CFR Part 64) 
     (Docket No. FEMA-2015-0001)) received in the Office of the 
     President of the Senate on March 10, 2016; to the Committee 
     on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
        EC-4739. A communication from the Chief Counsel, Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled 
     ``Suspension of Community Eligibility'' ((44 CFR Part 64) 
     (Docket No. FEMA-2015-0001)) received in the Office of the 
     President of the Senate on March 10, 2016; to the Committee 
     on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
        EC-4740. A communication from the Director, Office of 
     Civil Rights, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, 
     pursuant to law, the Agency's fiscal year 2015 annual report 
     relative to the Notification and Federal Employee 
     Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act) 
     received in the office of the President pro tempore of the 
     Senate; to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs.
        EC-4741. A communication from the Director of the Office 
     of Financial Reporting and Policy, Office of the Chief 
     Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration, 
     Department of Commerce, transmitting, pursuant to law, a 
     report entitled ``FY 2015 Agency Financial Report''; to the 
     Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
        EC-4742. A communication from the Chairman of the Consumer 
     Product Safety Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the 
     Semiannual Report of the Inspector General for the period 
     from April 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015; to the 
     Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
        EC-4743. A communication from the Chief Financial Officer 
     of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to financial 
     integrity for fiscal year 2015; to the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs.
        EC-4744. A communication from the Director, Office of 
     Economic Impact and Diversity, Department of Energy, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, the Department's fiscal year 
     2015 report relative to the Notification and Federal Employee 
     Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act); 
     to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs.
        EC-4745. A communication from the Board Members of the 
     Railroad Retirement Board, transmitting, pursuant to law, the 
     Semiannual Report of the Inspector General for the period 
     from April 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015; to the 
     Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
        EC-4746. A communication from the General Counsel, Pension 
     Benefit Guaranty Corporation, transmitting, pursuant to law, 
     the report of a rule entitled ``Benefits Payable in 
     Terminated Single-Employer Plans; Interest Assumptions for 
     Paying Benefits'' (29 CFR Part 4022) received in the Office 
     of the President of the Senate on March 10, 2016; to the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
        EC-4747. A joint communication from the Secretary of 
     Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to Thefts, 
     Losses, or Releases of Select Agents and Toxins for Calendar 
     Year 2014; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions.
        EC-4748. A communication from the Administrator, Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to the cost 
     of response and recovery efforts for FEMA-3375-EM in the 
     State of Michigan having exceeded the 
     $5,000,000 limit for a single emergency declaration; to the 
     Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
        EC-4749. A communication from the Secretary, Judicial 
     Conference of the United States, transmitting, pursuant to 
     law, a report entitled ``Report of the Proceedings of the 
     Judicial Conference of the United States'' for the September 
     17, 2015, session and September 9, 2015, session; to the 
     Committee on the Judiciary.
        EC-4750. A communication from the Chief Counsel, National 
     Telecommunications and Information Administration, Department 
     of Commerce, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a 
     rule entitled ``Amendments to 47 CFR Part 301 to Implement 
     Certain Provisions of the Spectrum Pipeline Act'' (RIN0660-
     AA31) received in the Office of the President of the Senate 
     on March 10, 2016; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation.
        EC-4751. A communication from the Assistant Administrator 
     for Procurement, National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of 
     a rule entitled ``NASA Federal Acquisition Regulation 
     Supplement: NASA Capitalization Threshold'' (RIN2700-AE23) 
     received in the Office of the President of the Senate on 
     March 10, 2016; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation.

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