[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 22, 2016)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D305-D308]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
APPROPRIATIONS--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the Environmental Protection 
Agency. Testimony was heard from Gina McCarthy, Administrator, 
Environmental Protection Agency; and David Bloom, Acting Chief 
Financial Officer, Environmental Protection Agency.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEFENSE HEALTH PROGRAM
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a budget 
hearing on the Defense Health Program. Testimony was heard from Vice 
Admiral Raquel C. Bono, Director, Defense Health Agency; Lieutenant 
General Nadja West, Surgeon General, U.S. Army; Vice Admiral Clinton F. 
Faison, III, Surgeon General, U.S. Navy; and Lieutenant General Mark A. 
Ediger, Surgeon General, U.S. Air Force.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education held a budget hearing on the Department of 
Education. Testimony was heard from John King, Secretary, Department of 
Education.
APPROPRIATIONS--SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a budget hearing on the Securities and Exchange 
Commission. Testimony was heard from Mary Jo White, Chair, Securities 
and Exchange Commission.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a budget 
hearing on the National Guard and Reserve. Testimony was heard from 
General Frank J. Grass, Chief, National Guard Bureau; Major General 
Timothy Kadavy, Director, Army National Guard; Major General Brian 
Neal, Acting Director, Air National Guard; and Lieutenant General 
Jeffrey W. Talley, Chief, Army Reserve.
APPROPRIATIONS--DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on the Drug 
Enforcement Administration. Testimony was heard from Chuck Rosenberg, 
Acting Administrator, Drug Enforcement Administration.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2017 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST FROM 
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Budget Request 
from the Department of Defense''. Testimony was heard from Ashton B. 
Carter, Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense; General Joseph F. 
Dunford, Jr., USMC, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Mike McCord, 
Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and Chief Financial Officer, 
Department of Defense.
LOGISTICS AND SEALIFT FORCE REQUIREMENTS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection 
Forces held a hearing entitled ``Logistics and Sealift Force 
Requirements''. Testimony was heard from Lieutenant General Stephen 
Lyons, USA, Deputy Commander, Transportation

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Command; Paul N. Jaenichen, Sr., Maritime Administrator, Maritime 
Administration; and F. Scott DiLisio, Director, Strategic Mobility/
Combat Logistics Division, Chief of Naval Operations.
FISCAL YEAR 2017 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND CYBER PROGRAMS: FOUNDATIONS 
FOR A SECURE WARFIGHTING NETWORK
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and 
Capabilities held a hearing entitled ``Fiscal Year 2017 Information 
Technology and Cyber Programs: Foundations for a Secure Warfighting 
Network''. Testimony was heard from Terry Halvorsen, Chief Information 
Officer, Department of Defense; and Peter Levine, Deputy Chief 
Management Officer, Department of Defense.
STRENGTHENING EDUCATION RESEARCH AND PRIVACY PROTECTIONS TO BETTER 
SERVE STUDENTS
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``Strengthening Education Research and Privacy Protections to 
Better Serve Students''. Testimony was heard from Robert Swiggum, 
Deputy Superintendent of Technology Services, Georgia Department of 
Education; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Communications and 
Technology held a hearing entitled ``Oversight of the Federal 
Communications Commission''. Testimony was heard from Mignon Clyburn, 
Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission; Michael O'Rielly, 
Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission; Ajit Pai, 
Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission; Jessica Rosenworcel, 
Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission; and Tom Wheeler, 
Chairman, Federal Communications Commission.
FISCAL YEAR 2017 EPA BUDGET
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power; and 
Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, held a joint hearing 
entitled ``Fiscal Year 2017 EPA Budget''. Testimony was heard from Gina 
McCarthy, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency.
THE ANNUAL TESTIMONY OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY ON THE STATE OF 
THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Annual Testimony of the Secretary of the Treasury on the State of 
the International Financial System''. Testimony was heard from Jacob J. 
Lew, Secretary, Department of the Treasury.
THE FUTURE OF HOUSING IN AMERICA: GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS AND THE HIGH 
COST OF HOUSING
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance 
held a hearing entitled ``The Future of Housing in America: Government 
Regulations and the High Cost of Housing''. Testimony was heard from 
Vicki Been, Commissioner, New York City Department of Housing 
Preservation and Development; and public witnesses.
WOMEN FIGHTING FOR PEACE: LESSONS FOR TODAY'S CONFLICTS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Women Fighting for Peace: Lessons for Today's Conflicts''. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
POTENTIAL TERRORIST THREATS: BORDER SECURITY CHALLENGES IN LATIN 
AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere 
held a hearing entitled ``Potential Terrorist Threats: Border Security 
Challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean''. Testimony was heard 
from Juan Gonzalez, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western 
Hemisphere Affairs, Department of State; Alan D. Bersin, Assistant 
Secretary for International Affairs and Chief Diplomatic Officer, 
Department of Homeland Security; and Lev Kubiak, Assistant Director for 
International Operations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 
Department of Homeland Security.
GET IT RIGHT THIS TIME: A VICTIMS-CENTERED TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS 
REPORT
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, 
Global Human Rights, and International Organizations held a hearing 
entitled ``Get It Right This Time: A Victims-Centered Trafficking in 
Persons Report''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
HEZBOLLAH'S GROWING THREAT AGAINST U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS IN 
THE MIDDLE EAST
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East and North 
Africa held a hearing entitled ``Hezbollah's Growing Threat Against 
U.S. National Security Interests in the Middle East''. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.

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THE ROLE OF CYBER INSURANCE IN RISK MANAGEMENT
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, 
Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies held a hearing 
entitled ``The Role of Cyber Insurance in Risk Management''. Testimony 
was heard from Adam W. Hamm, Commissioner, North Dakota Insurance 
Commissioner; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 4771, 
the ``Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) 
Act of 2016''; and H.R. 4676, the ``Preventing Crimes Against Veterans 
Act of 2016''. H.R. 4676 and H.R. 4771 were considered. Neither were 
reported out of committee.
EXAMINING THE SPENDING PRIORITIES AND MISSIONS OF THE FOREST SERVICE IN 
THE PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2017 BUDGET PROPOSAL
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a 
hearing entitled ``Examining the Spending Priorities and Missions of 
the Forest Service in the President's Fiscal Year 2017 Budget 
Proposal''. Testimony was heard from Thomas Tidwell, Chief, U.S. Forest 
Service.
THE PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2017 FUNDING PRIORITIES AND IMPACTS ON 
INDIAN COUNTRY AND INSULAR AREAS
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and 
Alaska Native Affairs held a hearing entitled ``The President's Fiscal 
Year 2017 Funding Priorities and Impacts on Indian Country and Insular 
Areas''. Testimony was heard from Lawrence Roberts, Acting Assistant 
Secretary, Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior; Esther Kia'aina, 
Assistant Secretary, Insular Areas, Department of the Interior; Vincent 
G. Logan, Special Trustee, Office of the Special Trustee for American 
Indians, Department of the Interior; and Mary Smith, Principal Deputy 
Director, Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human 
Services.
EXAMINING THE MISSIONS AND IMPACTS OF THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSED FISCAL 
YEAR 2017 BUDGETS OF THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, THE NATIONAL 
OCEAN AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION AND THE 
POWER MARKETING ADMINISTRATIONS
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans 
held a hearing entitled ``Examining the Missions and Impacts of the 
President's Proposed Fiscal Year 2017 Budgets of the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, 
the Bureau of Reclamation and the Power Marketing Administrations''. 
Testimony was heard from Jim Kurth, Deputy Director, Fish and Wildlife 
Service; Estevan Lopez, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation; Mark 
Gabriel, Administrator, Western Area Power Administration, Colorado; 
Claudia Andrews, Chief Operating Officer, Bonneville Power 
Administration, Oregon; and Eileen Sobeck, Assistant Administrator, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
AMERICA'S HEROIN AND OPIOID ABUSE EPIDEMIC
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``America's Heroin and Opioid Abuse Epidemic''. 
Testimony was heard from Michael Botticelli, Director, Office of 
National Drug Control Policy; Lou Milione, Deputy Assistant 
Administrator for Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, 
Department of Justice; Kana Enomoto, Acting Administrator, Substance 
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Department of Health 
Services; Leana S. Wen, M.D., Health Commissioner, Baltimore City 
Health Department; and Teresa Jacobs, Mayor of Orange County, Florida.
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN ADVANCING HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Information Technology; and Subcommittee on Health Care, Benefits and 
Administrative Rules, held a joint hearing entitled ``Opportunities and 
Challenges in Advancing Health Information Technology''. Testimony was 
heard from Karen DeSalvo, M.D., National Coordinator for Health 
Information Technology, Department of Health and Human Services; 
Jessica Rich, Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade 
Commission; and public witnesses.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FOR 
FISCAL YEAR 2017
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``An Overview of the Budget Proposal for the 
Department of Energy for Fiscal Year 2017''. Testimony was heard from 
Ernest Moniz, Secretary, Department of Energy.

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AN OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 
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 Science Foundation for Fiscal Year 2017''. 
Testimony was heard from France Cordova, Director, National Science 
Foundation; and Dan E. Arvizu, Chairman, National Science Board.
LIP SERVICE BUT LITTLE ELSE: FAILURE OF THE SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH 
INSURANCE TAX CREDIT
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and 
Capital Access held a hearing entitled ``Lip Service but Little Else: 
Failure of the Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credit''. Testimony 
was heard from James R. McTigue, Jr., Director, Strategic Issues, 
Government Accountability Office; and public witnesses.
CHOICE CONSOLIDATION: LEVERAGING PROVIDER NETWORKS TO INCREASE VETERAN 
ACCESS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Choice Consolidation: Leveraging Provider Networks to 
Increase Veteran Access''. Testimony was heard from Baligh Yehia, M.D., 
Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Community Care, 
Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; and 
public witnesses.
SOCIAL SECURITY AND PUBLIC SERVANTS: ENSURING EQUAL TREATMENT
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security held a 
hearing entitled ``Social Security and Public Servants: Ensuring Equal 
Treatment''. Testimony was heard from Samara Richardson, Acting 
Associate Commissioner, Office of Income Security Programs, Social 
Security Administration; Stephen C. Goss, Chief Actuary, Office of the 
Chief Actuary, Social Security Administration; and public witnesses.
MEMBER PROPOSALS RELATING TO FUNDAMENTAL REFORM OF THE INCOME TAX 
SYSTEM
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Tax Policy held a hearing 
on Member proposals relating to fundamental reform of the income tax 
system. Testimony was heard from Chairman Nunes and Representatives 
Burgess and Woodall.
NRO/NGA FY 2017 BUDGET
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Department 
of Defense Intelligence and Overhead Architecture held a hearing on 
NRO/NGA FY 2017 budget. This hearing was closed.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.