[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 41 (Thursday, March 9, 2017)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D246-D248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
THE NEXT FARM BILL: RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENERGY PROGRAMS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and 
Credit held a hearing entitled ``The Next Farm Bill: Rural Development and 
Energy Programs''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
THE NEXT FARM BILL: SPECIALTY CROPS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and 
Research held a hearing entitled ``The Next Farm Bill: Specialty Crops''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MEMBERS' DAY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, 
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a hearing entitled 
``Members' Day''. Testimony was heard from Representatives Blumenauer, 
Cartwright, Costa, Danny K. Davis of Illinois, DesJarlais, Faso, Gene Green 
of Texas, Higgins of Louisiana, Kelly of Mississippi, Marshall, McGovern, 
Panetta, Pittenger, Plaskett, Posey, Rouzer, and Thompson of Pennsylvania.
MEMBERS' DAY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing entitled 
``Members' Day''. Testimony was heard from Representatives Blumenauer, 
Bordallo, Bridenstine, Byrne, Clay, Cook, Fitzpatrick, Franks of Arizona, 
Gaetz, Hanabusa, Hunter, Langevin, Ted Lieu of California, Michelle Lujan 
Grisham of New Mexico, McSally, Meehan, Panetta, Radewagen, Stivers, Suozzi, 
Thompson of Pennsylvania, Williams, Joe Wilson of South Carolina, 
Cartwright, Davidson, Gallagher, Hartzler, Johnson of Louisiana, Kelly of 
Mississippi, Knight, McGovern, Tenney, Wagner, Webster of Florida, and 
Wenstrup.
MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES AT THE DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN 
SERVICES, AND EDUCATION AND THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION: VIEWS FROM 
THE INSPECTORS GENERAL
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing entitled 
``Management Challenges at the Departments of Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education and the Social Security Administration: Views from 
the Inspectors General''. Testimony was heard from Scott S. Dahl, Inspector 
General, Department of Labor; Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General, 
Department of Health and Human Services; Gale Stallworth Stone, Acting 
Inspector General, Social Security Administration; and Kathleen Tighe, 
Inspector General, Department of Education.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND FOREIGN OPERATIONS PROGRAMS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and 
Related Programs held an oversight hearing on Department of State and 
Foreign Operations Programs. Testimony was heard from Ann Calvaresi Barr, 
Inspector General, U.S. Agency for International Development; and Steve 
Linick, Inspector General, Department of State and Broadcasting Board of 
Governors.
MEMBERS' DAY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and 
Urban Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing entitled ``Members' 
Day''. Testimony was heard from Representatives

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Barragan, Bridenstine, Byrne, Cartwright, DeFazio, Espaillat, Gosar, Jackson 
Lee, Johnson of Louisiana, Lawson of Florida, Panetta, Plaskett, Radewagen, 
Sires, Suozzi, and Visclosky.
NUCLEAR DETERRENCE--THE DEFENSE SCIENCE BOARD'S PERSPECTIVE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a hearing 
entitled ``Nuclear Deterrence--the Defense Science Board's Perspective''. 
Testimony was heard from the following Members of the Defense Science Board: 
Michael Anastasio, Miriam John, and William LaPlante.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Full Committee concluded a markup on a 
committee print of Budget Reconciliation Legislative Recommendations 
Relating to Repeal and Replace of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care 
Act; and H. Res. 154, of inquiry requesting the President of the United 
States and directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to transmit 
certain information to the House of Representatives relating to plans to 
repeal or replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the 
health-related measures of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act 
of 2010. The committee print of Budget Reconciliation Legislative 
Recommendations Relating to Repeal and Replace of the Patient Protection and 
Affordable Care Act was transmitted to the Committee on the Budget, as 
amended. H. Res. 154 was ordered reported, without amendment.
FLOOD INSURANCE REFORM: FEMA'S PERSPECTIVE
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance held 
a hearing entitled ``Flood Insurance Reform: FEMA's Perspective''. Testimony 
was heard from Roy Wright, Deputy Associate Administrator, Federal Insurance 
and Mitigation Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
Department of Homeland Security.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 910, 
the ``Fair Access to Investment Research Act of 2017''; H.R. 1219, the 
``Supporting America's Innovators Act of 2017''; H.R. 1257, the ``Securities 
and Exchange Commission Overpayment Credit Act''; H.R. 1366, the ``U.S. 
Territories Investor Protection Act of 2017''; H.R. 1343, the ``Encouraging 
Employee Ownership Act of 2017''; and H.R. 1312, the ``Small Business 
Capital Formation Enhancement Act''. The following legislation was ordered 
reported, without amendment: H.R. 1219, H.R. 1366, and H.R. 1343. The 
following legislation was ordered reported, as amended: H.R. 910, H.R. 1257, 
H.R. 1312.
UNDERMINING DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND SPLINTERING NATO: RUSSIAN 
DISINFORMATION AIMS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Undermining Democratic Institutions and Splintering NATO: Russian 
Disinformation Aims''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
DEMOCRACY UNDER THREAT IN ETHIOPIA
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global 
Human Rights, and International Organizations held a hearing entitled 
``Democracy Under Threat in Ethiopia''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
THE CURRENT STATE OF DHS PRIVATE SECTOR ENGAGEMENT FOR CYBERSECURITY
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and 
Infrastructure Protection held a hearing entitled ``The Current State of DHS 
Private Sector Engagement for Cybersecurity''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
IMPROVING AND EXPANDING INFRASTRUCTURE IN TRIBAL AND INSULAR COMMUNITIES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Indian, Insular, and Alaska 
Native Affairs held a hearing entitled ``Improving and Expanding 
Infrastructure in Tribal and Insular Communities''. Testimony was heard from 
Nikolao Pula, Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Insular Affairs, 
Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
REVIEWING ATF'S FAILURES IN THE DEATH OF ICE AGENT JAIME ZAPATA
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``Reviewing ATF's Failures in the Death of ICE Agent Jaime 
Zapata''. Testimony was heard from Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General, 
Department of Justice; and Thomas E. Brandon, Acting Director, Bureau of 
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a markup on 
H.R. 1430, the ``Honest and Open New EPA Science Treatment Act of 2017''; 
and H.R. 1431, the ``EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2017''. H.R. 
1430 and H.R. 1431 were ordered reported, without amendment.
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION PART I: OVERVIEW AND OVERSIGHT
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Research and 
Technology held a hearing entitled ``National Science Foundation Part I: 
Overview and Oversight''. Testimony was heard from

[[Page D248]]

France Cordova, Director, National Science Foundation; and Allison Lerner, 
Inspector General, National Science Foundation.
AN OVERVIEW OF SBA'S 7(A) LOAN PROGRAM
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight, and 
Regulations held a hearing entitled ``An Overview of SBA's 7(a) Loan 
Program''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
BUILDING A 21ST CENTURY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR AMERICA: THE ROLE OF FEDERAL 
AGENCIES IN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment held a hearing entitled ``Building a 21st Century 
Infrastructure for America: The Role of Federal Agencies in Water 
Infrastructure''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee concluded a markup on Budget 
Reconciliation Legislative Recommendations Relating to Remuneration from 
Certain Insurers; Budget Reconciliation Legislative Recommendations Relating 
to Repeal of Tanning Tax; Budget Reconciliation Legislative Recommendations 
Relating to Repeal of Certain Consumer Taxes; Budget Reconciliation 
Legislative Recommendations Relating to Repeal of Net Investment Income Tax; 
Budget Reconciliation Legislative Recommendations Relating to Repeal and 
Replace of Health-Related Tax Policy. The Budget Reconciliation Legislative 
Recommendations Relating to Remuneration from Certain Insurers; Budget 
Reconciliation Legislative Recommendations Relating to Repeal of Tanning 
Tax; Budget Reconciliation Legislative Recommendations Relating to Repeal of 
Certain Consumer Taxes; Budget Reconciliation Legislative Recommendations 
Relating to Repeal of Net Investment Income Tax; and Budget Reconciliation 
Legislative Recommendations Relating to Repeal and Replace of Health-Related 
Tax Policy were successfully transmitted to the Committee on the Budget, as 
amended.
Joint Meetings
VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS LEGISLATIVE PRESENTATIONS
Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs 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 Al Kovach, Jr., Paralyzed Veterans of America, 
Coronado, California; Rear Admiral Garry E. Hall, USN (Ret.), Association of 
the United States Navy, and Harold Chapman, AMVETS, both of Washington, 
D.C.; John Rowan, Vietnam Veterans of America, Middle Village, New York; 
Vincent W. Patton III, Non Commissioned Officers Association of the United 
States of America, Alexandria, Virginia; Misty J. Brammer, Gold Star Wives 
of America, Inc., Aurora, Colorado; Randy Reeves, National Association of 
State Directors of Veterans Affairs, Pearl, Mississippi; Lieutenant General 
Michael S. Linnington, (Ret.), Wounded Warrior Project, Jacksonville, 
Florida; and Major General Gus Hargett, USA (Ret.), National Guard 
Association of the United States, Arlington, Virginia.
F