[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 280-282]
[From the U.S. 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-3952. A communication from the Acting Director, Office 
     of Sustainable Fisheries, Department of Commerce, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled 
     ``Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna 
     Fisheries'' (RIN0648-XE335) received in the Office of the 
     President of the Senate on December 16, 2015; to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
       EC-3953. A communication from the Acting Director, Office 
     of Sustainable Fisheries, Department of Commerce, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled 
     ``Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South 
     Atlantic; 2015 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure 
     for South Atlantic Golden Tilefish Hook-and-Line Component'' 
     (RIN0648-XE215) received in the Office of the President of 
     the Senate on December 16, 2015; to the Committee on 
     Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
       EC-3954. A communication from the Acting Director, Office 
     of Sustainable Fisheries, Department of Commerce, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled 
     ``Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; 
     Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
     Islands Management Area'' (RIN0648-XE342) received in the 
     Office of the President of the Senate on December 16, 2015; 
     to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
       EC-3955. A communication from the Acting Director, Office 
     of Sustainable Fisheries, Department of Commerce, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled 
     ``Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; 
     Sablefish in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of 
     Alaska'' (RIN0648-XE296) received in the Office of the 
     President of the Senate on December 16, 2015; to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
       EC-3956. A communication from the Acting Director, Office 
     of Sustainable Fisheries, Department of Commerce, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled 
     ``Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico 
     and South Atlantic; 2015-2016 Accountability Measure and 
     Closure for King Mackerel in the Florida West Coast Northern 
     Subzone'' (RIN0648-XE326) received in the Office of the 
     President of the Senate on December 16, 2015; to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
       EC-3957. A communication from the Director of the 
     Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
     Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule 
     entitled ``Spinosad; Pesticide Tolerances'' (FRL No. 9933-41-
     OCSPP) received in the Office of the President of the Senate 
     on December 17, 2015; to the Committee on Agriculture, 
     Nutrition, and Forestry.
       EC-3958. A communication from the Director of the 
     Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
     Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule 
     entitled ``Pesticides; Revisions to Minimum Risk Exemption'' 
     (FRL No. 9934-44-OCSPP) received in the Office of the 
     President of the Senate on December 17, 2015; to the 
     Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
       EC-3959. A communication from the Director of the 
     Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
     Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule 
     entitled ``Ammonium Acetate; Exemption from the Requirement 
     of a Tolerance'' (FRL No. 9939-39-OCSPP) received in the 
     Office of the President of the Senate on December 17, 2015; 
     to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
       EC-3960. A communication from the Director of the 
     Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
     Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule 
     entitled ``2-propenoic Acid Homopolymer, Reaction Products 
     with poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), a-(tris(l-phenylethyl)phenyl)-
     w-hydroxy, tris(2-hydroxyethyl)amine salt); Tolerance 
     Exemption'' (FRL No. 9939-71-OCSPP) received in the Office of 
     the President of the Senate on December 17, 2015; to the 
     Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
       EC-3961. A communication from the Director of the 
     Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
     Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule 
     entitled ``Propiconazole; Pesticide Tolerances'' (FRL No. 
     9939-83-OCSPP) received during adjournment of the Senate in 
     the Office of the

[[Page 281]]

     President of the Senate on December 30, 2015; to the 
     Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
       EC-3962. A communication from the Director of the 
     Regulatory Review Group, Commodity Credit Corporation, 
     Department of Agriculture, transmitting, pursuant to law, the 
     report of a rule entitled ``Payment Limitation and Payment 
     Eligibility; Actively Engaged in Farming'' (RIN0560-AI31) 
     received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of 
     the President of the Senate on December 30, 2015; to the 
     Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
       EC-3963. A communication from the Regulatory Specialist of 
     the Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division, Office of 
     the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled 
     ``Margin and Capital Requirements for Covered Swap Entities; 
     Final Rule'' (RIN1557-AD43) received in the Office of the 
     President of the Senate on December 17, 2015; to the 
     Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
       EC-3964. A communication from the Regulatory Specialist of 
     the Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division, Office of 
     the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled 
     ``Margin and Capital Requirements for Covered Swap Entities; 
     Interim Final Rule'' (RIN1557-AD00) received in the Office of 
     the President of the Senate on December 17, 2015; to the 
     Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
       EC-3965. A communication from the Acting Under Secretary of 
     Defense (Personnel and Readiness), transmitting the report of 
     an officer authorized to wear the insignia of the grade of 
     admiral in accordance with title 10, United States Code, 
     section 777a, for a period not to exceed 14 days before 
     assuming the duties of the position for which the higher 
     grade is authorized; to the Committee on Armed Services.
       EC-3966. A communication from the Acting Under Secretary of 
     Defense (Personnel and Readiness), transmitting the report of 
     an officer authorized to wear the insignia of the grade of 
     brigadier general in accordance with title 10, United States 
     Code, section 777; to the Committee on Armed Services.
       EC-3967. A communication from the Senior Congressional 
     Liaison, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled 
     ``Home Mortgage Disclosure (Regulation C) Adjustment to 
     Asset-Size Exemption Threshold'' (12 CFR Part 1003) received 
     during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the 
     President of the Senate on December 31, 2015; to the 
     Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
       EC-3968. A communication from the Assistant to the Board of 
     Governors of the Federal Reserve System, transmitting, 
     pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Amendments 
     to the Capital Plan and Stress Test Rules'' ((RIN7100-AE33) 
     (12 CFR Parts 225 and 252)) received during adjournment of 
     the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on 
     December 30, 2015; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
     Urban Affairs.
       EC-3969. A communication from the Director of Legislative 
     Affairs, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, transmitting, 
     pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Treatment of 
     Financial Assets Transferred in Connection With a 
     Securitization or Participation'' (RIN3064-AE32) received 
     during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the 
     President of the Senate on December 30, 2015; to the 
     Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
       EC-3970. A communication from the Secretary of the 
     Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, a six-month periodic 
     report on the national emergency with respect to terrorists 
     who threaten to disrupt the Middle East peace process that 
     was declared in Executive Order 12947 of January 23, 1995; to 
     the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
       EC-3971. A communication from the Secretary of the 
     Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, a six-month periodic 
     report on the national emergency with respect to the Western 
     Balkans that was declared in Executive Order 13219 of June 
     26, 2001; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
     Affairs.
       EC-3972. A communication from the Secretary of the 
     Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, a six-month periodic 
     report on the national emergency with respect to North Korea 
     that was declared in Executive Order 13466 of June 26, 2008; 
     to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
       EC-3973. A communication from the General Counsel of the 
     Federal Housing Finance Agency, transmitting, pursuant to 
     law, the report of a rule entitled ``Suspended Counterparty 
     Program'' (RIN2590-AA60) received during adjournment of the 
     Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on 
     December 17, 2015; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
     Urban Affairs.
       EC-3974. A communication from the Secretary of the 
     Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, a six-month periodic 
     report on the national emergency that was declared in 
     Executive Order 13405 of June 16, 2006, with respect to 
     Belarus; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
     Affairs.
       EC-3975. A communication from the Secretary of Commerce, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, the Department of Commerce's 
     Bureau of Industry and Security Annual Report for fiscal year 
     2015; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
     Affairs.
       EC-3976. A communication from the Assistant Secretary, 
     Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, 
     pursuant to law, a six-month periodic report relative to the 
     continuation of the national emergency with respect to the 
     proliferation of weapons of mass destruction that was 
     originally declared in Executive Order 12938 of November 14, 
     1994; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
     Affairs.
       EC-3977. A communication from the General Counsel of the 
     Federal Housing Finance Agency, transmitting, pursuant to 
     law, the report of a rule entitled ``Technical Amendments: 
     FHFA Address and Zip Code Change.'' (RIN2590-AA79) received 
     in the Office of the President of the Senate on December 17, 
     2015; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
     Affairs.
       EC-3978. A communication from the Senior Congressional 
     Liaison, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled 
     ``Truth in Lending Act (Regulation Z) Adjustment to Asset-
     Size Exemption Threshold'' (12 CFR Part 1026) received during 
     adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of 
     the Senate on December 31, 2015; to the Committee on Banking, 
     Housing, and Urban Affairs.
       EC-3979. A communication from the Director of the 
     Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
     Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule 
     entitled ``Determination of Attainment; Texas; Houston-
     Galveston-Brazoria 1997 Ozone Nonattainment Area; 
     Determination of Attainment of the 1997 Ozone Standard'' (FRL 
     No. 9940-63-Region 6) received during adjournment of the 
     Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on 
     December 30, 2015; to the Committee on Environment and Public 
     Works.
       EC-3980. A communication from the Director of the 
     Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
     Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule 
     entitled ``Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; 
     Washington; Removal of Obsolete Regulations'' (FRL No. 9940-
     93-Region 10) received during adjournment of the Senate in 
     the Office of the President of the Senate on December 30, 
     2015; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
       EC-3981. A communication from the Director of the 
     Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
     Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule 
     entitled ``Air Plan Approval; SD; Update to Materials 
     Incorporated by Reference'' (FRL No. 9939-87-Region 8) 
     received in the Office of the President of the Senate on 
     December 17, 2015; to the Committee on Environment and Public 
     Works.
       EC-3982. A communication from the Attorney-Advisor, Bureau 
     of the Fiscal Service, Department of the Treasury, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled 
     ``Offset of Tax Refund Payments to Collect Past-Due Support'' 
     ((RIN1510-AA10) (31 CFR Part 285)) received during 
     adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of 
     the Senate on December 30, 2015; to the Committee on Finance.
       EC-3983. A communication from the Deputy Director, Centers 
     for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and 
     Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of 
     a rule entitled ``Medicare Program; Prior Authorization 
     Process for Certain Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, 
     Orthotics, and Supplies'' ((RIN0938-AR85) (CMS-6050-F)) 
     received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of 
     the President of the Senate on December 30, 2015; to the 
     Committee on Finance.
       EC-3984. 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 ``Inflation-Adjusted Items for 2015 for 
     Certain Civil Penalties Under the Internal Revenue Code'' 
     (Rev. Proc. 2016-11) received during adjournment of the 
     Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on 
     January 4, 2016; to the Committee on Finance.
       EC-3985. 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 ``Applicable Federal Rates--January 2016'' 
     (Rev. Rul. 2016-1) received during adjournment of the Senate 
     in the Office of the President of the Senate on January 4, 
     2016; to the Committee on Finance.
       EC-3986. 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 ``Standard Mileage Rate'' (Notice 2016-1) 
     received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of 
     the President of the Senate on January 4, 2016; to the 
     Committee on Finance.
       EC-3987. A communication from the Chief of the Publications 
     and Regulations Branch,

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     Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled 
     ``Federal Tax Treatment of Identity Protection Services'' 
     (Announcement 2016-02) received during adjournment of the 
     Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on 
     January 4, 2016; to the Committee on Finance.
       EC-3988. 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 ``Hepatitis C 
     Virus `Lookback' Requirements Based on Review of Historical 
     Testing Records; Technical Amendment'' ((RIN0910-AB76) 
     (Docket No. FDA-1999-N-0114, formerly 1999N-2337)) received 
     during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the 
     President of the Senate on December 30, 2015; to the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
       EC-3989. A communication from the Deputy Assistant 
     Secretary for Employment and Training, Department of Labor, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled 
     ``Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and 
     Audit Requirements for Federal Awards Technical Amendments'' 
     (RIN1205-AB71) received during adjournment of the Senate in 
     the Office of the President of the Senate on December 30, 
     2015; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions.
       EC-3990. A communication from the Chairman, Merit Systems 
     Protection Board, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report 
     entitled ``Training and Development for the Senior Executive 
     Service: A Necessary Investment''; to the Committee on 
     Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
       EC-3991. A communication from the Secretary of Housing and 
     Urban Development, transmitting, pursuant to law, the 
     Department of Housing and Urban Development 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-3992. A communication from the Acting Commissioner of 
     the Social Security Administration, 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-3993. A communication from the Executive Director of the 
     Federal Labor Relations Authority, transmitting, pursuant to 
     law, the Office of Inspector General Semiannual Report for 
     the period of April 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015; to 
     the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
       EC-3994. A communication from the Senior Procurement 
     Executive, Office of Acquisition Policy, General Services 
     Administration, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of 
     a rule entitled ``Federal Acquisition Regulation; Sole Source 
     Contracts for Women-Owned Small Businesses'' ((RIN9000-AN13) 
     (FAC 2005-86)) received during adjournment of the Senate in 
     the Office of the President of the Senate on December 30, 
     2015; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs.
       EC-3995. A communication from the Senior Procurement 
     Executive, Office of Acquisition Policy, General Services 
     Administration, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of 
     a rule entitled ``Federal Acquisition Regulation; New 
     Designated Countries--Montenegro and New Zealand'' ((RIN9000-
     AN15) (FAC 2005-86)) received during adjournment of the 
     Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on 
     December 30, 2015; to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs.
       EC-3996. A communication from the District of Columbia 
     Auditor, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled 
     ``Fiscal Year 2014 Annual Report on Advisory Neighborhood 
     Commissions''; to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs.
       EC-3997. A communication from the Acting Commissioner of 
     Social Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Agency 
     Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2015; to the Committee on 
     Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
       EC-3998. A communication from the Assistant Secretary, 
     Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Department of State, 
     transmitting, pursuant to law, the Uniform Resource Locator 
     (URL) for the Department of State's Agency Financial Report 
     for fiscal year 2015; to the Committee on Homeland Security 
     and Governmental Affairs.
       EC-3999. A communication from the District of Columbia 
     Auditor, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled 
     ``Advisory Neighborhood Commission Security Fund Annual 
     Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2015''; to the Committee on 
     Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
       EC-4000. A communication from the Chair, Federal Election 
     Commission, transmitting proposed legislation; to the 
     Committee on Rules and Administration.
       EC-4001. A communication from the Director of Regulation 
     Policy and Management, Veterans Benefits Administration, 
     Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting, pursuant to 
     law, the report of a rule entitled ``Payment of Emergency 
     Medication by VA'' (RIN2900-AP34) received during adjournment 
     of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on 
     December 30, 2015; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
       EC-4002. A communication from the Director of Regulation 
     Policy and Management, Veterans Benefits Administration, 
     Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting, pursuant to 
     law, the report of a rule entitled ``Removal of Requirement 
     to File Direct-Pay Fee Agreements with the Office of the 
     General Counsel'' (RIN2900-AP28) received during adjournment 
     of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on 
     December 30, 2015; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

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