[House Report 114-82]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                  Union Calendar No. 60

114th Congress, 1st Session -  -  -  -  -  -  -  House Report 114-82
_______________________________________________________________________



                            OVERSIGHT PLANS

                                FOR ALL

                            HOUSE COMMITTEES


                               __________

                                 by the

              COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM

                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

               (Required by House Rule X, Clause 2(d)(2))


[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                                     


 April 15, 2015.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed
              
                                   ______

                         U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 

49-006                         WASHINGTON : 2015              
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
              
                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                    Washington, DC, April 15, 2015.
Hon. John A. Boehner,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: In accordance with clause 2(d)(2) of Rule 
X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, I respectfully 
submit the oversight plans of each standing committee.
            Sincerely,
                                            Jason Chaffetz,
                                                          Chairman.
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                  Union Calendar No. 60
114th Congress   }                                        {      Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session     }                                        {      114-82

======================================================================
 
                OVERSIGHT PLANS FOR ALL HOUSE COMMITTEES

                                _______
                                

 April 15, 2015.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

  Mr. Jason Chaffetz, from the Committee on Oversight and Government 
                    Reform, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                    OVERSIGHT IN THE 114TH CONGRESS

    [The oversight plans of all House committees follow:]
    
                        COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                                  February 6, 2015.
Hon. Jason Chaffetz,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Chairman Chaffetz: Pursuant to House Rule X, clause 
2(d)(1), I submit the following plan to fulfill the General 
Oversight Responsibilities reporting requirements. This outline 
was prepared in consultation with the Ranking Member, was 
presented to the full Committee for its consideration, and is 
now offered for your consideration relative to your 
responsibilities under the Rules.
    The attached agenda constitutes the oversight plan of the 
Committee on Agriculture for the 114th Congress. It includes 
areas in which the Committee and its subcommittees expect to 
conduct oversight or investigation of additional matters or 
programs as they arise. The Committee will consult, as 
appropriate, with other committees of the House that may share 
subject matter interest. If you have any questions regarding 
this outline, do not hesitate to contact me.
            Sincerely,
                                        K. Michael Conaway,
                                                          Chairman.

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

    This oversight plan is filed pursuant to Rule X, clause 
2(d)(1) of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives for 
the 114th Congress. This plan was prepared in consultation with 
the Ranking Member and was presented to the full committee for 
its consideration.
    The committee and its subcommittees expect to exercise 
appropriate oversight activity with regard to the issues listed 
below. In general, the committee intends to identify programs 
that are inefficient, duplicative, outdated or more 
appropriately administered by State or local governments for 
possible cuts or elimination. In addition to the list below, 
the Committee will conduct any other general oversight as 
appropriate and necessary. The committee will consult, as 
appropriate, with other committees of the House that may share 
subject matter interest.
    The committee expects to exercise appropriate oversight 
activity with regard to the following issues:
2014 FARM BILL AND CURRENT AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS
     Review the current state of the U.S. farm economy;
     Review the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) 
implementation of the Agricultural Act of 2014;
     Review programs for waste, fraud, abuse and 
mismanagement;
     Review the state of credit conditions and 
availability in rural America;
     Review the effect of weather conditions on crop 
production;
     Review USDA's implementation of the U.S. Warehouse 
Act;
     Review of market situation, including effect of 
crop reports and projections;
     Review USDA's implementation of the U.S. Grain 
Standards Act;
     Review USDA's implementation of the Fair and 
Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004;
     Review how Administrative Pay-Go is affecting 
Department actions;
     Review discretionary actions by USDA that are not 
directly authorized by legislation; and
ENERGY
     Assess energy programs authorized by the 
Agricultural Act of 2014;
     Review administration of the Biomass Crop 
Assistance Program (BCAP);
     Review activities funded by the Biomass Research 
and Development Act (BRDA) and input from the external BRDA 
Advisory Board;
     Review availability of agriculture and forestry 
feedstocks for renewable energy production;
     Review current status of research on energy crops 
and feedstocks;
     Review Rural Utility Service (RUS) electric loan 
program;
     Review electricity reliability in rural America;
     Review current provisions in existing law that 
support agriculture-based energy production and use;
     Review the implementation of the Renewable Fuels 
Standard (RFS);
     Review renewable fuel programs and their effect on 
agriculture; and
CONSERVATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT
     Review the effect of regulatory activities by the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its effect on 
agriculture productivity;
     Review the effect of regulatory activities carried 
out pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), or any 
proposed legislative changes to such Act, on agricultural 
producers;
     Review the effect of the Administration's 
regulatory activity relative to methyl bromide on production of 
agriculture in the U.S.;
     Review budget and program activities of the 
Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS);
     Review implementation of all of USDA's 
conservation programs;
     Review USDA's implementation of the conservation 
compliance provisions in the Agricultural Act of 2014;
     Review EPA's jurisdiction under the Clean Water 
Act (CWA) and its effect on U.S. agriculture;
     Review of potential effects of EPA's Clean Air Act 
(CAA) regulatory program on U.S. agriculture;
     Review ongoing discussions and potential 
consequences for American agriculture under the United Nations 
Climate Change Conference;
     Review EPA's implementation of the Food Quality 
Protection Act (FQPA), Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and Pesticide Registration Improvement 
Renewal Act (PRIA III);
     Review the effect of litigation and rulemaking 
concerning FIFRA, ESA, CAA, CWA, the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) 
and the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act 
(EPCRA) to evaluate these statutes' effects on agricultural 
operations;
     Review the EPA's regulatory actions in regard to 
pesticide evaluations;
     Review EPA's regulation of Animal Feeding 
Operations;
     Review Total Maximum Daily Load strategies and 
effects on production agriculture; and
FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT
     Review USDA's implementation of crop insurance 
provisions of the Agricultural Act of 2014;
     Review the role and effectiveness of Federal Crop 
Insurance;
     Review USDA's and the Risk Management Agency's 
(RMA) administration and oversight of Federal Crop Insurance;
     Review the availability of crop insurance as a 
risk management tool;
     Review the adequacy and availability of risk 
management tools for the livestock and dairy industries;
     Review USDA's activities established to identify 
and reduce crop insurance waste, fraud, and abuse;
     Review USDA's crop insurance rating methodology 
and management of the Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA) 
process;
     Review RMA's yield and revenue protection crop 
insurance products;
     Review RMA's progress in approving crop insurance 
products for underserved commodities; and
IMPLEMENTATION OF TITLE VII OF THE DODD-FRANK WALL STREET REFORM AND 
        CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT
     In its review of rulemakings required by Title VII 
of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection 
Act (P.L. 111-203)(Dodd-Frank Act), the Committee will continue 
to ensure:
          (1) The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission 
        (CFTC) and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission 
        (SEC) rulemaking process is transparent and that 
        meaningful comment is accepted and appropriately 
        reviewed;
          (2) An adequate cost-benefit analysis is performed by 
        the CFTC for each proposed or finalized rule;
          (3) The CFTC and SEC properly coordinate with both 
        domestic and international financial regulators;
          (4) Past exemptive relief orders, also referred to as 
        ``no action letters,'' issued by the CFTC and SEC 
        provide the proper relief for market participants; and
          (5) Any final or proposed regulations have not harmed 
        or adversely effected the U.S. economy or financial 
        markets, including the effect on jobs and 
        competitiveness;
     Examine how Title VII rulemakings have affected 
U.S. market structure;
     Examine the developing effect of CFTC, SEC, and 
Prudential Regulator regulations, such as the imposition of new 
margin and capital requirements, and how they affect the 
ability of many ``end-users'' to utilize swaps to hedge against 
legitimate business risks;
     Examine the level of coordination between U.S. and 
international regulators for potential effects on U.S. 
financial institutions compared to their foreign counterparts;
     Examine the feasibility of timetables established 
by the Dodd-Frank Act in building the data, technology and 
connectivity necessary to meet regulatory objectives; and
THE U.S. COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION AND OVERSIGHT OF THE 
        DERIVATIVES MARKETS
     Review the operations of the Commodity Futures 
Trading Commission (CFTC);
     Review the growing consolidation and 
internationalization of futures exchange trading;
     Review market machinations for exchange traded 
energy and agricultural futures products;
     Review enforcement and oversight capabilities of 
the CFTC both domestically and internationally;
     Continue to examine how the CFTC and futures 
industry as a whole has addressed the MF Global and PFGBest 
bankruptcies from both an enforcement and regulatory reform 
standpoint to ensure that proper remedial action is taken to 
prevent future losses to segregated funds of customers;
     In light of the Commodity Exchange Act statutory 
authorization of the CFTC which expired at the end of FY2013, 
the Committee will continue to examine all sectors of the U.S. 
derivatives and futures markets, including, but not limited to: 
exchange or swap execution facility trading; the roles of 
dealers, inter-dealer brokers, data repositories, and 
clearinghouses; trade and price reporting; and proposals aimed 
at protecting the segregated funds of futures customers;
     Continue to examine the ongoing investigation and 
enforcement action by the CFTC and other federal regulators 
with respect to the manipulation of international financial 
benchmarks;
     Review all operations of the CFTC, including, but 
not limited to: a continued examination of whether the cost-
benefit analysis required by section 15a of the CEA is adequate 
with respect to proposed and finalized rules; the efficiency of 
internal Commission actions; and the enforcement and oversight 
capabilities of the CFTC both domestically and internationally; 
and

AGRICULTURE TRADE AND INTERNATIONAL FOOD AID

     Review domestic subsidies and protection currently 
applied by agricultural product producing countries around the 
world;
     Review ongoing multilateral, regional, and 
bilateral trade negotiations (including World Trade 
Organization (WTO) accession agreements) to assess their 
potential effect on U.S. agriculture;----
     Review implementation of existing trade agreements 
and commitments as well as proposed trade agreements and 
commitments to determine:
          (1) whether they are consistent with current U.S. 
        law;
          (2) whether they will promote economic development in 
        rural areas of the U.S.;
          (3) their effect or potential effect on current 
        production of import sensitive agricultural 
        commodities, and on exports of U.S. agricultural 
        products;
          (4) their effect or potential effect on the overall 
        competitiveness of the U.S. agricultural sector, 
        including the production, processing and distribution 
        of agricultural products; and
          (5) whether the agreements provide adequate, 
        enforceable provisions to minimize non-tariff barriers 
        to U.S. exports;
     Monitor existing trade agreements to ensure 
trading partners are meeting obligations and enforcing trade 
commitments;
     Review agricultural export programs to determine 
how well they are promoting the interests of U.S. agriculture 
and examine proposals to improve, modify or expand such 
programs;
     Review U.S. food aid programs to determine their 
effect or potential effect on the reduction of world hunger. In 
particular, the committee will examine the potential effect of 
trade negotiations on the effectiveness of U.S. food aid 
programs;
     Review monitoring and evaluation activities 
carried out by USDA and USAID;
     Review sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) barriers 
and other technical barriers to U.S. agricultural exports and 
examine USDA efforts to eliminate such barriers; and

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND PROMOTION

     Review implementation of biosecurity protocols at 
USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) laboratories;
     Review USDA's implementation of research, 
education and extension programs authorized in the Agricultural 
Act of 2014;
     Review the administration of the ARS research 
stations and worksites;
     Review USDA's continuing ability to conduct 
foreign animal disease research, training and diagnostic 
programs at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility 
following the transfer of the center to the Department of 
Homeland Security;
     Assess federal efforts to facilitate research and 
development of aquacultural enterprises, specifically focusing 
on the activities of the Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture;
     Review USDA's regulation of organic standards;
     Review USDA's collection of organic production and 
market data;
     Review administration of the National Institute of 
Food and Agriculture (NIFA);
     Review the administration of the Agricultural Food 
Research Initiative and other competitive research, extension 
and education grants programs;
     Review efforts to leverage Federal research 
investment with state, local, and private sources of funding;
     Review coordination between ARS, Economic Research 
Service (ERS), NIFA and action agencies in USDA--such as NRCS 
and FSA--in order to prevent duplicative research;
     Review operation of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board;
     Review USDA's efforts to expand research and 
development of pathogen reduction technologies;
     Evaluate the current mix of research funding 
mechanisms to ensure maximum benefits from these investments to 
producers, processors and consumers;
     Review administration of USDA's agricultural 
marketing and promotion programs;
     Review coordination between USDA and DOE on energy 
research programs;
     Review the sufficiency of research funding under 
ARS, ERS, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and 
NIFA;
     Review ARS, ERS, NASS and NIFA national program 
priorities;
     Conduct oversight of the research grant process, 
generally, and more specifically to coordinate and prevent 
overlapping research;
     Review the potential for research and technology 
transfer to address the needs of both the biofuels and 
livestock industries; and

BIOTECHNOLOGY

     Review current regulations and research regarding 
animal and plant biotechnology;
     Review FDA's regulatory activities regarding 
genetically engineered animals;
     Assess USDA's efforts to develop and promote 
benefits of biotechnology for increasing agricultural 
productivity and combating hunger globally;
     Review USDA's management and controls over 
biotechnology-derived material;
     Review the effect of litigation on USDA's 
timeliness in resolving petitions to deregulate products of 
biotechnology;
     Review effects of state, county and municipal 
regulation of biotechnology on the free-flow of agricultural 
products in interstate commerce; and

U.S. FOREST SERVICE ADMINISTRATION

     Review the U.S. Forest Service's (USFS) strategy 
for dealing with wildfire, including the effect of hazardous 
fuels management, forest health efforts and fire preparedness;
     Continue to monitor the effectiveness and 
efficiency of the USFS fire management program;
     Review the effect of fire expenses on other USFS 
program delivery;
     Assess the USFS strategy for timber harvesting on 
federal lands;
     Review effects of environmental regulations on 
National Forest land management;
     Review economic effects of National Forest land 
management on rural communities;
     Review USFS efforts to promote utilization of 
National Forest timber for renewable energy purposes; and

DAIRY

     Review USDA's implementation of the dairy risk 
management provisions in the Agricultural Act of 2014;
     Review options to improve the efficiency and 
effectiveness of dairy programs;
     Review efficiency of federal market order system; 
and

OUTREACH AND CIVIL RIGHTS

     Review the operations of the Office of Advocacy 
and Outreach;
     Monitor USDA's outreach efforts to beginning, 
small and minority farmers/ranchers;
     Monitor USDA's outreach efforts to military 
veterans interested in careers in agriculture;
     Review of the operations of the office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights;
     Review USDA's implementation of the receipt for 
service provisions in the Agricultural Act of 2014;
     Review USDA's process for settling discrimination 
claims and evaluating individual claims submitted pursuant to 
such settlements;
     Review the delivery of USDA services and outreach 
efforts on Indian reservations and tribal lands;
     Review the current status of the Agricultural 
Census and efforts to reach undercounted farmers and ranchers;
     Review participation of minority farmers in FSA 
County/Local Committees as well as outreach to increase 
participation in County Committee elections; and

USDA GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

     Review confidentiality of information provided to 
USDA by agricultural producers;
     Review USDA's implementation of field office 
consolidation for the purpose of effectively and efficiently 
delivering commodity, conservation, energy and rural 
development programs;
     Review USDA's efforts to modernize its Information 
Technology (IT) systems;
     Review the administrative structure of USDA for 
effectiveness and efficiency; and

FARM CREDIT, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, AND THE RURAL ECONOMY

     Review the Farm Credit Administration's (FCA) 
regulatory program and activities regarding the Farm Credit 
System (FCS) to assure its safety and soundness;
     Review the activities and programs of the Federal 
Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (also referred to as Farmer 
Mac);
     Review FSA's direct and guaranteed loan programs 
and graduation efforts;
     Review the Rural Electrification Act (REA);
     Review the farm economy and access to credit;
     Review implementation of rural development 
policies and authorities contained in the Agricultural Act of 
2014 and the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act;
     Conduct oversight of the USDA's Rural Broadband 
Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program;
     Review USDA Rural Development's application 
processes and internal controls related to the Farm Bill;
     Review the administration of the Rural 
Microentrepreneur Assistance Program;
     Conduct oversight of the implementation of USDA's 
Telecommunications Programs;
     Review the status of the Rural Telephone Bank;
     Assess the state of rural water systems and 
effectiveness of federal funding to build and upgrade those 
systems;
     Assess the effectiveness of USDA programs targeted 
toward rural infrastructure and business needs;
     Review agricultural lending practices;
     Review public-private partnerships in lending 
through guaranteed loans;
     Review the definition of ``rural'' under rural 
development programs;
     Review rural development loan programs and default 
rates; and

USDA FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS

     Review food and nutrition programs including the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), fruit and 
vegetable initiatives, the Emergency Food Assistance Program 
(TEFAP), the Food Distribution on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) 
program and other commodity distribution programs;
     Review participant eligibility criteria for SNAP;
     Review the interaction between SNAP and other low-
income assistance programs such as the Temporary Assistance for 
Needy Families (TANF) program, the Low-Income Home Energy 
Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and provisions in the Affordable 
Care Act;
     Review SNAP work pilots and the efficiency and 
accountability of the SNAP Employment & Training program;
     Review efforts by USDA and the states to combat 
waste, fraud and abuse within nutrition programs;
     Review efforts by state SNAP administrators to 
modernize and streamline their programs;
     Review the Community Food Project Program to 
ensure cooperative grants are working; and

SPECIALTY CROPS

     Review implementation of the Specialty Crop 
Competitiveness Act;
     Review the Specialty Crop Block Grant program to 
ensure that the grants awarded are enhancing the specialty crop 
industry;
     Review farmers market programs;
     Review implementation and effectiveness of 
cooperative plant health programs, including Plant Pest and 
Disease Management and Disaster Prevention and the Clean Plant 
Network;
     Review the Specialty Crop Research Initiative; and

FOOD SAFETY

     Review implementation of the FDA Food Safety 
Modernization Act;
     Review implementation of the FDA Egg Safety Rule;
     Review USDA's administration of meat and poultry 
inspection laws and the FDA's food inspection activities to 
ensure the development of scientifically sound systems for food 
safety assurance;
     Review USDA's implementation of the catfish 
inspection program;
     Review USDA's efforts to educate consumers 
regarding safe food handling practices and streamline the 
assessment and approval of food safety technologies;
     Review implementation of new protocols for meat, 
poultry, eggs, or seafood safety inspection;
     Review USDA's enforcement of the Humane Methods of 
Slaughter Act and humane handling regulations;
     Review the mechanisms to establish scientifically 
based international food safety standards; and

PLANT AND ANIMAL HEALTH

     Review enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act;
     Assess federal efforts to reduce threats to human, 
animal, and plant health due to predatory and invasive species;
     Review efforts of the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) to manage wildlife conflicts in 
order to protect public health and safety;
     Assess USDA's Animal Disease Traceability Plan;
     Review implementation of Sec. 10201 (of the 2008 
farm bill) regarding plant pest and disease management and 
disaster prevention; and

LIVESTOCK MARKETING

     Assess the effectiveness of the Grain Inspection, 
Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) in determining 
market manipulation in the livestock industry;
     Review structural changes in agribusiness and the 
potential cost and benefits for agricultural producers;
     Review the USDA's mandatory livestock price 
reporting system; and

HOMELAND AND AGRICULTURAL SECURITY

     Oversight of USDA's preparedness against terrorist 
threats to agriculture production;
     Review cooperative efforts between the Department 
of Homeland Security and USDA to prevent against foreign animal 
disease;
     Review agriculture inspection activities under the 
Department of Homeland Security; and

MISCELLANEOUS

     Review the effects of sequestration on USDA 
operations and programs;
     Review the effect of transportation infrastructure 
issues on agriculture and forestry;
     Review USDA's implementation and enforcement of 
the country of origin labeling rule including, but not limited 
to, actions taken by USDA to implement measures necessary to 
comply with the recommendations and rulings of the WTO Dispute 
Settlement Body on Certain Country of Origin Labeling 
Requirements; and

CONSULTATION WITH OTHER COMMITTEES TO REDUCE DUPLICATION

     With Natural Resources on forestry issues, ESA 
issues and other public land issues;
     With Science on research;
     With Ways and Means and Education and the 
Workforce on nutrition programs;
     With Ways and Means on trade issues;
     With Homeland Security on importation of animal 
and plant material and on research related to agroterrorism;
     With Judiciary on immigrant agricultural labor;
     With Energy and Commerce on food safety and 
biomass energy programs both existing and new;
     With Transportation and Infrastructure on certain 
CWA compliance issues;
     With Financial Services on Dodd-Frank Act issues;
     With Foreign Affairs on food aid and trade issues;
     With Small Business on addressing economic 
opportunities for rural America; and
     Any other committee as appropriate.
    
    
    
    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    
                      COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                  Washington, DC, January 20, 2015.
Hon. Jason Chaffetz,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to rule X of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, I am forwarding to you an electronic 
and paper copy of the Committee on Armed Services' Oversight 
Plan for the 114th Congress, as adopted by the committee on 
Wednesday, January 14, 2015.
    I look forward to working with you in the 114th Congress.
            Sincerely,
                             William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
                                                          Chairman.

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

    This oversight plan is filed pursuant to clause 2(d) of 
rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives that 
requires that, not later than February 15 of the first session 
of a Congress, each standing committee of the House shall adopt 
its oversight plan for that Congress.

                           TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction.....................................................    25
Oversight Agenda.................................................    26
Policy Issues....................................................    29
  National Defense Strategy, National Military Strategy, and 
    Related Defense Policy Issues................................    29
  U.S. Military Effort in Afghanistan............................    30
    Force Protection.............................................    31
  Operation Inherent Resolve.....................................    31
    Authorization for Use of Military Force......................    32
    Force Protection.............................................    32
  Global War on Terrorism........................................    32
  The Greater Middle East........................................    33
    Islamic Republic of Pakistan.................................    33
    Republic of Iraq.............................................    33
    Islamic Republic of Iran.....................................    34
    Syrian Arab Republic.........................................    34
    Republic of Yemen............................................    35
  The Continent of Africa........................................    35
    North Africa.................................................    35
    East Africa..................................................    35
    West Africa..................................................    35
    Central Africa...............................................    36
  Europe.........................................................    36
    Russian Federation...........................................    37
  Asia...........................................................    37
  Central and South America......................................    38
  Addressing Emerging Threats....................................    39
  Detainee Policy, Military Commissions, and Related Matters.....    40
  Intelligence...................................................    40
  National Guard and Reserves....................................    41
Fiscal Responsibility and Efficiency.............................    42
  Overview.......................................................    42
  Organization and Management of the Department of Defense.......    42
  Financial Management...........................................    43
  Acquisition Issues.............................................    43
    The Acquisition System and Acquisition Policy................    43
    Defense Industrial Base and Technology Transfers.............    45
    Information Technology and Business Systems..................    45
Readiness........................................................    46
  Reset..........................................................    46
  Force Readiness................................................    46
  Life-Cycle Sustainment.........................................    47
  Depot and Arsenal Capability...................................    47
  Civilian Personnel.............................................    48
  Energy and Environment.........................................    48
Military Construction and Infrastructure.........................    48
  Basing.........................................................    48
  Military Construction Programming..............................    49
  Real Property Acquisition, Maintenance, and Disposal...........    49
Total Force, Personnel, and Health Care Issues...................    49
  Manpower Sufficient in Quantity and Quality to Meet Global 
    Commitments..................................................    49
  Morale, Welfare and Recreation Programs and Military Resale 
    Programs.....................................................    50
  Military Benefits and Compensation.............................    50
  Mental Health Services for Members of the Armed Forces.........    50
  Sexual Assault in the Military.................................    51
  Military Health Care System....................................    51
  Wounded Warrior Care...........................................    52
  Military Family Readiness......................................    52
  Prisoner of War and Missing in Action..........................    52
  Women in Service...............................................    53
Modernization and Investment Issues..............................    53
  Overview.......................................................    53
  Army and Marine Corps Armored Vehicle Modernization............    53
  Army and Marine Corps Tactical Wheeled Vehicles................    54
  Army Aviation Programs.........................................    54
  Army Communications Programs...................................    55
  Organizational Clothing and Individual Equipment...............    55
  Tactical Aircraft Force Structure..............................    55
  F-35/Joint Strike Fighter......................................    56
  Bomber Force Structure.........................................    56
  Aerial Refueling Aircraft......................................    57
  Intertheater and Intratheater Airlift..........................    57
  Surface Warfare Programs.......................................    58
  Undersea Warfare Programs......................................    58
  Military Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance 
    Programs.....................................................    59
  Emerging Advanced Weapons Capabilities.........................    59
  Nuclear Deterrence.............................................    60
  Missile Defense................................................    61
  National Security Space........................................    61
Emerging Threats and Capabilities................................    62
  Investment in Future Capabilities Science and Technology.......    62
  Cyber Operations Capabilities..................................    63
  Information Operations.........................................    63
  Compromises of National Security Information and Insider 
    Threats......................................................    64
  Use of Force in Counterterrorism Operations Outside the United 
    States and Areas of Active Hostilities.......................    64

                              Introduction

    The oversight responsibilities of the Committee on Armed 
Services are conducted throughout the calendar year. They are 
instrumental in the committee's consideration of the annual 
defense authorization bill, which covers the breadth of the 
operations of the Department of Defense as well as the national 
security functions of the Department of Energy and other 
related areas. The annual national defense budget involves 
millions of military and civilian personnel, thousands of 
facilities, and hundreds of agencies, departments, and commands 
located throughout the world. Contingency operations related to 
the global war on terrorism will continue to expand the range 
of topics requiring committee oversight including strategic, 
operational, and budgetary issues of great scope and 
complexity.
    The committee has jurisdiction over laws, programs, and 
agencies under permanent authority in numerous titles of the 
United States Code, including title 10 (Armed Forces), title 32 
(National Guard), title 37 (Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed 
Services), title 41 (Public Contracts), title 42 (Atomic 
Energy), title 46 (Shipping), and title 50 (War and National 
Defense).
    The jurisdiction of the committee, pursuant to clause 1(c) 
of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives is as 
follows:
          1. Ammunition depots; forts; arsenals; Army, Navy, 
        and Air Force reservations and establishments.
          2. Common defense generally.
          3. Conservation, development, and use of naval 
        petroleum and oil shale reserves.
          4. The Department of Defense generally, including the 
        Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force generally.
          5. Interoceanic canals generally, including measures 
        relating to the maintenance, operation, and 
        administration of interoceanic canals.
          6. Merchant Marine Academy, and State Merchant Marine 
        Academies.
          7. Military applications of nuclear energy.
          8. Tactical intelligence and intelligence related 
        activities of the Department of Defense.
          9. National security aspects of merchant marine, 
        including financial assistance for the construction and 
        operation of vessels, the maintenance of the U.S. 
        shipbuilding and ship repair industrial base, cabotage, 
        cargo preference, and merchant marine officers and 
        seamen as these matters relate to national security.
          10. Pay, promotion, retirement, and other benefits 
        and privileges of members of the armed services.
          11. Scientific research and development in support of 
        the armed services.
          12. Selective service.
          13. Size and composition of the Army, Navy, Marine 
        Corps, and Air Force.
          14. Soldiers' and sailors' homes.
          15. Strategic and critical materials necessary for 
        the common defense.
          16. Cemeteries administered by the Department of 
        Defense.
    In addition to its legislative jurisdiction and general 
oversight function, the committee has special oversight 
functions with respect to international arms control and 
disarmament and the education of military dependents in schools 
pursuant to clause 3(b) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives.

                            Oversight Agenda

    The committee will continue its oversight and assessment of 
threats to U.S. national security as it considers the fiscal 
year 2016 and fiscal year 2017 defense budget requests. This 
effort will involve appropriate oversight hearings with the 
Secretary of Defense; the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff; the individual service secretaries and chiefs of staff; 
combatant commanders; other officials of the Department of 
Defense and the military departments; officials from the Office 
of the Director of National Intelligence, Central Intelligence 
Agency, and other defense-related intelligence agencies; and 
the Secretary of Energy, the Under Secretary for Nuclear 
Security, and other officials of the Department of Energy. In 
addition, the committee will invite the views and perspectives 
of outside experts in academia, industry, associations and 
advocacy organizations, and those in private life with 
expertise on these matters. Finally, the committee will 
continue its aggressive outreach program to seek the views and 
perspectives of service members and their families to include 
Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve members across the 
United States and at deployed locations overseas.
    The committee carries out its oversight of the Department 
of Defense and its subordinate departments and agencies as well 
as portions of the Department of Energy through activities 
involving the full committee and its standing subcommittees. 
Each subcommittee with assigned topical or programmatic 
responsibilities conducts oversight of the programs within its 
jurisdiction as specified in the committee's rules. Certain 
issues and activities requiring more extensive, lengthy, and 
in-depth review are assigned to the Subcommittee on Oversight 
and Investigations. This subcommittee works with the relevant 
subcommittees (and/or full committee) in a coordinated manner 
to undertake the necessary oversight.
    The oversight agenda below, unless otherwise noted, is 
designed to support the consideration by the committee and, 
ultimately, the House of Representatives of the annual defense 
authorization bill, as well as the committee's broader 
oversight responsibilities. The issues identified are expected 
to be ongoing areas of oversight activity throughout the 114th 
Congress. In addition, the committee will continue to pay 
particular attention to the mandates placed on executive 
departments and agencies. In this context, pursuant to clause 
2(d)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
the committee will continue to emphasize the examination of 
relevant rules, regulations, statutes, and court decisions 
affecting the Department of Defense and the Department of 
Energy for their effects on efficiency and good management 
practices.
    Given the unique nature of national security issues and 
related oversight of the Armed Forces, the committee believes 
that a qualifier is once again necessary with regard to the 
ability to plan comprehensively and predict all oversight 
activities. Much of the committee's most demanding oversight 
will be, by definition, event-driven and not subject to prior 
planning. Such events significantly complicate the ability to 
prescribe with great accuracy or specificity the committee's 
entire oversight agenda. For instance, the oversight of defense 
activities by the committee has historically involved in-depth 
assessments of military operations and other major events that 
are generally difficult to predict in advance, such as the 
recent operations in the Republic of Iraq and the Syrian Arab 
Republic to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, 
the war in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and responses 
to catastrophic events. In the 112th Congress, a significant 
portion of the committee's oversight agenda was dedicated to 
assessing the effects of defense sequestration, as a result of 
the Budget Control Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-25), which could 
not have been foreseen at the time the oversight plan for the 
112th Congress was adopted. These reviews can dominate 
committee and staff resources, sometimes at the expense of 
other planned activities. The committee fully expects that this 
type of event-driven oversight will continue to be required.
    The committee has a long tradition of translating oversight 
activities into prescriptive legislative action as reflected in 
past comprehensive efforts such as: providing for concurrent 
receipt of retirement and disability benefits for veterans with 
qualifying combat-related disabilities; the Goldwater-Nichols 
Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 (Public Law 
99-433); the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act of 
1991 (Public Law 101-510); the Federal Acquisition Streamlining 
Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-355); the establishment of the 
National Nuclear Security Administration and related reform of 
the management of the national security programs of the 
Department of Energy; the Military Commissions Act of 2006 
(Public Law 109-366); the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 
2007 included in the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181); the Weapon System 
Acquisition Reform Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-23); the 
Implementing Management for Performance and Related Reforms to 
Obtain Value in Every Acquisition Act of 2010 (IMPROVE 
Acquisition Act of 2010), as included in the Ike Skelton 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (Public 
Law 111-383); the Small Business Innovative Research and Small 
Business Technology Transfer Reauthorization Act of 2011, as 
included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2012 (Public Law 112-81); and the application of 
additional sanctions against the Government of the Islamic 
Republic of Iran, as included in both the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 and the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112-39). In 
the 113th Congress, the committee's focused oversight of the 
sensitive military operations of the Department of Defense led 
to the introduction of the bipartisan bill H.R. 1904, the 
Oversight of Sensitive Military Operations Act, in May 2013, 
much of which was included in the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113-76). 
Similarly, the committee's oversight series on the national 
security challenges in the Asia-Pacific in 2013 and 2014 led to 
the introduction of the bipartisan bill H.R. 4495, the Asia-
Pacific Region Priority Act, portions of which were included in 
the Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291). 
The committee will continue to oversee these and other prior 
legislative provisions in the 114th Congress. In general, the 
committee will continue to maintain a strong linkage between 
formal oversight efforts and legislative initiatives.
    As previously noted, the committee has dedicated 
significant oversight to the examination of the implications of 
the Budget Control Act (BCA) of 2011 for national defense and 
defense sequestration. The committee will continue to oversee 
the Department of Defense's implementation of the planned 
budget cuts to ensure the military is responsibly applying cuts 
and continuing to invest in high priority national security 
requirements. Likewise, the committee will assess the effects 
of declining defense resources and sequestration on the health 
of the force and risk associated with executing the national 
defense strategy. While the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 
(Public Law 113-67) provided some relief to defense by 
increasing the BCA discretionary spending caps for fiscal years 
2014 and 2015, fiscal year 2016 will see a return to the BCA 
caps and defense sequestration. The committee shares the 
concern of the National Defense Panel that the BCA, on top of 
previous cuts to defense dating back to 2009, will ``lead to a 
high risk force in the near future,'' have ``caused significant 
shortfalls in U.S. military readiness and both present and 
future capabilities,'' and have prompted allies and adversaries 
alike ``to question our commitment and resolve.'' The committee 
continues to oppose the sequester of national defense funding, 
and will continue to conduct oversight in the 114th Congress to 
highlight the consequences for the military, the defense 
industrial base, and national security, and to ensure that the 
damage to U.S. national security is mitigated to the greatest 
extent possible.
    The committee has also focused on comprehensive defense 
reform, spanning such areas as acquisition, institutional, 
security, and strategy reforms. The committee recognizes that, 
in this austere budget environment, we must get more defense 
for the dollar and thus it is more essential than ever that all 
Department of Defense processes and institutions become as 
efficient as possible. The committee will oversee reforms 
efforts undertaken by the Department of Defense and, working in 
partnership with relevant stakeholders, will also develop 
reform proposals through its traditional legislative process 
and other appropriate mechanisms.
    In addition to the above, the following specific areas and 
subjects are identified for special attention during the 114th 
Congress.

                             Policy Issues


  NATIONAL DEFENSE STRATEGY, NATIONAL MILITARY STRATEGY, AND RELATED 
                         DEFENSE POLICY ISSUES

    Recent events highlight what the National Defense Panel 
Review of the 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) has 
observed: ``the United States faces perhaps the most complex 
and volatile security environment since World War II.'' These 
encompass the violence and brutality fomented by the Islamic 
State of Iraq and the Levant in the Republic of Iraq and the 
Syrian Arab Republic; continued security challenges in the 
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan; regional aggression by the 
Russian Federation; destabilizing actions by the People's 
Republic of China in the South and East China Seas; continued 
tensions on the Korean peninsula; continued terrorism threats, 
instability, and the spread of global extremism particularly 
across the Middle East and North Africa; natural disasters and 
epidemics like the Ebola virus; and the continued spread of 
lethal and disruptive technologies. These events and other 
security developments across the globe also serve to highlight 
the continued need for the U.S. military to be postured and 
capable of defending the Nation's interests and addressing 
security challenges, wherever and whenever they may arise.
    Through its constitutional responsibility arising from 
article I, section 8, to raise and support armies and to 
provide and maintain a Navy, the committee has a responsibility 
to ensure that the military can meet its future missions, as 
well as today's operational requirements. The committee will 
closely review how the Department of Defense postures itself to 
meet these simultaneous, and oftentimes competing, demands: 
ongoing military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria; 
ongoing global counterterrorism operations; strategic 
reassurance and deterrence activities in Europe and the Asia-
Pacific; and ensuring that the Department invests in 
modernization and remains capable of addressing new 
conventional and unconventional challenges. Therefore, the 
committee will provide oversight to ensure that all Department 
activities, capabilities and functions, including doctrine, 
organization, training, education, exercises, materiel, 
leadership, personnel, facilities, and planning, appropriately 
reflect the need to meet the full range of security 
requirements.
    The committee will continually evaluate the Nation's 
defense and military strategy, including the strategy outlined 
in the Department of Defense QDR released in 2014, to 
specifically include evaluating the alignment of the strategy 
to the security environment and the posture, capabilities, and 
resources necessary to execute the strategy. The committee will 
also evaluate other relevant strategies developed by the 
Department of Defense, including the military departments and 
services, defense agencies, and combatant commands. 
Additionally, the committee will consider strategic risk; put 
in simple terms, this means ensuring that U.S. forces retain 
the ability, regardless of present operational pressures and 
budgetary constraints, to deter any potential foe, respond to 
any contingency that threatens U.S. interests, and defeat any 
adversary who might threaten America's interests, in the worst 
case. In this regard, the committee will closely examine the 
Department of Defense's range of assumptions about future 
threats made in strategy documents to assess the adequacy of 
forces and capabilities, the resources available, and the 
associated risk, particularly when these are misaligned.
    While the committee understands that the annual defense 
budget must remain consistent with the caps contained in the 
Budget Control Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-25) and defense 
sequestration, it also continues to recognize the severe 
impacts these cuts have had, and will continue to have, on the 
military. The committee will continue to highlight these 
impacts and is committed to providing full authorization for 
the funding required for the readiness of the military, to 
enhance the quality of life of military service members and 
their families, to sustain and improve the Armed Forces, and to 
properly safeguard the national security of the United States.
    Lastly, the committee will continue to seek inputs from 
non-government experts and independent entities, such as the 
National Defense Panel, which released its independent review 
of the 2014 QDR in July 2014. In addition, the committee will 
oversee the Department's implementation of a reformed Defense 
Strategy Review, as required in the Carl Levin and Howard P. 
``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291).

                  U.S. MILITARY EFFORT IN AFGHANISTAN

    The U.S. military effort in the Islamic Republic of 
Afghanistan has transitioned to training, advising, and 
assisting the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), 
conducting counterterrorism operations against Al Qaeda, and 
executing force protection of U.S. personnel and facilities.
    The committee will conduct robust oversight of the 
execution of the post-2014 missions in Afghanistan, including 
whether the proper resources are in place to support the post-
2014 mission sets. The committee will also continue to examine 
the regional security environment, including efforts by the 
Afghans and the Pakistanis to deny safe havens to Al Qaeda, the 
Haqqani Network, and other jihadist organizations.
    The committee will also continue to monitor other critical 
efforts in Afghanistan such as the effectiveness of the ANSF, 
as well as their ability to sustain operations and 
institutional requirements.

Force Protection

    The committee will continue to emphasize force protection 
as a high priority issue for special oversight, with a 
particular focus on areas having a direct impact on the safety 
of military personnel engaged in the continued operations in 
the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, as well as Operation 
Inherent Resolve. The committee will seek to expedite the 
promulgation of policies and the fielding of technology and 
equipment that prevents and/or reduces combat casualties, as 
well as meeting the urgent operational needs of the global 
combatant commands.
    For all current overseas contingency operations, focus 
areas will continue to include but are not limited to: the 
policies for management and acquisition of counter improvised 
explosive device (IED) equipment throughout the force; 
persistent surveillance, particularly prevention of IED 
emplacement; actionable tactical intelligence processing, 
exploitation, and dissemination capabilities in support of 
ground operations; effective intelligence, surveillance, and 
reconnaissance equipment capabilities; capabilities to counter 
indirect fire such as artillery and mortar munitions; effective 
and properly resourced quantities of personnel protection 
equipment, to include body armor, night vision, combat helmets, 
and flame-resistant combat uniforms; vehicle armor, to include 
survivability improvements to the combat and tactical vehicle 
fleets; improving current biometric systems; and effective 
aircraft survivability equipment (ASE), specifically ASE for 
the current rotorcraft fleets.
    During the 114th Congress, the committee will continue to 
provide robust oversight and monitoring of any ``insider 
attacks'' perpetrated by Afghan security forces against U.S. 
and coalition personnel in Afghanistan. Additionally, the 
committee will continue its oversight of the steps the 
Department of Defense is taking to understand, protect U.S. 
troops, and prevent such attacks, to include: the motive of 
such attacks; the tactics, techniques, and procedures leveraged 
by the attacker; the impact of the attacks the mission; and the 
procedures being taken to mitigate for and, to the maximum 
extent possible, prevent future ``insider attacks.''

                       OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE

    The U.S. and coalition forces continue to conduct 
operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant 
(ISIL). This effort is known as Operation Inherent Resolve. 
Presently, U.S. and coalition operations include an air 
campaign that is focused against ISIL in the Republic of Iraq 
and the Syrian Arab Republic.
    The committee will conduct oversight of this effort, 
including the effectiveness of the effort against ISIL, as well 
as the political and sectarian dynamics in both Iraq and Syria, 
which have, in part, fostered the context and political climate 
for ISIL to expand and grow.
    In addition, the committee will closely monitor the 
stability of the countries in the region of Iraq and Syria and 
any growth or expansion of ISIL in the region. The committee 
will closely monitor any changes to the mission set of 
Operation Inherent Resolve and will conduct oversight of the 
efforts that are intended to complement Operation Inherent 
Resolve, including the activities of coalition nations, as well 
as the training and equipping of the Iraqi Security Forces and 
the vetted elements of the moderate Syrian opposition.

Authorization for Use of Military Force

    The committee will continue to examine the legal basis for 
the President's military actions against the Islamic State of 
Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). To date, the President has cited 
his Article II authority under the Constitution as well as 
certain statuary authorities, including the 2001 Authorization 
for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) and the 2002 AUMF.
    The 114th Congress may consider an AUMF to authorize U.S. 
military operations against ISIL. The committee will examine 
those aspects of the AUMF relevant to its jurisdiction, 
including the integration of lessons learned from the 
implementation of the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs, as well as knowledge 
gained through oversight of Operation Inherent Resolve, to 
inform consideration of any new AUMF against ISIL.

Force Protection

    As previously discussed, the force protection of U.S. 
troops deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve will 
be a top priority for the committee. The committee is aware of 
the risks to U.S. forces in Iraq, including the potential for 
attacks against U.S. troops emanating from within the Iraqi 
Security Forces (ISF) as well as from Shia militias, Iraqi 
tribes, and Iranian forces operating inside of Iraq. In 
addition to the matters previously described, the committee 
will closely monitor the contextual factors that may lead to a 
change in force protection posture for U.S. forces and will 
conduct close oversight of the steps that the Department of 
Defense is taking to protect and prevent any such attacks 
against U.S. forces in Iraq. Moreover, if the mission changes 
for U.S. forces deployed to Iraq, the committee will examine 
the force protection measures in conjunction with any change in 
mission.

                        GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM

    Since the 9/11 attacks, the United States has dealt Al 
Qaeda repeated and significant blows during the global war on 
terrorism. Despite many notable successes, Al Qaeda remains 
potent in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Islamic 
Republic of Pakistan and the organization's affiliates continue 
to operate in countries such as the Federal Republic of 
Somalia, the Republic of Yemen, and the Republic of Mali. The 
committee will continue to conduct extensive oversight, often 
in classified form, over terrorism issues, with particular 
attention to special operations capabilities, and the changing 
nature of Al Qaeda's organization and affiliates and their 
operations. The committee will also continue to focus on 
efforts to build partner nation counterterrorism and 
conventional warfare capabilities to counter these threats at 
the regional and local level. As the United States strengthens 
and builds partnership capacity with key allies around the 
globe, the committee will remain focused on the Department of 
Defense's efforts to aggressively fight the global war on 
terror and counter radicalism in places of concern, such as 
Pakistan, Yemen, the Horn of Africa, and threats posed by 
groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. 
Ensuring security and stability in volatile regions that cannot 
adequately govern themselves or secure their own territory will 
remain a top priority for the committee.

                        THE GREATER MIDDLE EAST

    The Greater Middle East remains an area of particular focus 
for the committee in the 114th Congress. This geographic area 
includes countries in which the United States has invested, and 
continues to invest, significant military resources. Al Qaeda, 
its affiliates, its associated organizations, and other 
jihadist organizations continue to leverage certain countries 
within this region to conduct operational planning and to serve 
as launch points for attacks against the United States, its 
allies and partners, and U.S. interests. As a result, the 
committee will continue to conduct oversight of U.S. defense 
policies, readiness, and military programs in this region.

Islamic Republic of Pakistan

    The committee will continue its oversight of the broad 
range of security issues involving the Islamic Republic of 
Pakistan and, given the transition of the U.S. military effort 
in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, will continue to 
carefully review the use of Coalition Support Funds, which are 
provided to reimburse Pakistan for its support to U.S. military 
operations and security assistance. The committee will monitor 
the security and stability of Pakistan; including the security 
of Pakistan's nuclear weapons, Pakistan's on-going and future 
nuclear weapon projects, and its willingness and operational 
capacity to combat key terrorist groups, such as Al Qaeda, the 
Afghan and Pakistani Taliban, the Haqqani network, and other 
terrorist organizations. Moreover, the committee will evaluate 
the terrorist activity emanating from the border area between 
Pakistan and Afghanistan, and will conduct oversight of the 
Department of Defense's efforts to combat that threat.

Republic of Iraq

    The U.S. military posture, strategy, and approach has 
changed significantly within the Republic of Iraq, including 
the on-going U.S. military air campaign against the Islamic 
State of Iraq and the Levant, known as Operation Inherent 
Resolve, and the effort to re-train and re-build the Iraqi 
Security Forces (ISF). The committee will conduct robust 
oversight of Operation Inherent Resolve, as well as the 
entirety of the U.S. military effort in Iraq, including the 
Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq.
    The committee will focus its oversight on key aspects of 
the U.S. military effort in Iraq such as any change in the 
employment of U.S. military forces, the effectiveness of the 
air campaign, the effort to train and equip the ISF, and the 
political situation in Iraq, which is critical to the success 
of any U.S. military effort there.

Islamic Republic of Iran

    The committee will continue its oversight into the 
development of nuclear weapons, and/or nuclear weapons 
capability, by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. 
During the 114th Congress, the committee will continue to 
monitor the threat posed by a nuclear, or nuclear-capable, 
Iran.
    The committee will monitor the implementation of the Joint 
Plan of Action (JPoA) between the P5+1 (the United States of 
America, the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of 
China, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern 
Ireland, the French Republic, and the Federal Republic of 
Germany) and Iran, including Iran's fulfillment of its 
commitments under the JPoA, as well as any changes to Iran's 
nuclear program under the JPoA. Additionally, the committee 
will conduct close examination of any potential 
``comprehensive'' or ``final'' agreement between the P5+1 and 
Iran. The committee will also conduct oversight of the full 
range of U.S. military planning, prepositioning of military 
assets, and operations to counter Iran's nuclear program should 
the P5+1 negotiations fail.
    Finally, the committee will continue to monitor the 
strategic orientation, operational capacity, and goals of the 
Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps. The committee also will 
focus its attention towards Iran's Quds Force, including the 
activities of the Quds Force in the Syrian Arab Republic, the 
Republic of Iraq, and the region.

Syrian Arab Republic

    The committee will continue its inquiry into the evolving 
security and humanitarian situation inside the Syrian Arab 
Republic as well as effects of the on-going conflict on its 
neighbors, including the Republic of Turkey, the Islamic 
Republic of Iran, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Republic 
of Iraq, and the Lebanese Republic. Additionally, the committee 
will conduct robust oversight of U.S. and coalition military 
operations in Syria against the Islamic State of Iraq and the 
Levant as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. The committee 
will also conduct inquiry into the U.S. policy and approach 
against the Assad regime, as it remains a key feature of the 
conflict in Syria and is consistently highlighted as an area of 
concern by countries in the region that are part of the 
coalition. Furthermore, the committee will continue to focus on 
the movement of jihadists to and from Syria, including the 
capacity and relative strength of the terrorist groups.
    Finally, the committee will conduct oversight of the effort 
to train and equip the moderate elements of the vetted Syrian 
opposition and will continually monitor the deployment and 
positioning of military personnel and resources to the region 
to address this issue set.

Republic of Yemen

    The security situation in the Republic of Yemen will 
continue to be a significant focus for the committee. The 
committee will maintain its oversight of the U.S. military's 
counterterrorism activities in Yemen. The committee will 
examine the capability, capacity, and strategy of Al Qaeda in 
the Arabian Peninsula to conduct transnational terrorist 
attacks as well as the overall political situation in Yemen, 
including the status of the Houthis and the southern 
secessionist movement in Yemen.

                        THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA

    As discussed in greater detail below, the committee will 
maintain its oversight focus on Department of Defense 
activities in Africa. Additionally, the committee will continue 
to closely examine the Department's coordination within the 
interagency to address the range of activities that are 
occurring in Africa.

North Africa

    The committee will continue to conduct oversight of the 
evolving security situation in North Africa, including the 
failure of the State of Libya, the security challenges in the 
Arab Republic of Egypt, the tenuous security situation in the 
Republic of Mali, and the evolving nature of Al Qaeda in the 
Islamic Maghreb and the growth of other jihadist groups in this 
region.
    The committee will focus its oversight on the Department of 
Defense's implementation of the lessons learned from the 
Benghazi attack within this region and beyond, including, but 
not limited to, interagency coordination, positioning of 
military assets, threat perception, threat analysis, 
intelligence cycle, intelligence sharing, operational 
coordination, and crisis response.

East Africa

    The committee will continue to provide oversight of the 
Department of Defense's efforts to counter the terrorist 
threats in East Africa. In particular, the committee will 
remain focused on the threat from Al Shabaab, as well as the 
steps that the Department is taking to counter this group and 
prevent it from launching transnational terrorist attacks on 
the United States, its allies and partners, or its interests.
    Moreover, the committee will continue to monitor the 
overlapping ideological, strategic, and operational 
coordination between Horn of Africa terrorist groups, such as 
Al Shabaab, and terrorist groups on the Arabian Peninsula, such 
as Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

West Africa

    The committee will continue its oversight of the terrorist 
group Boko Haram (BH). The committee will pay particular 
attention to the continuing ideological, strategic, and 
operational evolution of BH. The committee also will 
concentrate its attention on the geographic overlap and 
operational coordination with other terrorist groups on the 
Continent of Africa, such as Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb 
and Al Shabaab.
    Also, as the Department of Defense continues to conduct 
Operation United Assistance to address the Ebola virus in West 
Africa, the committee will continue its close oversight of the 
operation and will closely monitor any expansion of the U.S. 
mission therein.

Central Africa

    The committee will continue its oversight of the Department 
of Defense's activities to support the Uganda Peoples' Defense 
Force and other national militaries with approximately 100 
special operation forces to counter the Lord's Resistance Army 
(LRA) and apprehend or remove Joseph Kony. Additionally, the 
committee will examine the Department of Defense's transition 
plans for the counter-LRA effort.

                                 EUROPE

    While the stability and security of Europe remain core U.S. 
national interests, increased pressures on Europe's eastern and 
southern borders due to recent aggressive actions by the 
Russian Federation, the ongoing civil war in the Syrian Arab 
Republic, and the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the 
Levant demonstrate that regional stability and security are not 
guaranteed. The committee will monitor and conduct oversight of 
U.S. military policy and strategy with regards to European 
allies and partners, including the capability and capacity of 
U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces to 
respond to threats that challenge both regional U.S. national 
interests and the security of NATO allies.
    The U.S. military force presence in Europe has declined 
dramatically since the end of the Cold War. The recent 
withdrawal of two of the four Army Brigade Combat Teams has 
further reduced U.S. military presence in Europe. Nevertheless, 
there remain significant advantages that come from European-
based U.S. troops, including the opportunity to train regularly 
with ally and partner forces at U.S. training centers in Europe 
and the ability to plan and launch operations elsewhere in the 
region. The committee will examine all overseas basing, 
including the European Infrastructure Consolidation review, to 
determine what is the most effective overseas force posture for 
our national security at the lowest possible cost.
    European allies are strong partners with the U.S. military, 
contributing to a range of regional and global missions, 
including deploying approximately 3,000 personnel to the NATO-
led Operation Resolute Support mission in the Islamic Republic 
of Afghanistan to train, advise, and assist the Afghan security 
forces. However, the continuing constrained fiscal environment 
has created pressures on the region's militaries, their defense 
budgets, and investments in future capabilities. Recent Russian 
aggression towards Ukraine and its neighbors requires both the 
United States and European allies to re-evaluate the current 
regional security threats and the capabilities and capacities 
required to deter and defeat those threats. The NATO 2014 Wales 
Summit declaration reaffirmed the alliance's commitment to 
``the security of its members through collective defense.'' 
NATO allies also reaffirmed their commitment to ``strengthen 
the military capabilities the Alliance needs'' and the need to 
continue to ``invest in modern and deployable armed forces that 
can operate effectively together and at a high level of 
readiness to fulfill NATO's tasks.''
    The committee will focus on the U.S. military capabilities 
and posture required in the European theater, and how those fit 
within the existing and future NATO requirements and structure. 
The committee will conduct oversight of the European 
Reassurance Initiative, as authorized in the the Carl Levin and 
Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291) in order to ensure 
the U.S. military is postured and resourced to effectively 
reassure European allies and partners and deter further Russian 
aggression.

Russian Federation

    Recent aggression by the Russian Federation towards Ukraine 
in 2014, including the illegal annexation of Crimea in March 
2014, demonstrate that Russia, under President Vladimir Putin, 
has fundamentally challenged the vision of a Europe whole, 
free, and at peace. Russia's continued support to separatists 
in Ukraine poses a threat to the long-term stability of Ukraine 
and the wider region. Russia's demonstrated willingness and 
capability to engage in unacknowledged hybrid warfare in 
Ukraine presents a threat to its other neighbors, including 
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies such as the 
Baltic nations and the Republic of Poland, and to international 
rules and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty. 
The committee will examine Russian military capabilities and 
capacities, and the required U.S. and NATO military 
capabilities to deter and defend against Russian aggression, as 
well as to reassure European allies and partners. The committee 
will also carefully review the appropriate Department of 
Defense resources and tools to build the capacity of Ukraine 
and other NATO allies and partners to deter further Russian 
aggression.
    Russia remains focused on reforming and modernizing its 
conventional forces, including the recruitment, training, and 
retention of its troops, and modernizing its nuclear forces. In 
parallel with this modernization effort, Russia has also failed 
to comply with several arms control treaties important for 
European stability and security. Since December 2007, Russia 
has ceased implementing its obligations to the Conventional 
Forces in Europe treaty, which include providing annual 
notifications and data on military forces and basing. In 2014, 
the Administration formally declared Russia in violation of the 
Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The committee will 
closely watch these actions, coupled with Russia's changes to 
its military doctrine in late-2014 that identify NATO as a top 
threat to Russian security, and seek countervailing solutions 
to prevent Russia from destabilizing or undermining regional 
security. The committee will also examine Russia's military 
modernization of its conventional forces and its hybrid warfare 
capabilities, including its activities intended to destabilize 
or undermine regional stability.

                                  ASIA

    The committee will continue its oversight of the Department 
of Defense's implementation of the Administration's government-
wide policy to ``rebalance'' to the Asia-Pacific region. In 
particular, the committee will continue to monitor the 
Department of Defense's strategy, force posture, capability 
needs, and readiness in the region, to ensure that U.S. forces 
are properly resourced and postured to protect U.S. national 
security interests.
    Developments in the past few years continue to highlight 
the security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region. The 
People's Republic of China continues its unilateral efforts to 
assert regional influence, particularly in the South and East 
China Seas, while also continuing ``at a fast pace'' its 
military modernization in areas such as anti-access and area 
denial capabilities, power projection, nuclear forces, space, 
cyber, and other advanced technology areas, according to the 
U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. The 
Democratic People's Republic of Korea remains a threat to 
stability on the Korean peninsula and the United States as it 
continues to advance its nuclear and ballistic missile 
capabilities, to include taking steps towards fielding its 
road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile that poses a 
direct threat to the United States, and expand its asymmetric 
capabilities recently exemplified by its destructive cyber 
attack on a western corporation. The committee will continue to 
monitor these and other emerging developments to inform its 
views and actions to shape U.S. national security policy, 
strategy, and defense investments for the region.
    These security challenges have led the United States to 
strengthen its relationships with traditional treaty allies 
while also forging new relationships, particularly with 
partners in southeast Asia. The committee will continue to 
closely oversee the Department of Defense's efforts to 
implement a range of posture, force structure, and engagement 
initiatives in the region, including rotational deployments of 
Marines, naval, and air assets; forward pre-positioning; 
infrastructure realignments; and training and exercises. 
Specific examples include: the realignment of U.S. forces based 
in Japan; key operational control transition initiatives 
between U.S. Forces Korea and the Republic of Korea; trilateral 
defense cooperation efforts between the U.S., the Republic of 
Korea, and Japan; rotational deployments of U.S. forces to the 
Commonwealth of Australia; enhanced defense cooperation with 
the Republic of the Philippines; and a defense trade and 
technology initiative between the U.S. and the Republic of 
India.

                       CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

    The committee will examine the issues affecting the U.S. 
security in Central and South America, as many nations in this 
region increasingly face the dangers of illicit trafficking, 
political turmoil, and instability that pose a potential threat 
to the homeland. The committee will oversee the execution of 
the military's security assistance programs in the Republic of 
Colombia, as it continues to improve its national security and 
make progress on peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed 
Forces of Colombia. The committee remains concerned about the 
political situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and 
the instability it brings to the region. Additionally, the 
committee will focus on the growing economies in the region, 
such as the Federative Republic of Brazil, which is the 
region's largest and fastest-growing economy, and will examine 
their influence both in the Western Hemisphere and globally. In 
addition, the committee is concerned with the ongoing 
instability in Central America, including the Republic of 
Honduras, the Republic of Guatemala, and the Republic of El 
Salvador, due to the influence of transnational organized 
crime. The committee will monitor the developing changes 
between the U.S. and the Republic of Cuba and any potential 
impacts on Department of Defense policies and operations. The 
committee continues to monitor potential threats from global 
terrorist organizations such as Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, and the 
Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, who have increasing 
influence in the region.
    The committee recognizes the importance of the United 
States' relationship with its Central and South American 
neighbors and the ability of these partners to bring safety and 
security to the hemisphere.

                      ADDRESSING EMERGING THREATS

    Terrorism, insurgency, and weapons of mass destruction 
proliferation are some of the emerging threats that challenge 
national security and global peace and stability. These threats 
require the Department of Defense and the National Nuclear 
Security Administration (NNSA) within the Department of Energy 
to work effectively and efficiently with other Federal agencies 
and the governments of other nations. The committee will 
conduct oversight of numerous cross-cutting Department of 
Defense activities central to addressing these emerging and 
unforeseen threats, including the proliferation of nuclear, 
chemical and biological weapons, counterinsurgency, 
counterterrorism, security force assistance, and building 
partnership capacity (BPC), all of which received renewed 
emphasis in the 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review.
    The committee will focus attention on how the Department of 
Defense addresses these broad threats in its strategic planning 
processes, how resources are arrayed to meet these threats, and 
how existing authorities are consistent with operational 
requirements. While there are roughly a dozen authorities that 
fall into the BPC category, two of the most significant 
authorities have been modified recently. These are the train 
and equip ``1206'', codified in the Carl Levin and Howard P. 
``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291), and the Global Security 
Contingency Fund. Since 2006, the committee has been 
increasingly active in this area, and the last several National 
Defense Authorization Acts have reflected what Congress 
considers to be the appropriate balance of providing sufficient 
authority for the most pressing needs of the Department of 
Defense while encouraging a more integrated interagency 
approach to building partnership capacity. Furthermore, the 
committee will continue to closely monitor and assess the 
execution of these BPC authorities, both during the initial 
congressional notification process and while those programs are 
in progress. The committee will also conduct oversight of the 
Counter Terrorism Partnership Fund allocations towards BPC 
activities.
    The committee will also focus attention on the Defense of 
Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) program and the NNSA 
Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (DNN) activities. The CTR 
program has changed since it was initially authorized in the 
Soviet Nuclear Threat Reduction Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-
228; also known as the Nunn-Lugar Act). Originally focused on 
securing and dismantling weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and 
their associated infrastructure in former Soviet Union states, 
the CTR mission has since expanded to a global focus on 
protecting against WMD, including increased emphasis on 
chemical and biological weapons, and improving detection 
capabilities. The committee will conduct oversight of the 
updated CTR legislation in the Carl Levin and Howard P. 
``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291). The committee, along with the 
Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, will continue to focus on 
NNSA DNN strategy and activities to counter the threat of the 
global proliferation of nuclear weapons.
    The committee, as well as the Subcommittee on Emerging 
Threats and Capabilities (given the key role Special Operations 
Forces play in this area), will continue its oversight of the 
full range of emerging threats to national security and U.S. 
military forces, and the capabilities needed to respond.

       DETAINEE POLICY, MILITARY COMMISSIONS, AND RELATED MATTERS

    The Department of Defense continues to be the custodian of 
detainees who are being held in the Islamic Republic of 
Afghanistan and United States Naval Station (GTMO), Guantanamo 
Bay, Cuba.
    With regard to detainee operations in Afghanistan, the 
committee will primarily focus on the transfer and release of 
third country national detainees and cases of recidivism. The 
committee will specifically focus on the disposition of 
detainees who pose a continuing national security threat to the 
United States.
    With respect to detention operations at GTMO, the committee 
will continue to monitor transfer and release policies and 
practices, as well as the use of the Military Commissions Act 
(Public Law 109-366; Public Law 111-84) that established the 
current legal framework governing the operation of military 
tribunals to try detainees for war crimes and codified some of 
the procedural rights of GTMO detainees.
    The committee will also focus on issues relating to 
detention policy for future captures, detainee interrogations, 
prioritization of intelligence collection, procedures for 
detainee reviews, conditions of confinement, and the 
Department's role in the High Value Interrogation Group. The 
committee will also take other necessary actions and conduct 
related oversight.

                              INTELLIGENCE

    In the 114th Congress, the committee will continue to 
monitor the reorganization of the intelligence community 
through implementation of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism 
Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-458) and the creation of 
the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence position as 
authorized by the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-314). The committee will 
also place particular attention on: resource allocation for 
intelligence-related programs for effectiveness and 
affordability; defense intelligence strategies and policies in 
consideration of current and anticipated future threats; 
organization and management of the elements of the Department 
of Defense that are part of the intelligence community; and the 
consideration and prioritization of defense intelligence 
requirements across the intelligence community. Additionally, 
the committee will monitor the Department's security practices, 
audit capabilities, and information-sharing policies following 
recent extensive unauthorized disclosures of classified 
information. All of the committee's efforts will be focused on 
ensuring the highest possible quality of intelligence support 
to the warfighter.
    Finally, the committee will continue to coordinate with the 
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on intelligence and 
counterintelligence matters of the Department of Defense, and 
intelligence and counterintelligence activities of the 
Department of Energy in the course of its annual oversight of 
the intelligence community and the authorization of 
appropriations for intelligence activities shared by the two 
committees.

                      NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVES

    The debate that began during the 112th Congress about the 
most appropriate force structure mix of Active and Reserve 
Components, about the proper roles and missions of the Reserve 
Components, be they an operational or strategic reserve, and 
about the affordability of the required force to meet national 
security requirements will intensify again in the 114th 
Congress. Competition among the Active and Reserve Components 
for diminishing resources will serve as a catalyst for that 
debate.
    The Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-
291) included provisions that commission GAO to study the 
appropriate balance between the Active force and the Guard. 
National Guard end strength reductions, as well as the re-
distribution of important Guard aviation assets are blocked in 
fiscal year 2015. This provision allows Congress time to study 
the issue in-depth.
    Building on the outcomes of the National Commission on the 
Structure of the Air Force report, in the 114th Congress the 
committee will continue its review of the various 
recommendations and proposals and monitor proposed changes to 
ensure the recommendations will meet the National Military 
Strategy requirements, as well as homeland security and 
disaster requirements. Given the uncertainty of the current and 
projected fiscal environment, the availability of equipment 
needed to sustain and modernize the National Guard and Reserve 
Components as an operational reserve and for their domestic 
support missions, to include legacy aircraft as part of the 
Aerospace Control Alert mission, remains a concern. The 
committee will also focus oversight efforts on current 
equipment investment strategies for the National Guard and 
Reserve Components with particular emphasis on affordability 
and modernization of critical dual-use equipment platforms that 
are essential to the National Guard's title 32 mission, defense 
support to civil authorities. Furthermore, the committee will 
continue to monitor and evaluate the obligation and execution 
rates of funds provided as part of a separate procurement 
account, entitled the National Guard and Reserve Equipment 
Account that would be used to address equipment shortfalls for 
the National Guard and Reserve Components.

                  Fiscal Responsibility and Efficiency


                                OVERVIEW

    The committee is responsible not only for ensuring that the 
U.S. military has the capabilities required to preserve our 
national security, but also to ensure that the Department of 
Defense operates efficiently and with fiscal discipline in 
order to maximize the return on the taxpayers' investments. To 
that end, the committee will conduct oversight of the 
organization and management of the Department of Defense, its 
business operations, and the means by which the Department 
acquires goods and services. Acquisition programs that no 
longer represent the best value for the taxpayer, due to a 
changing security environment, mismanagement, or the time 
required to deliver a useful capability to the warfighter, will 
be re-evaluated by the committee as part of the annual defense 
authorization process.
    Moreover, the committee will continue to examine the 
impacts of declining national defense budgets, as a result of 
the Budget Control Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-25) as modified 
by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 (Public Law 113-67). These 
cuts will reduce military end strength, force structure, and 
significantly alter planned procurements. Pursuant to clause 
2(d)(1)(F) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives, as the committee examines the impact of these 
funding reductions, the committee will cut or eliminate 
programs, including mandatory spending programs, that are 
deemed inefficient, duplicative, outdated, or more 
appropriately administered by State or local governments.
    Additional plans for oversight in this area during the 
114th Congress follow below.

        ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

    As part of the committee's emphasis on defense reform, it 
will provide particular focus on the organization and 
management of the Department of Defense in order to ensure that 
it is properly postured to meet the complex and evolving 
security threats of the 21st century. Declining resources 
resulting from the Budget Control Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-
25) and defense sequestration are driving the Department of 
Defense to reevaluate its organization and management structure 
to identify cost savings. The Department continues to implement 
organizational and management changes within the Department's 
major headquarters resulting from the announcement by the 
Secretary of Defense in July 2013 to identify cost savings 
through management efficiencies and overhead reductions.
    The committee will carefully review any proposed 
organizational changes and monitor the Department's 
implementation of these changes, working to ensure that the 
missions of the Department are appropriately aligned with 
organizations that have the core competency to perform them. 
The committee will also work to ensure that the Department's 
enterprise, including the Office of the Secretary of Defense, 
the Joint Staff, the military departments, the combatant 
commands, and the defense agencies, operate efficiently, 
cutting out organizational waste and redundancy. To that end, 
the committee will seek to ensure that any reductions in 
personnel are done smartly and strategically, and in 
consideration of the total workforce management.
    Lastly, pursuant to clause (2)(p) of rule XI of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the committee will also 
carefully review issues raised by the Comptroller General of 
the United States indicating that programs or operations that 
the committee may authorize are at high risk for waste, fraud, 
and mismanagement, known as the ``high-risk list'' or the 
``high-risk series.''

                          FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

    The committee will continue to oversee military 
effectiveness in this era of declining budgets. Funding levels 
have been stagnant for national defense over the last 3 fiscal 
years, and under the Budget Control Act of 2011 (Public Law 
112-25), fiscal year 2016 will only be $5 billion higher than 
the level appropriated in fiscal year 2013, resulting in an 
increase of less than 1 percent over the 3-year span.
    The Comptroller General of the United States has 
consistently identified the Department of Defense's financial 
management as a high-risk area since 1995. The Department's 
inability to track and account for billions of dollars in 
funding and tangible assets continues to undermine its 
financial management systems. It also creates a lack of 
transparency that significantly limits congressional oversight.
    Measures to reform defense acquisition or to find 
efficiencies within the Department are undermined by the 
Department's inability to produce auditable financial 
statements. Without these objective tools, neither the 
Department nor Congress can fully verify that greater value is 
being created.
    The committee will continue to review efforts to implement 
the Financial Improvement and Audit Readiness (FIAR) plan as 
the Department moves to accomplish auditable financial 
statements by September 30, 2017, as mandated by the National 
Defense Authorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-84). The 
committee will monitor closely the interdependencies between 
the FIAR plan and the hundreds of millions of dollars per year 
being spent on business systems modernization programs that the 
Department has proposed to address its financial management 
problems.

                           ACQUISITION ISSUES

The Acquisition System and Acquisition Policy

    Over the past 50 years, acquisition reform efforts focused 
primarily on identifying the failures of the acquisition 
system, a complex system which includes requirements setting, 
funding, and execution. While some progress has been made, the 
conditions in the early 1980s described by Dr. J. Ronald Fox in 
his seminal work on acquisition reform, ``Defense Acquisition 
Reform 1960--2009: An Elusive Goal,'' could still be used to 
describe the system today:
    ``Congressional critics, for example, blasted the services 
for rampant cost growth and schedule slippages. Aggressively 
pushing the frontiers of technology prompted cost overruns, 
they argued, while fierce inter-service competition for funds 
encouraged overly optimistic program cost estimates. The 
services, meanwhile, complained about excessive paperwork and 
reporting procedures required by the . . . milestone reviews; 
micromanagement of weapons programs by OSD and Congress; and 
unrealistic demands for accurate cost estimates, especially 
when unknowns existed in the early stages of weapons program 
planning. Program managers directed similar criticisms at both 
OSD and the services, while OSD criticized the services for 
failing to restrict the number of weapon systems competing for 
limited resources. Other service shortcomings, according to 
OSD, included inadequate support and readiness for fielded 
weapons systems and lengthy acquisition cycles. Industry 
directed its frustrations across the board--at OSD, Congress, 
and the services. Program instability--caused by sudden 
production starts and stops, program stretch-outs, 
redirections, and long decision times--threatened the bottom 
line and risked financial ruin, while micromanagement and 
excessive surveillance of programs by OSD and the services 
disrupted efficient contractor performance. Industry 
representatives also believed that OSD's emphasis on increasing 
price competition among contractors resulted in poor cost 
realism.''
    The committee is concerned that the current system 
incentivizes a reality that too many defense acquisitions 
concurrently chase finite dollars. This is reflected in the 
fact that there remains a vast difference between Department of 
Defense budgets and the reality of the cost of the weapon 
systems they acquire. To keep weapon system programs alive, the 
Department continues to develop, and Congress continues to 
accept, fragile acquisition strategies that downplay technical 
issues and assume only successful outcomes to high risk 
efforts. As a result, the Nation often ends up with too few 
weapons, delivered late, at too high of a cost, with 
performance that falls short, and that are difficult and costly 
to maintain.
    In addition to challenges in weapon systems procurement, 
the committee notes that Department expenditures for contracted 
services have grown in magnitude and face many management and 
oversight challenges. The Department currently obligates more 
than half of its total contract obligations on contracted 
services. However, Pentagon leadership, to include the 
Department's own comptroller, have limited insight into the 
services being acquired and even less awareness of the services 
that may need to be acquired in the future. The Department 
currently lacks accurate and reliable data on contracted 
services, and the military departments and defense agencies 
have failed to develop processes to use available data to 
inform workforce planning, workforce mix, and budget decision 
making. This lack of data collection, failure to analyze data 
that has been acquired, and lack of general transparency hamper 
budget planning and Congressional decision-making.
    Furthermore, the conventional acquisition process has 
proven to not be sufficiently agile to support warfighter 
demands. Congress and the Department have consistently 
expressed concern that urgent warfighting requirements for 
hardware, as well as services, are not being met. As a result, 
several authorities have been put in place for rapid 
acquisition practices envisioned to work around the general 
acquisition processes. However, many still argue that the 
current processes are so rigid and time-consuming that the 
Department is often not able to effectively tap into the 
innovation occurring in the commercial marketplace, thereby 
losing opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness of 
both its business operations and warfighting capability.
    The committee's ongoing acquisition improvement efforts 
seek to enhance oversight in these areas and to improve 
processes via a different approach from previous efforts. The 
committee seeks to improve the environment (i.e., human 
resources, culture, statutes, regulations, and processes) 
driving acquisition choices in the Department, industry, and 
Congress. As part of this ongoing effort, the committee 
solicited input from industry, academia, and the Department, as 
well as others during the 113th Congress, and will continue to 
engage these stakeholders during the 114th Congress. In 
addition, the committee held a series of hearings in the 113th 
Congress in order to gather testimony from key acquisition 
leaders and experts. While the committee recognizes that there 
are no ``silver bullet'' reform packages that can immediately 
fix the current acquisition system in a holistic manner, the 
committee intends to take the inputs it has received to 
facilitate its efforts in this area in the 114th Congress. The 
committee recognizes this effort will be an iterative process 
that will result in direct oversight and will be embedded in 
the committee's regular work throughout the 114th Congress.

Defense Industrial Base and Technology Transfers

    The committee will continue to closely examine the health, 
security, and innovative capacity of the defense industrial 
base, especially in light of sequestration, changes to the 
defense strategy, and the needs for recapitalization and 
modernization after almost a decade and a half of active combat 
operations in forward locations. The industrial base for 
complex major weapons systems has become more fragile during 
this period, limiting the ability of the Department of Defense 
to control costs and encourage innovation through the use of 
competition. Industry has also struggled in many cases to make 
the long-term investments that are vital to the health of the 
defense industrial base. The committee will continue to examine 
and enhance the policies and funding tools available to the 
Department to facilitate the health of the defense industrial 
base.

Information Technology and Business Systems

    Information technology (IT) systems are critical enablers 
for the Department of Defense. As the IT budget represents 
nearly $32 billion of the Department of Defense's total budget, 
it also represents a major investment area requiring the same 
rigorous planning, analysis, and oversight as any other complex 
major weapon system. The Department recognized this area as a 
source of greater efficiencies and has managed to reduce 
spending in IT by several billion dollars across the Future 
Years Defense Program. It remains to be seen if these 
reductions are driving any real change in how the Department 
does business, or whether those reductions are made with any 
strategic plan in mind.
    The committee will continue to review the Department's IT 
investment planning and review processes, as well as specific 
acquisitions, to improve the ability to identify and reduce 
unwarranted duplication and eliminate programs of little value 
to the warfighter. The committee will pay particular attention 
to how the Department leverages the commercial marketplace, as 
well as the various IT systems of the Department where 
egregious programmatic failures have been made to provide 
lessons for future acquisitions. The committee also plans to 
focus on how the IT investments of the Department will 
contribute to future warfighting capability, and support a 
defensible architecture that is resilient to cyber attacks, 
while maintaining the command and control to support mission 
needs.

                               Readiness


                                 RESET

    The committee will continue to monitor the military 
services' reset strategies to repair, recapitalize, and replace 
equipment used in ongoing operations, and will also closely 
monitor progress toward complete reconstitution of 
prepositioned stocks. The committee believes that full reset 
remains at risk in a constrained budget environment. 
Subsequently, the committee will provide oversight of ongoing 
property accountability and remaining retrograde efforts aimed 
at returning equipment with remaining military value to home 
station or in-theater re-utilization. Further, the committee 
will continue to monitor the disposition of non-standard 
equipment returning from the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to 
ensure that important items are incorporated into units' tables 
of equipment, are budgeted for and sustained properly, and that 
items no longer of military utility are disposed of in the most 
cost-effective manner possible. The committee will also 
continue to reexamine reset objectives and requirements in 
light of a draw-down in total force end strength and several 
previously unanticipated contingencies.

                            FORCE READINESS

    In the 114th Congress, the committee will hold force 
readiness as one of its highest priorities and will continue 
its oversight in this area, focusing not only on the readiness 
of deployed personnel supporting ongoing operations worldwide, 
but also on the ability of the services to generate ready and 
trained forces for unforeseen contingencies, including full-
spectrum combat missions should the need arise. Shortfalls in 
full-spectrum readiness have improved as operational tempo has 
slowed in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, the 
most acute equipment and personnel shortfalls have been 
addressed, and time at home station has increased, allowing for 
a return to full-spectrum training. However, challenges in key 
areas, such as U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Southern Command, 
still exist, namely in the capacity to provide the ready and 
trained forces needed by these and other geographic combatant 
commanders. Therefore, the committee will closely monitor how 
planned and potential additional end strength reductions will 
impact force readiness. Further, the committee will continue 
its oversight of the Department of Defense's efforts to prepare 
for a wider range of possible contingencies and its efforts to 
restore readiness in key combat support areas such as 
logistics, prepositioned stocks, and contracted service 
support.

                         LIFE-CYCLE SUSTAINMENT

    Without appropriate and timely input from the logistics 
community, decisions made during system design can create 
unnecessary sustainment problems that drive millions of dollars 
in depot-level maintenance once the system is fielded. The 
committee will focus on reducing the total-ownership costs of 
weapons systems and equipment by ensuring the Department of 
Defense is developing, procuring, and modernizing weapons 
systems and equipment with consideration of life-cycle support 
and sustainment requirements and cost. In its oversight of the 
Department's life-cycle sustainment efforts, the committee will 
monitor the implementation of section 2337 of title 10, United 
States Code, which requires that each major weapons system be 
supported by a product support manager and section 832 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Public 
Law 112-81), which requires additional visibility of the 
operation and support of major weapon systems. The committee 
will also hold the Department accountable for improving its 
estimations of total weapon system life-cycle costs to better 
inform sustainment strategies, such as the cost effectiveness 
of acquiring technical data from original equipment 
manufacturers to allow future changes in sustainment path. 
Furthermore, the committee will continue its oversight of the 
Department's corrosion control efforts and will monitor 
resourcing of corrosion prediction and prevention efforts with 
a focus on increasing the service life of weapons systems while 
reducing long-term sustainment costs.

                      DEPOT AND ARSENAL CAPABILITY

    A critical piece of equipment sustainment is the capability 
provided by the Nation's organic arsenals and depots, including 
air logistics centers and shipyards. The committee is concerned 
about the health of the organic industrial base in an extended 
period of declining workload with the formal end of combat 
operations in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the 
completion of Republic of Iraq combat operations-related 
equipment reset. While some military departments have completed 
an organic industrial base sustainment plan, the committee is 
concerned that the Department of Defense continues to lack a 
comprehensive strategy to ensure U.S. military depots and 
arsenals are viably positioned and have the workforce, 
equipment, and facilities for efficient operations to meet the 
Nation's current requirements, as well as those in the future. 
The committee will continue oversight of depot and arsenal 
operations and management, focusing on capital investment in 
facilities and equipment, the implementation methodology and 
use of sustainment concepts such as performance-based 
logistics, the role of public-private partnerships, the use of 
working capital funds for timely product improvement, and the 
services' logistics enterprise resource planning systems. 
Furthermore, the committee will examine how previous efficiency 
initiatives and workforce reductions impact depot and arsenal 
capability, how more recent initiatives to increase arsenal and 
depot visibility among program managers and program executive 
offices are working, and how well programs and plans designed 
to assure the availability of critical organic manufacturing 
capabilities are being executed.

                           CIVILIAN PERSONNEL

    The committee will continue to oversee the development of 
the Department of Defense's strategic workforce plan for its 
civilian personnel and other initiatives aimed at ensuring that 
the Department has the human capital required both now and in 
of the future to expertly and capably achieve its critical 
national security mission. The committee has been particularly 
concerned about the impact of budget cuts, furloughs, hiring 
freezes, and lack of training opportunities that have 
negatively impacted morale and led to an adverse working 
environment for the Department's almost 800,000 Federal 
employees. Finally, the committee will focus extensive 
oversight on workforce sourcing decisions, transparency, and 
personnel system reform.

                         ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

    An effective energy strategy for the Department of Defense 
will increase the operational effectiveness of the military and 
will enhance the Nation's national and energy security. 
Therefore, the committee will review the energy strategies 
promulgated by the Department of Defense and will monitor the 
Department's energy use on military installations, for military 
training and operations, as well as opportunities to reduce 
energy demand through cost-effective investments that enhance 
combat capability and demonstrate a return on investment.
    The committee will also continue its oversight of the 
Department of Defense and military services' environmental 
programs and will monitor Department of Defense funding and 
adherence to Federal, state, and local requirements for 
cleanup, compliance, and pollution prevention. Specifically, 
the committee will continue oversight to protect Department of 
Defense training, testing, and operations from encroachment.

                Military Construction and Infrastructure


                                 BASING

    The Department of Defense is undergoing a significant 
change in force structure both in the United States and 
overseas. These changes are being implemented to enhance 
operational efficiencies and ensure access to future 
contingency operations. The committee will continue to review 
all significant domestic and overseas basing proposals to 
ensure that these proposals adhere to existing statutory 
limitations. The committee will continue discussions with the 
Department of Defense and military departments on excess 
infrastructure capacity associated with military installations 
to ensure excess infrastructure capacity assessments are based 
on current infrastructure data and informed by current force 
structure projections.

                   MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMMING

    The committee will review the Department's military 
construction program to manage the overall capacity of the 
Department's infrastructure and to ensure prudent long-term 
military construction investments are provided.

          REAL PROPERTY ACQUISITION, MAINTENANCE, AND DISPOSAL

    The real property management process requires extensive 
oversight to maintain almost $850.3 billion in infrastructure 
at an annual cost of nearly $37.0 billion. The committee is 
concerned that infrastructure inefficiencies result in 
duplicative operations and uncoordinated investment decisions 
and will seek to apply best practices across the Department of 
Defense in order to efficiently maintain the services' taxpayer 
funded infrastructure.

             Total Force, Personnel, and Health Care Issues


 MANPOWER SUFFICIENT IN QUANTITY AND QUALITY TO MEET GLOBAL COMMITMENTS

    Some argue that military personnel costs have exploded and 
will continue to rise to unsustainable levels. The committee 
rejects that assertion because such a budget-oriented focus 
misses the fundamental question that the committee will assess: 
What does the Nation need in terms of the quantity of manpower 
and the quality of that manpower to meet its current and future 
global military commitments, without undue risk to the Nation? 
In this context, the fiscal year 2015 budget request proposed 
to continue to reduce the end strengths of the Army and Marine 
Corps by 100,000 over a five-year period, which began with the 
fiscal year 2013 budget request, bringing both services down to 
approximately pre-9/11 levels. The committee remains concerned 
with such reductions while those services are still engaged in 
stability operations in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, 
advisor and training missions in the Republic of Iraq and 
numerous smaller engagements throughout the world. Reflecting 
that concern, in the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112-239), Congress limited the 
personnel reductions the Army and Marine Corps could execute 
each year between fiscal years 2015 and 2017, and again in the 
Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense 
Authorization Act for 2015 (Public Law 113-291) limited the 
personnel reductions, thereby seeking to prevent a hollowing of 
the force. The committee will continue to provide aggressive 
oversight of military manpower levels and force structure to 
ensure they meet the National Military Strategy. This oversight 
will seek to provide Active, Guard and Reserve Forces that have 
manpower levels sufficient to sustain varying scales of 
activation, while maintaining deployment ratios at or above 
Department of Defense objectives. Within this focus, the 
committee will examine closely trends in overall total force 
structure requirements, end strength, recruiting, retention, 
morale, benefits and compensation.

  MORALE, WELFARE AND RECREATION PROGRAMS AND MILITARY RESALE PROGRAMS

    While some have criticized the Morale, Welfare, and 
Recreation (MWR) and military resale programs (commissary and 
exchange stores) as being unnecessary and wasteful and targeted 
for reductions in appropriated funding, the committee believes 
the cost efficient sustainment of MWR and military resale 
programs (commissaries and exchanges) is required to protect 
quality of life in military communities and maintain the combat 
readiness of the force. The committee will provide oversight 
efforts directed toward that end.
    Additionally, the committee believes that MWR and military 
resale programs must remain competitive with private sector 
entities to ensure that service members and their families 
benefit fully from these programs. The committee must monitor 
current practices and policies to ensure that MWR and military 
resale programs are employing the full range of strategies 
available to private sector competitors to inform authorized 
patrons about the benefits associated with these programs and 
attract them to participate. This is especially true for 
commissaries that are restricted from using pricing, product, 
and advertising strategies that are common in the private 
sector because of legislative and policy barriers. The Carl 
Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291) 
requires the Department of Defense to review management, food 
and pricing options for the Defense Commissary System in 
consultation with an organization experienced in grocery retail 
analysis to assist in maintaining a competitive and effective 
commissary system in the future.

                   MILITARY BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

    During the 114th Congress the Department of Defense budget 
will remain under considerable stress and military benefits 
will be targeted for reductions. The committee must give close 
scrutiny to proposals from the Department of Defense and other 
organizations, both governmental and private sector, calling 
for funding reductions to military compensation and other 
benefit programs in order to ensure any proposed change 
assesses the impact to the all volunteer force. To that end, 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 
(Public Law 112-239) authorized a Military Compensation and 
Retirement Modernization Commission to review the full range of 
compensation and benefit programs that could apply to service 
members, families, retirees, and survivors, to include programs 
managed by the Department of Defense, the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Education. The 
commission's deliberations must be closely monitored and its 
recommendations, due at the beginning of 2015, carefully 
scrutinized by the committee as changes to compensation and 
benefit programs are considered.

         MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES

    A continued principal focus of the committee during the 
114th Congress will be to assess the adequacy and effectiveness 
of mental health services provided to members of the Armed 
Forces and their families. Particular attention will be given, 
but not limited to, the suicide prevention efforts undertaken 
by each military service and the consistency and 
comprehensiveness of the Department of Defense policy on 
prevention of suicide among members of the Armed Forces and 
their families, including methods of collecting and assessing 
suicide data. An additional focus will be the adequacy of 
suicide prevention programs for members of the special forces 
and their families.

                     SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY

    The committee will continue to hold the Department of 
Defense and the military services accountable to address sexual 
assaults in the military and ensure victims are provided the 
appropriate care and support. In that regard, the committee 
will continue rigorous oversight in this area, focusing not 
only on sexual assault prevention and response, but on the 
capability of the military justice system and the Uniform Code 
of Military Justice to prosecute and bring offenders to 
justice. In that regard, the committee looks forward to 
receiving the recommendations of the independent reviews and 
assessments of judicial proceedings of military sexual assault 
cases that were mandated by the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112-239). The committee 
will actively oversee the Department of Defense's 
implementation of the recommendations by the Responses Systems 
to Adult Sexual Assault Crimes Panel to improve programs and 
policies to prevent and address sexual assaults involving 
members of the Armed Forces. In addition, the committee will 
focus on efforts to prevent and address retaliation and 
ostracism of members of the Armed Forces who report sex-related 
crimes.

                      MILITARY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

    The committee is committed to a robust military health 
system which provides quality health care for service members, 
retirees, and their families. The committee will continue to 
explore innovative strategies to improve the health status of 
beneficiaries and control cost growth within the military 
health care system, while ensuring access to the benefit at a 
reasonable cost to beneficiaries. Additionally, to ensure that 
the military health system is efficient and effective, the 
committee will monitor and evaluate the implementation of the 
Defense Health Agency and closely examine the Department's 
plans to reduce the capacity and availability of military 
medical treatment facilities. The committee remains committed 
to a robust medical research and development program focused on 
military heath issues, such as blast injury mitigation and 
treatment, combat trauma care, military infectious diseases, 
and medical biological/chemical defense. Robust oversight on 
the progress towards implementing the requirements for an 
electronic health record that is inter-operable with the 
electronic health record of the Veterans Administration will 
continue during the 114th Congress. Particular attention will 
be focused on health information technology systems and the 
acquisition process for military health related procurement. 
Finally, the committee will evaluate the recommendations 
regarding the military health care benefit from the Military 
Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission, 
established by the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112-239) to modernize the military 
compensation and retirement systems.

                          WOUNDED WARRIOR CARE

    The committee will continue its efforts to assess the 
adequacy of the Department of Defense policies and programs for 
wounded and disabled service members and their families. In 
this regard, the committee will continue to evaluate the 
Department of Defense's ability to integrate and coordinate the 
multitude of services and resources available to assist the 
wounded and disabled, not only from other Federal agencies, but 
also from the private sector. In addition, the committee will 
monitor the Department's progress toward establishing uniform 
performance outcome measurements for use by each military 
service in the Warrior in Transition programs. Particular focus 
will be given to policies regarding the selection of 
individuals employed by the Warrior in Transition Programs and 
mechanisms for continually assessing the quality of the 
services provided by such programs. The congressionally 
mandated Department of Defense centers of excellence will be 
reviewed for opportunities to expand capabilities and make 
improvements. The committee will continue to closely monitor 
translational research and treatment advances in traumatic 
brain injury. Particular attention will be focused on the 
Integrated Disability Evaluation System with a view to ensuring 
the fairness, effectiveness, timeliness, and efficiency of the 
program and to simplify the process for service members.

                       MILITARY FAMILY READINESS

    We remain a Nation on a war-footing. Consequently, the 
families of the members of the Armed Forces continue to 
experience the strains associated with deployments. In this 
regard, the committee will continue to focus on the needs of 
military families and to identify the programs and policies 
that can be developed or modified to improve their lives. As 
end strengths of the Armed Forces are reduced and resources 
shrink, the committee will closely examine the Department of 
Defense and military service family support programs to ensure 
the continued viability of these programs to address the needs 
of military families. In addition, the committee will continue 
close oversight on the quality of services and hiring practices 
at Department of Defense child development centers.

                 PRISONER OF WAR AND MISSING IN ACTION

    During the 114th Congress, the committee will continue 
active oversight of the Department of Defense's Prisoner of 
War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) activities, as the committee of 
jurisdiction. Specifically, the committee will assess the 
implementation of modifications to the requirements for 
accounting for members of the Armed Forces and Department of 
Defense civilian employees listed as missing by establishing a 
single defense agency for POW/MIA affairs directed by the Carl 
Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291). In 
addition, the committee will assess the progress towards 
meeting the requirement that the accounting effort achieve 
significantly higher levels of identification by 2015.

                            WOMEN IN SERVICE

    The Department of Defense and the military services 
continue to work toward opening all military occupations to 
women. During the 114th Congress, the committee will continue 
to aggressively evaluate the process for identifying 
occupational specialties that may open to women with particular 
focus on the occupational standards established for each 
occupational specialty. The committee will monitor the military 
service's personnel policies and assignment practices for those 
occupational specialties which have recently opened to women. 
Further, the committee will focus on the long-term plans for 
assuring retention and advancement for women in newly opened 
career fields.

                  Modernization and Investment Issues


                                OVERVIEW

    The committee will devote particular attention to the 
examination of military equipment modernization strategies with 
respect to overall military capability against all threats and 
adversaries. The committee will conduct oversight of the full 
range of modernization and investment issues facing the 
Department of Defense, to include the impacts of current budget 
uncertainty and sequestration. How Congress chooses to fund 
Department of Defense future acquisition programs will 
dramatically affect the size, health, age, and supporting 
industrial base of the air, sea, and land force structure 
available to U.S. forces in support of the National Military 
Strategy and current strategic defense planning guidance, as 
well as the Nation's vital interests. The committee, through 
rigorous oversight and legislative action, will develop 
strategies to help mitigate cost growth and schedule delays 
among all categories of acquisition programs. The committee 
will also assess the need for legislative action by examining 
causes of these problems including: late determination of 
requirements, requirements growth, and failure to properly 
control requirements changes; inadequate analyses of 
alternatives, concurrency in test and evaluation, military 
services proceeding prematurely with development of immature 
technology; poor cost estimating; inadequate funding profiles; 
over-estimation of potential production rates; and program 
instability.
    In particular, the committee will also seek to ensure the 
military services have the appropriate authorities, 
capabilities, and force structure to defend against any 
potential challenges posed by the advanced anti-access 
capabilities of countries, such as the People's Republic of 
China and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

          ARMY AND MARINE CORPS ARMORED VEHICLE MODERNIZATION

    The committee will focus on oversight of the Army and 
Marine Corps' evolving plans to recapitalize their entire 
fleets of heavy and medium-weight armored vehicles over the 
next two decades, including the M1 Abrams tank, M2 Bradley 
Fighting Vehicles, Stryker Vehicles, the family of Amphibious 
Combat Vehicles, upgrades for Light Armored Vehicles, upgrades 
to Paladin artillery systems, as well as the Armored 
Multipurpose Vehicle (AMPV) research and development program, 
the planned replacement for Army M113 troop carrier vehicles. 
In particular, the committee will focus on ensuring that the 
existing fleet of armored vehicles is properly upgraded and 
reset after very heavy use in the Republic of Iraq and the 
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and that the Army and Marine 
Corps continue to field vehicles that stay ahead of the 
evolving anti-vehicle threat posed by improvised explosive 
devices and advances in anti-tank guided missiles. Consistent 
with committee oversight activity from the 113th Congress, the 
committee will also continue to assess and mitigate the impacts 
of budget uncertainty and sequestration on the Armored Combat 
Vehicle industrial base.

            ARMY AND MARINE CORPS TACTICAL WHEELED VEHICLES

    The committee will focus oversight efforts on the Army and 
Marine Corps' tactical wheeled vehicle (TWV) modernization 
strategies for their families of light, medium, and heavy TWVs, 
the family of mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles, 
line haul tractor trailers, and construction equipment. In 
particular, the committee will focus on ensuring that the 
existing fleet of TWVs and MRAPs are properly modernized and 
reset after very heavy operational use in the Republic of Iraq 
and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The committee will 
closely monitor TWV fleet size and composition and focus on 
ways to adequately sustain the TWV industrial base given 
significant decreases in overall requirements, as well as 
attempt to mitigate the impacts to modernization of the TWV 
fleet that are a result of sequestration and the current fiscal 
environment. Of particular interest to the committee will be 
the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program. The committee 
will closely monitor the JLTV budget, cost, schedule, and 
performance as the program transitions from development into 
low-rate initial production. The committee will continue to 
coordinate with the Government Accountability Office regarding 
the Department's efforts in the long-term management and 
sustainment of the TWV fleet and its associated industrial 
base.

                         ARMY AVIATION PROGRAMS

    Legacy rotorcraft platforms, including the CH-47, UH-60, 
AH-64, and OH-58, will likely continue to be operated at high 
operational tempos, in very challenging environments. These 
high operational tempos will require continued upgrade and 
reset efforts. The committee will focus on the need to continue 
to upgrade and reset these critical equipment platforms for 
both the Active and Reserve Components through formal 
activities and legislative action. In addition to its oversight 
of aviation requirements for, and performance in combat 
operations, the committee will continue to provide oversight of 
the Army's Aviation Restructure Initiative (ARI), as well as 
future Army combat aviation programs. In particular, the 
committee will focus on the Army's restructured acquisition 
plan resulting from the cancellation of the Armed 
Reconnaissance Helicopter, the divestment of the OH-58 Kiowa 
Warrior fleet, and the rationale for transferring AH-64 Apache 
helicopters from the National Guard to the Active Component. 
The committee oversight activity will build on the actions from 
the 113th Congress and continue to gain a better understanding 
of the Army's intent with the ARI. The committee will also 
conduct oversight on the initiation of modernization programs, 
such as the Joint Future Theater Lift program, as well as the 
critical need for advanced aircraft survivability equipment 
upgrades to provide warning and protection against evolving 
surface-to-air missile threats.

                      ARMY COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMS

    Given the growing importance of battlefield communications 
networks in global combat operations, the committee will 
continue to aggressively monitor the Army's plans for its 
future battlefield network and the supporting research programs 
now in place, to include rigorous oversight of the Army's 
Tactical Network Modernization roadmap. In particular, the 
committee will focus oversight efforts on the Warfighter 
Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) and the follow-on efforts 
resulting from the restructured Joint Tactical Radio System 
(JTRS) programs. The committee will work with the Army to 
ensure that the future battlefield capabilities it creates 
results in a network-enabled, rather than a network-dependent, 
Army. The committee, in coordination with the Department of 
Defense, aims to empower soldiers to accomplish their missions, 
rather than create an Army that is dependent on its 
communications network, so much so that it is not able to 
function without it. As such, the committee will also help 
direct the Army's limited modernization resources to 
investments that will have the greatest short-, mid- and long-
term impact for the end user.

            ORGANIZATIONAL CLOTHING AND INDIVIDUAL EQUIPMENT

    The committee will continue to devote substantial attention 
to the oversight of the research, development, and procurement 
of organizational clothing and individual equipment and other 
complementary personnel protection programs. Focus areas will 
continue to include but are not limited to: advances in weight 
reduction (``lightening the load'') in clothing and individual 
equipment; development of specific personnel protection systems 
for military servicewomen; small arms and small caliber 
ammunition modernization with particular emphasis on the Army's 
individual carbine program, modular handgun program, and 
enhanced performance small caliber rounds; improved combat 
helmets to help mitigate traumatic brain injury; improved 
combat uniforms; and the overall management of these associated 
niche, but highly critical industrial bases.

                   TACTICAL AIRCRAFT FORCE STRUCTURE

    The committee will continue to focus on the size and 
composition of the tactical aircraft force structure. Delays in 
the initial operational capability of the F-35 aircraft have 
the potential to result in future tactical aircraft force 
structure shortfalls if service life extensions for legacy 
aircraft cannot be accomplished.
    With an operational requirement of 1,056 strike fighters, 
the Department of the Navy projects it can manage a strike 
fighter shortfall of 35 aircraft in 2023. The committee will 
focus on inventory objectives of F/A-18E/F and EA-18G 
procurement, the effect of delays in the procurement of the F-
35 Joint Strike Fighter, F/A-18 A through D service life 
limits, and mission capability of the AV-8B aircraft.
    The Air Force has stated a strike fighter operational 
requirement of 1,900 aircraft, and, under current procurement 
and retirement plans, the Air Force projects its inventory to 
fall below that requirement as older aircraft are retired. The 
Air Force had planned to retire approximately 100 A-10 close 
air support aircraft in fiscal year 2015, but the Carl Levin 
and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291) included a 
provision that would prohibit the Air Force from retiring any 
A-10 aircraft in fiscal year 2015. That provision would also 
allow 36 A-10 aircraft from the active component to be placed 
into back-up aircraft inventory (BAI) status subject to a 
certification by the Secretary of Defense concerning the 
requirement to place these aircraft into BAI status to enable 
readiness of the Air Force's fighter aircraft fleets. Delays in 
deliveries of the F-35A aircraft and in achieving its initial 
operational capability will affect the Air Force fighter 
aircraft inventory. In the 114th Congress, the committee will 
continue its oversight of: aircraft retirement plans; the F-22 
and F-35 aircraft programs; and life extension and 
modernization programs for the F-15, F-16, and A-10 aircraft.

                       F-35/JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER

    During the 114th Congress, the committee will continue 
oversight of the F-35/Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program, 
particularly issues related to program cost, schedule, and 
performance.
    With the JSF approximately 80 percent through a 15-year 
development process, the committee believes that there is still 
risk in completing JSF development within currently projected 
cost, schedule, and performance parameters. The committee's 
primary concerns include software development, completing 
modifications prior to Marine Corps initial operational 
capability (IOC) in 2015 and Air Force IOC in 2016, addressing 
F135 engine problems, and the ramp-up in production planned for 
2015 and beyond. In the 114th Congress, the committee will 
continue to receive JSF annual reports and receive testimony 
and briefings from both the Department of Defense and an 
independent review from the Government Accountability Office.

                         BOMBER FORCE STRUCTURE

    The committee understands that the Air Force will continue 
investments of significant fiscal resources for technology 
development and engineering, manufacturing and design of a 
next-generation, and long-range strike bomber aircraft during 
the next few years. While many details regarding the specific 
requirements and capabilities of the new bomber remain highly 
classified, the committee will maintain aggressive oversight of 
the new bomber acquisition strategy to ensure that the Air 
Force develops an affordable aircraft to timely meet future 
requirements and recapitalize the current fleet of B-52, B-1, 
and B-2 long-range strike bomber aircraft.
    During the many years of development, manufacturing, and 
eventual fielding of the new bomber aircraft, it will be 
imperative that the Air Force continues to maintain, modernize, 
and upgrade the existing fleet of bomber aircraft in order to 
preserve effective capabilities needed to meet current and 
future threat target sets. The committee will continue to 
maintain oversight of current bomber aircraft inventory 
requirements and modernization plans to ensure that the Air 
Force maintains a sufficient, credible, and lethal fixed-wing 
aircraft with conventional and strategic weapons delivery 
capability to support all aspects of the National Military 
Strategy.

                       AERIAL REFUELING AIRCRAFT

    During the 114th Congress, the committee will continue to 
maintain active oversight of aerial refueling aircraft 
modernization and recapitalization programs of the Air Force. 
Currently, the KC-135 and KC-10 are the primary providers of 
U.S. air-refueling critical capabilities in executing 
operations in support of the National Military Strategy. Given 
the limited fiscal resources available to the Air Force for 
recapitalization of the KC-135 fleet of 395 aircraft, this will 
result in having to maintain and operate KC-135 aircraft that 
will have been in the fleet for over 70 years. Therefore, 
timely and efficient recapitalization of the Air Force's KC-135 
tanker fleet with new KC-46 aerial refueling aircraft is 
critical. Additionally, the Air Force plans to perform an 
avionics modernization program on the KC-10 fleet of tankers to 
maintain relevant and effective aerial refueling capabilities 
until a successor program to the KC-46 aircraft is begun to 
replace the KC-10 aircraft.
    The committee will continue to assess the KC-46 program to 
ensure it meets the U.S. Government's cost, schedule, and 
execution goals, which includes the projected initial operating 
capability date during calendar year 2018.

                 INTERTHEATER AND INTRATHEATER AIRLIFT

    Regarding intertheater airlift aircraft capabilities, the 
committee continues to remain concerned about Air Force plans 
to reduce the intertheater airlift aircraft inventory below 301 
total aircraft in support of the defense strategic guidance 
issued in January 2012. Additionally, the committee has been 
concerned about Air Force plans to cancel the avionics 
modernization program (AMP) for C-130 aircraft since the 
absence of this modification would limit the future utility of 
C-130 aircraft, resulting in future Air Force plans to further 
reduce the inventory of intertheater airlift aircraft. 
Accordingly, the Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public 
Law 113-291) included a provision that would prohibit the Air 
Force from canceling the avionics modernization program. The 
committee will continue to review the C-130 modernization 
program to ensure it is capable of meeting intertheater airlift 
requirements.
    Regarding intratheater airlift aircraft capabilities, the 
committee believes that a minimum Air Force intratheater 
airlift inventory of 318 general support and 40 direct support 
aircraft, as reflected in section 1059 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112-705), 
should be sufficient to meet both Air Force and Army 
operational requirements in support of combatant commander 
operational plans being developed to execute the defense 
strategic guidance issued in January 2012. The committee, 
however, remains skeptical that the Air Force has yet to fully 
embrace and institutionalize effective concepts of operations 
in support of Army direct support airlift requirements and will 
maintain close oversight of Air Force implementation of the 
January 27, 2012, memorandum of understanding agreed upon by 
the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and by the 
Chiefs of Staff of the Air Force and the Army.
    The committee will continue close oversight of Air Force 
intertheater and intratheater airlift aircraft inventories and 
capabilities during the 114th Congress to ensure that a robust 
and effective fleet of airlift aircraft is maintained in the 
Air Force inventory to meet all mobility airlift requirements 
of the Department of Defense.

                        SURFACE WARFARE PROGRAMS

    The Department of the Navy must collectively expand the 
core capabilities of U.S. seapower to achieve a blend of 
peacetime engagement and major combat operations capabilities. 
In pursuing this goal, the committee will provide oversight of 
the composition, capacity, and capabilities of the surface 
fleet. Specifically, the committee will assess the President's 
budget request to ensure compliance with the aircraft carrier 
force structure requirements associated with section 5062 of 
title 10, United States Code. The committee will also assess 
the large and small surface combatant requirements to ensure 
oversight of the force structure and the associated weapons and 
sensors employed on the surface force. As part of the weapons 
and sensors oversight, the committee will review the 
requirements associated with the Air and Missile Defense Radar, 
anti-ship missile capabilities and Littoral Combat Ship mission 
modules. Finally, the committee will review the combat 
logistics forces to ensure sufficient capacity is available to 
support the surface combat forces.
    As part of this oversight, the committee will continue to 
place a significant emphasis on improving affordability in 
shipbuilding programs through: ensuring stable requirements; 
the use of acquisition best practices; stability within the 
overall program; increased reliance on common systems and open 
architecture; industrial base capacity, process, and facility 
improvements at the shipyards.

                       UNDERSEA WARFARE PROGRAMS

    The ability to operate freely at sea is one of the most 
important enablers of joint and interagency operations, and sea 
control requires capabilities in all aspects of the maritime 
domain. There are many challenges to our ability to exercise 
sea control, perhaps none as significant as the growing number 
of nations operating submarines, both advanced diesel-electric 
and nuclear propelled. Exercising sea control in the undersea 
domain is essential to maintaining the freedom of navigation in 
support of U.S. maritime interests. The committee will continue 
to review the undersea domain to ensure warfare dominance. 
Specifically, the committee will review long-term plans to 
reverse the decline in the attack submarine force structure. 
The committee will also assess whether sufficient resources are 
available for the recapitalization of the ballistic missile 
submarine forces. Finally, the committee will assess the 
weapons and sensors employed in the undersea domain to retain 
maritime dominance, to include the capacity and capabilities of 
the heavy weight torpedo.
    As part of this oversight, the committee will place 
specific emphasis on the efficacy of multi-year procurements, 
rigorous assessment of requirements, and retention of 
sufficient industrial base capacity.

    MILITARY INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE PROGRAMS

    Manned and unmanned intelligence, surveillance, and 
reconnaissance (ISR) system programs have come to constitute a 
significant component of the overall Department of Defense 
force structure. The capability provided by these assets is 
critical to sustaining deterrence and warfighting capability of 
U.S. forces. The committee notes that the Air Force had planned 
to retire the U-2 aircraft in fiscal year 2016, but the Carl 
Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291) 
included a provision that would prohibit the Air Force from 
taking any action to retire, or prepare to retire, any U-2 
aircraft in fiscal year 2015. The committee also supports the 
preservation of Global Hawk ISR capabilities since combatant 
requirements for ISR provided by both the U-2 and Global Hawk 
aircraft are not presently fully satisfied.
    The committee will focus on the budget, cost, schedule, and 
performance outcomes of major manned and unmanned aerial 
systems programs and examine the ISR enterprise for balance in 
collection and analysis capabilities. Also, close examination 
of the Office of the Secretary of Defense ISR policy 
formulation and oversight has been and will continue to be of 
interest to the committee. Long-standing concerns of the 
committee remain: lack of an adequate long-term ISR 
architecture and acquisition strategy; lack of supporting 
analysis for programmatic decisions; failure to balance 
collection programs data output with adequate resources to 
process, exploit, and disseminate data and analysis; and 
unnecessary proliferation of manned and unmanned vehicles and 
sensors. The committee expects the Joint Staff and Joint 
Requirements Oversight Council to take a more active role in 
coordinating ISR system acquisition and coordinating employment 
with the combatant commanders.

                 EMERGING ADVANCED WEAPONS CAPABILITIES

    Department of Defense investment in science and technology 
often leads to the development of new advanced weapons 
capabilities that contribute to the technological superiority 
of U.S. military forces. Maintaining technology overmatch of 
current and potential adversaries is a significant part of the 
qualitative advantage of U.S. forces, but is increasingly 
difficult in an environment of globalized technologies and 
asymmetric combinations of high-tech and low-tech capabilities. 
The committee will continue to monitor technological 
developments and support transition of the most promising ones, 
such as directed energy, hypersonics, and autonomy.
    In the 113th Congress, the committee maintained a focus 
particularly on the directed energy programs of the Department. 
The results achieved by these programs in the past have not 
always met expectations, although recent technical advances 
appear promising. The committee continues to support these 
efforts, especially as they support missile defense and other 
emerging concepts for countering anti-access and area denial 
threats.
    In the 114th Congress, the committee will more closely 
examine organizing concepts provided by the military services 
and the Office of Secretary of Defense as demonstration 
projects become viable programs and the respective services 
develop acquisition plans in support of fielding directed 
energy capabilities. Additionally, the committee will expand 
its focus to take a similar look at other emerging advanced 
weapons capabilities, such as hypersonics and autonomy, to see 
how they can contribute to new security strategies, and to 
ensure that they are supported by rigorous technical analysis 
and relevant concepts of employment.

                           NUCLEAR DETERRENCE

    The committee oversees the atomic energy defense activities 
of the Department of Energy and nuclear policies and programs 
of the Department of Defense to ensure the safety, security, 
reliability, and credibility of the U.S. nuclear deterrent. The 
committee will place particular emphasis on oversight of the 
Department of Energy and Department of Defense's nuclear 
modernization plans, including but not limited to 
infrastructure investments, warhead life extension programs, 
stockpile stewardship and management plans, delivery system 
modernization, nuclear command and control, cost savings and 
efficiency initiatives, and security.
    The committee will conduct close oversight of 
implementation of corrective actions resulting from the 
Department of Defense's Nuclear Enterprise Review. The 
committee will also track the Administration's funding of the 
nuclear enterprise to ensure sufficient resources are provided 
and allocated effectively and efficiently across Department of 
Energy and Department of Defense requirements. The committee 
will emphasize oversight of major acquisition programs that 
will recapitalize and form the core of the U.S. nuclear 
deterrent for decades into the future, including the Ohio-class 
Replacement Submarine, the Ground-based Strategic Deterrent 
system, the Long-range Strike Bomber, the Long-range Standoff 
weapon, and their associated nuclear warheads. Alongside 
overseeing and authorizing U.S. nuclear weapon programs, the 
committee will also closely monitor foreign nuclear weapon 
development and modernization programs as well as arms control 
commitments around the world.
    In addition to programs, the committee will also provide 
oversight of the Administration's nuclear policy and posture, 
extended deterrence policy, arms control activities, nuclear 
nonproliferation activities, and force structure requirements. 
Particular emphasis will be placed on oversight of the 
Administration's nuclear weapons policies, including changes to 
nuclear weapon employment policies and efforts to reduce U.S. 
nuclear forces. The committee will also review the 
effectiveness of the Department of Energy and the Department of 
Defense's organization and management of the nuclear 
enterprise, including coordination of plans and policies 
through the joint Nuclear Weapons Council and alignment of the 
Naval Reactors program with Department of Defense requirements 
such as the Ohio-class Replacement Program. Finally, the 
committee will conduct oversight of the performance, 
efficiency, governance, and management of the Department of 
Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration, laboratory 
and production site management and operations, workforce 
sustainment, and defense nuclear cleanup efforts.

                            MISSILE DEFENSE

    The committee oversees the Department of Defense's efforts 
to develop, test, and field layered missile defense 
capabilities to protect the United States, its deployed forces, 
and its friends and allies against the full range of ballistic 
missile threats. Particular emphasis will be placed on U.S. 
homeland missile defense capabilities (including the Missile 
Defense Agency's proposal and strategy for acquiring a 
Redesigned Kill Vehicle), European Phased Adaptive Approach 
implementation, continued implementation of other regional 
Phased Adaptive Approaches, ensuring an adequate hedging 
strategy for the protection of the U.S. homeland, developmental 
and operational testing, force structure and inventory 
requirements, sensor-to-shooter integration, and science and 
technology investments in areas such as directed energy. In the 
114th Congress, the committee will closely watch the 
Administration's funding of the missile defense program, 
seeking the cost-effective application of resources, and 
looking for opportunities to enhance stability of the 
industrial base.
    The committee will continue to monitor foreign ballistic 
missile threats and identify opportunities to strengthen 
international missile defense cooperation with allies and 
partners such as the State of Israel, Japan, the Commonwealth 
of Australia, the Republic of Korea, and North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization member states. Department of Defense oversight and 
management of missile defense activities, including the roles, 
responsibilities, and acquisition policies and procedures of 
the Missile Defense Agency and military services will also be 
reviewed. The committee will also provide oversight of the 
Administration's missile defense policy and posture, including 
close examination of any Administration efforts that may limit 
missile defenses as part of a treaty or agreement, and 
implications for United States, regional, global security and 
strategic stability.
    The committee also intends to pay particular attention to 
the Army's PATRIOT air and missile defense program. The Army's 
plans call for significant investment over a long-term and the 
committee will ensure these plans are cost-effective, based on 
proven technology, support continued Foreign Military Sales, 
and provide maximum deployable capability to combatant 
commanders and the warfighter.

                        NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE

    The committee oversees the national security space programs 
of the Department of Defense, including combat support agencies 
and elements of the Department of Defense that are part of the 
intelligence community. The committee will place particular 
attention on space acquisition strategies that provide 
necessary warfighter capability, while reducing cost and 
technical risk, and promoting greater stability in the 
industrial base; provide assured access to space, including the 
transition from non-allied rocket engines to domestic sources, 
and providing opportunities for competition, while maintaining 
mission assurance through our national security space launch 
programs; mitigate risks that could create gaps in space 
capabilities for key warfighter needs; provide affordability 
and increasing government buying power; invest in science and 
technology and improve the maturation of technologies into 
baseline programs; appropriately leverage commercial satellite 
services; provide exploitation of space sensor data to maximize 
effectiveness and efficiency; improve the synchronization 
between satellite, ground and terminal acquisition programs; 
and promote efforts that develop and sustain the technical 
workforce.
    The committee will continue to monitor foreign space 
threats and carefully assess the Department's space security 
and defense program to include space situational awareness, 
space protection, space control, and operationally responsive 
space activities. The committee will also provide oversight of 
the Administration's space policy, posture, and any related 
international agreements. Lastly, renewed attention will be 
placed on efforts to improve governance and management across 
the national security space enterprise.

                   Emerging Threats and Capabilities


        INVESTMENT IN FUTURE CAPABILITIES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

    The Department of Defense faces difficult choices as it 
balances the competing needs of capabilities for current 
operations and those projected for future conflicts. In order 
to address the latter, investments must be made in the 
Department's Science and Technology (S&T) programs, and aligned 
appropriately with continued development and procurement 
programs to position the Department to meet future challenges. 
S&T investments can also be leveraged to support broader 
acquisition improvements or defense industrial base sustainment 
activities by creatively utilizing competitive or operational 
prototyping, technical transition or integration, or 
requirements maturation.
    Preparing for the challenges of the future, the Department 
must create a portfolio of technological options that can 
address the perceived threats identified in the defense 
planning process, as well as the emergence of unanticipated 
events or strategic competitors. Emphasis should be placed not 
only on support to acquisition roadmaps, but also on 
capabilities to institutionalize adaptability. Doing that will 
require better integration of intelligence into the S&T cycle, 
as well as better cognizance of global developments and 
industry-based independent research and development. It will 
also require a solid foundation to allow for adaptability, 
which means having world-class people and facilities in which 
to conduct certain types of research and development.
    The committee will continue to encourage the Department to 
plan and execute a balanced S&T program that ensures the U.S. 
military can retain superiority for future generations. The 
committee will also continue to examine how S&T investments are 
integrated into strategic and operational plans to also ensure 
that the investments being made, including in people and 
infrastructure, are properly aligned.

                     CYBER OPERATIONS CAPABILITIES

    Cyber operations have taken on an increasingly important 
role in military operations as well as overall national 
security. Accordingly, the committee will continue to closely 
scrutinize the Department of Defense's cyber operations, 
organization, manning and funding to ensure that the military 
has the freedom of maneuver to conduct the range of missions in 
the Nation's defense, and when called upon, to support other 
interagency and international partners. An important oversight 
role for Congress regarding the conduct of defensive and 
offensive cyber operations will be to ensure that the proper 
legal and policy frameworks are in place and are followed. The 
committee will also continue to scrutinize military cyber 
operations to ensure that they are properly integrated into the 
combatant commander's operational plans, and to ensure that 
adequate capabilities exist or are in development to employ 
these cyberspace operational tools with rigor and discretion to 
support a full range of options for the Nation's decision 
makers. In the course of monitoring the cybersecurity posture 
of the military, the committee will also continue to examine 
the effects of globalization on the assured integrity of 
microelectronics and software.

                         INFORMATION OPERATIONS

    Engagement with foreign audiences and nuanced understanding 
of the information environment is pivotal in navigating the 
21st century security environment. Whether one is trying to 
influence nation-state actors or potential allies, counter 
violent extremist groups, or identify and counter efforts at 
deception or misinformation, strategic communication and 
information operations are key elements to success on the 
battlefield and an important tool to prevent or deter conflict 
before escalation. The ability to carry out such operations 
against nation-states, as well as individuals and small 
terrorist groups, requires a flexible and adaptable strategy, 
as well as comprehensive understanding of specific groups, 
their motivating ideologies, and the tools to translate that 
understanding into action.
    With the resurgence of violent extremist groups like Al 
Shabaab, Boko Haram, and the Islamic State of Iraq and the 
Levant, the need for the Department of Defense to plan and 
execute effective information operations is continuing to grow. 
Recent examples illustrate how these groups are utilizing 
social media to support the radicalization process, as well as 
planning, financing and command and control for terrorist acts. 
The committee will pay particular attention to the Department 
of Defense's information operations and strategic communication 
strategies and how these tools will be further developed and 
adapted to support warfighter needs in a changing security 
environment, while maintaining appropriate controls for privacy 
and civil liberties. These activities enable military 
operations and military support to diplomacy, and the committee 
will continue to conduct oversight of these critical 
capabilities, with focus on how these tools are integrated into 
theater security cooperation plans and leveraged with related 
tools for cyber and security force assistance.

    COMPROMISES OF NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION AND INSIDER THREATS

    In the 114th Congress, the committee will continue to 
monitor the Department's efforts to identify and mitigate the 
threats to military operations stemming from the compromise of 
a large amount of classified information by a former Department 
of Defense contractor. Additionally, the committee will monitor 
efforts to mitigate future compromises by overseeing the 
implementation of the Executive Order directing improvements to 
insider threat programs within the executive branch as well as 
the Department of Defense's compliance with the requirements of 
the Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291) 
regarding the Department's security practices, audit 
capabilities, and information-sharing policies.

 USE OF FORCE IN COUNTERTERRORISM OPERATIONS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES 
                    AND AREAS OF ACTIVE HOSTILITIES

    The committee will continue to conduct extensive oversight, 
often in classified form, over the use of force in 
counterterrorism operations outside of the United States and 
areas of active hostilities. While the use of force in this 
area will be overseen in all aspects, the committee will pay 
particular attention to special operations and activities and 
the interagency coordination that occurs with the U.S. 
intelligence community. In conducting this oversight, the 
committee will also review and consider presidential policy 
guidance documents and similar Executive Branch directives, and 
ensure that counterterrorism operations conducted outside of 
the United States and areas of active hostilities are in line 
with broader national security objectives, strategies, and 
resources. Finally, the committee will continue to coordinate 
with the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on 
intelligence matters of the Department of Defense in the course 
of its annual oversight of the intelligence community and the 
authorization of appropriations for intelligence activities 
shared by the two committees.
                        COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                  Washington, DC, January 28, 2015.
Hon. Jason Chaffetz,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Chairman Chaffetz: Pursuant to clause 2(d) of House 
rule X, I am submitting the oversight plan of the Committee on 
the Budget for the 114th Congress. The oversight plan was 
adopted during our Committee's organizational meeting on 
January 22, 2015.
            Sincerely,
                                         Thomas Price, M.D.
                                                          Chairman.

                        COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET

    Resolved: That the Committee on the Budget, pursuant to 
clause 2(d) of House Rule X, adopts as the Oversight Plan of 
the Committee on the Budget for the 114th Congress the 
following:

                  COMMITTEE JURISDICTION AND OVERSIGHT

    Clause 2(d) of Rule X of the Rules of the House requires 
each Committee to adopt and submit to the Committees on 
Oversight and Government Reform and House Administration an 
oversight plan by February 15 of the first session of each 
Congress. The Budget Committee's oversight responsibilities 
include both the breadth of the Federal budget and its 
legislative jurisdiction.
    Under clause 1(d)(1) of House Rule X, the primary 
responsibility of the Budget Committee is to develop a 
concurrent resolution on the budget for a fiscal year. This 
concurrent resolution sets spending and revenue levels in 
aggregate, across 21 budget functions, and provides allocations 
of spending levels for each Committee of Congress.
    Although the subject matter of the budget is inherently 
broad, in addition to oversight of the budget and the economy, 
the Committee's formal oversight responsibility includes laws 
governing the budget process and the agencies responsible for 
administering elements of those laws. Under clauses 1(d)(1)-(3) 
of House Rule X, the major laws falling within its oversight 
include the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, the 
Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, the 
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, the 
Budget Enforcement Act of 1990, the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act of 1995, the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, the 
Budget Control Act of 2011, and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 
2013. The two agencies with primary responsibility for 
administering elements of these laws, and hence which fall 
under the Committee's jurisdiction, are the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) and the Congressional Budget Office 
(CBO).
    In addition to these general oversight responsibilities, 
the Budget Committee has the special oversight responsibility 
under clause 3(c) of House Rule X to study the effect of budget 
outlays of existing and proposed legislation and to regularly 
report the results of such studies to the House.

                 OVERSIGHT PLAN FOR THE 114TH CONGRESS

                           Budget Priorities

    In the process of developing the annual concurrent budget 
resolution, the Committee will hold hearings and receive 
testimony from Members of Congress, Cabinet-level and other 
Federal officials, State and local officials, and expert 
witnesses to review the budget and economic outlook, the 
President's budget submissions and other budget proposals.
    The Committee will review and pursue budget process reform 
legislation.
    The Committee will assess the performance of Federal 
agencies in both administration and service delivery by 
reviewing performance data in the President's budget 
submissions and the relevant reports and audits of the 
Government Accountability Office and the Offices of the 
Inspectors General.
    The Committee will study the budgetary effects of existing 
law and proposed legislation, as well as government regulation 
on government spending, and explore ways of reducing waste, 
fraud, and abuse in government agencies.
    The Committee will draw on the authorizing Committees' 
Views and Estimates on the President's Budget, which are 
submitted to it pursuant to section 301(d) of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974, to coordinate its oversight activities with 
other Committees.
    The Committee will continue to review the budgetary 
treatment of assistance to, and ongoing operations of, the 
Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the 
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac).

                           Budget Enforcement

    The Committee will provide ongoing oversight of OMB's 
implementation of budget submission, control, execution, and 
enforcement procedures under the Budget and Accounting Act of 
1921, the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Budget 
Enforcement Act of 1990, the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
Deficit Control Act of 1985, the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 
2010, the Budget Control Act of 2011, the Bipartisan Budget Act 
of 2013, and other applicable laws.
    The Committee will assess the extent to which both the 
President's budget submissions and the budget resolutions for 
fiscal years 2016 and 2017 comply with applicable budget laws. 
The Committee will also work to ensure compliance of the 
budget-related provisions of H. Res. 5.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\H. Res. 5 (114th Congress) extended and revised the Rules of the 
House for the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress. Section 3 (Separate 
Orders) of H. Res. 5 also set forth additional budgetary controls.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    As part of these responsibilities, the Chair may provide 
authoritative guidance concerning the impact of a legislative 
proposition on the levels of new budget authority, outlays, 
direct spending, new entitlement authority and revenues.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\This authority may be found in clause 4 of rule XXIX of the 
Rules of the House.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Committee will enforce spending limitations and improve 
accountability under the Cutgo Rule, prohibiting consideration 
of a bill, joint resolution, amendment or conference report if 
the provisions of such measure have the net effect of 
increasing direct spending outlays.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\Cutgo may be found in clause 10 of rule XXI of the Rules of the 
House.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In addition, the Committee will monitor reclassifications 
of budget accounts, reestimates of the subsidies of credit 
programs, consistency in cost estimates for direct spending and 
tax bills, compliance with the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
Deficit Control Act of 1985 and other relevant laws, in the 
development of budget projections, and changes in spend-out 
rates for discretionary programs, and implementation of 
performance plans.
    The Committee will work with the Appropriations Committee 
and the authorizing Committees to ensure that spending and tax 
legislation do not breach the levels provided for in the budget 
resolution, as required under sections 302(f) and 311(a) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 or violate the budget 
provisions of the Rules of the House.

                  Direct Spending and Tax Expenditures

    The Committee will request and evaluate continuing studies 
of tax expenditures and direct spending by the Federal 
Government, and whether they are the most appropriate and 
efficient means to achieve specified public policy goals.

                            Economic Policy

    The Committee will study how economic policies affect the 
Federal budget. The Committee will also study monetary policy 
and its effects on the Federal budget. The Committee plans to 
take testimony from the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Janet 
L. Yellen, to review economic conditions, fiscal conditions, 
and monetary policy.

                           OVERSIGHT SCHEDULE

    The following are the Committee's initial plans for 
hearings and other oversight activities.
First Session (2015)
Winter 2015--Hearing on CBO's Economic and Budget Outlook: 
Director of CBO.

Winter 2015--Hearing on the President's Fiscal Year 2016 
Budget: Director of OMB.

Winter 2015--Hearing on the President's Fiscal Year 2016 
Budget: Treasury Secretary.

Winter 2015--Hearing on the President's Fiscal Year 2016 
Budget: Members of Congress.

Winter 2015--Possible additional hearings on the President's 
budget and the budget outlook.

Winter 2015--Receive Views and Estimates from other Committees 
to coordinate development of the annual concurrent budget 
resolution.

Winter 2015--Possible hearing on Federal entitlement spending 
and the long-term budget outlook.

Winter-Spring 2015--Possible field hearings.

Spring 2015--Hearing on the economy: Chairman of the Federal 
Reserve Board.

Summer 2015--Hearing on the long-term budget outlook.

Possible additional hearings to review federal spending, taxes, 
deficits, debt, the federal budget process, and the economy.
Second Session (2016)
Winter 2016--Hearing on CBO's Economic and Budget Outlook: 
Director of CBO.

Winter 2016--Hearing on the President's Fiscal Year 2017 
Budget: Director of OMB.

Winter 2016--Hearing on the economy.

Winter 2016--Hearing on the President's Fiscal Year 2017 
Budget: Treasury Secretary.

Winter 2016--Hearing on the President's Fiscal Year 2017 
Budget: Members of Congress.

Winter 2016--Receive Views and Estimates from other Committees 
to coordinate in developing the annual concurrent budget 
resolution.

Summer 2016--Hearing on the long-term budget outlook.

Possible additional hearings may include reviewing federal 
spending, taxes, deficits, debt, and the economy.
    The Committee will also conduct research, examine programs, 
and prepare analyses of fiscal and economic issues with an 
emphasis on providing for a more effective and accountable 
Federal government.





                COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND THE WORKFORCE

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                 Washington, DC, February 20, 2015.
Hon. Jason Chaffetz,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Candice S. Miller,
Chairman, Committee on House Administration,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Chairman Chaffetz and Chairman Miller: The Committee 
on Education and the Workforce considered and adopted its 
Oversight Plan for the 114th Congress on January 21, 2015. In 
accordance with House Rule X, I am pleased to provide the 
attached hardcopy version of the Oversight Plan of the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce for the 114th 
Congress. This is in addition to the electronic copy of the 
oversight plan that was forwarded to your staff.
            Sincerely,
                                                John Kline,
                                                          Chairman.

                    OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATION PLAN

                    1. Adoption of an Oversight Plan

    Each standing committee of the House is required to 
formally adopt an oversight plan at the beginning of each 
Congress. Specifically, clause 2(d)(1) of Rule X of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives states in part:
        Not later than February 15 of the first session of a 
        Congress, each standing committee shall, in a meeting 
        that is open to the public and with a quorum present, 
        adopt its oversight plan for that Congress. Such plan 
        shall be submitted simultaneously to the Committee on 
        Oversight and Government Reform and to the Committee on 
        House Administration.

    2. Jurisdiction of the Committee on Education and the Workforce

    Rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives vests 
in the Committee on Education and the Workforce (Committee) 
jurisdiction over issues dealing with students, education, 
workers, and workplace policy. Specifically, clause 1(e) of 
Rule X vests the committee with jurisdiction over the following 
subject-matter:
        (1) Child labor;
        (2) Gallaudet University and Howard University and 
        Hospital;
        (3) Convict labor and the entry of goods made by 
        convicts into interstate commerce;
        (4) Food programs for children in schools;
        (5) Labor standards and statistics;
        (6) Education or labor generally;
        (7) Mediation and arbitration of labor disputes;
        (8) Regulation or prevention of importation of foreign 
        laborers under contract;
        (9) Workers' compensation;
        (10) Vocational rehabilitation;
        (11) Wages and hours of labor;
        (12) Welfare of miners; and
        (13) Work incentive programs.

                 3. General Oversight Responsibilities

    Clause 2 of Rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives provides in part:
    (a) The various standing committees shall have general 
oversight responsibilities as provided in paragraph (b) in 
order to assist the House in--
          (1) its analysis, appraisal, and evaluation of--
                  (A) the application, administration, 
                execution, and effectiveness of Federal laws; 
                and
                  (B) conditions and circumstances that may 
                indicate the necessity or desirability of 
                enacting new or additional legislation; and
          (2) its formulation, consideration, and enactment of 
        changes in Federal laws, and of such additional 
        legislation as may be necessary or appropriate.
    (b)(1) In order to determine whether laws and programs 
addressing subjects within the jurisdiction of a committee are 
being implemented and carried out in accordance with the intent 
of Congress and whether they should be continued, curtailed, or 
eliminated, each standing committee (other than the Committee 
on Appropriations) shall review and study on a continuing 
basis--
          (A) the application, administration, execution, and 
        effectiveness of laws and programs addressing subjects 
        within its jurisdiction;
          (B) the organization and operation of Federal 
        agencies and entities having responsibilities for the 
        administration and execution of laws and programs 
        addressing subjects within its jurisdiction;
          (C) any conditions or circumstances that may indicate 
        the necessity or desirability of enacting new or 
        additional legislation addressing subjects within its 
        jurisdiction (whether or not a bill or resolution has 
        been introduced with respect thereto); and
          (D) Future research and forecasting on subjects 
        within its jurisdiction.

    Clause 2 of Rule XI of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives provides:

    (n)(1) Each standing committee, or a subcommittee thereof, 
shall hold at least one hearing during each 120-day period 
following the establishment of the committee on the topic of 
waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement in Government programs 
which that committee may authorize.
          (2) A hearing described in subparagraph (1) shall 
        include a focus on the most egregious instances of 
        waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement as documented by 
        any report the committee has received from a Federal 
        Office of the Inspector General or the Comptroller 
        General of the United States.
    (o) Each committee, or a subcommittee thereof, shall hold 
at least one hearing in any session in which the committee has 
received disclaimers of agency financial statements from 
auditors of any Federal agency that the committee may authorize 
to hear testimony on such disclaimers from representatives of 
any such agency.
    (p) Each standing committee, or a subcommittee thereof, 
shall hold at least one hearing on issues raised by reports 
issued by the Comptroller General of the United States 
indicating that Federal programs or operations that the 
committee may authorize are at high risk for waste, fraud, and 
mismanagement, known as the ``high-risk list'' or the ``high-
risk series.''

               4. Exercise of Oversight Responsibilities

    The American people deserve an open, accountable government 
that spends taxpayer money efficiently and wisely. Rather than 
turning a blind eye to mismanaged resources or a failure to 
govern effectively, Congress must use its constitutional 
authority to ensure our laws are properly enforced, taxpayer 
money is spent appropriately, and government policy does not 
harm the American people.
    The oversight of federal programs and activities conducted 
by committees is a critical part of this effort. Oversight is a 
constitutional prerogative and responsibility of the Congress 
and is a core objective of the Committee. Accordingly, the 
Committee will thoroughly oversee and investigate the various 
agencies, departments, and programs within its jurisdiction. In 
so doing, the Committee will actively consult with House 
committees having concurrent or related jurisdiction. In its 
oversight proceedings, the Committee will make full use of 
hearings in Washington, D.C., and of regional field hearings to 
ensure all relevant voices are heard and made part of the 
official record. Among other investigative techniques, the 
Committee will visit relevant sites, correspond with affected 
parties, and review audits and investigations by the 
Congressional Research Service, the Government Accountability 
Office, the United States Attorney General, and the Offices of 
the Inspectors General of the U.S. Departments of Labor, 
Education, and Health and Human Services, among others.
    The Committee will continue to demand and lead aggressive 
oversight in its areas of jurisdiction. Under the House Rules, 
the Committee has jurisdiction over programs and statutes 
administered and enforced by the U.S. Department of Education, 
the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. 
Department of Justice, and independent agencies within its 
jurisdiction. The Committee will continue to ensure these 
programs and statutes are administered consistent with the 
appropriate federal role and operated in an effective and 
efficient manner, as well as follow congressional intent in 
their scope, activities, and operations.
    The Committee has identified several particular areas for 
oversight and investigation in the 114th Congress. These areas 
are discussed below:
     America's students, parents, administrators, and 
teachers deserve consistent policies and a federal government 
that gives them the flexibility to succeed, while ensuring the 
federal investment is used to improve educational opportunity 
and support increased academic achievement. The Committee will 
continue to examine how the administration has implemented the 
law and utilized the waiver authority under the law to properly 
execute the intent of the law and the impact of these policies 
and work to ensure all students have access to a quality 
education.
     The U.S. Department of Education currently 
operates more than 80 programs tied to K-12 classrooms, some of 
which may be duplicative, ineffective, and carry separate sets 
of burdensome rules and reporting requirements. The Committee 
will examine these programs to weed out waste and provide 
states and school districts greater flexibility in the use of 
federal funds to support the effective use of taxpayer dollars 
in increasing education achievement for students.
     Access to information can help students make smart 
decisions as they pursue a higher education. Despite repeated 
attempts to enhance transparency in higher education, it is 
still difficult to find information that can aid the search for 
the right college or university. Students and families should 
be able to access the best information in a format that is easy 
to understand, enabling them to make more informed decisions. 
The Committee will continue to monitor how the U.S. Department 
of Education provides information about colleges and 
universities to students and families.
     Institutions of higher education are subject to 
myriad federal reporting requirements that can contribute to 
increased costs. The Committee will continue its oversight of 
overly burdensome regulatory schemes.
     Last year, Congress passed and the President 
signed a bipartisan, bicameral bill to fix the nation's broken 
job training system. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
Act helps workers attain skills for 21st century jobs, provides 
greater accountability to taxpayers, and helps put Americans 
back to work. The Committee will work with the Administration 
to ensure the law is properly implemented.
     Congress must continue its oversight of the 
implementation of the Affordable Care Act on behalf of workers 
and their families. The Committee will continue to investigate 
how the law is affecting employers' ability to provide quality, 
affordable health care to employees, including educators and 
school-staff.
     The committee will conduct oversight and 
investigations, as appropriate, to ensure employee and employer 
rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) are 
protected and applied consistently and without bias. The 
committee will work to ensure the National Labor Relations 
Board properly fulfills its responsibilities, giving particular 
scrutiny to the Board's changes to union election rules, 
decisions affecting long-standing joint-employer standards, and 
questions regarding whether college athletes are employees 
under the NLRA.
     The retirement system works best when workers have 
access to voluntary, robust, portable, and secure savings 
options. The Committee will monitor the U.S. Department of 
Labor's activities to ensure rules or regulations benefit the 
long-term financial security of working families and do not 
impede the ability of individuals to save for retirement.
     Improving the financial outlook of the Pension 
Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is critically important. 
The recently-passed Multiemployer Pension Reform Act took a 
step in that direction; however, more work needs to be done. 
The Committee will continue to monitor the PBGC to identify 
needed pension reforms that will both protect taxpayers and 
encourage employer participation.
     Open and transparent regulations benefit employers 
and employees alike. The Committee will work to ensure the 
executive branch administers the laws as written by Congress in 
an open and transparent way.
     Finally, the administration has taken many 
executive actions on policies traditionally within the 
authority of Congress. The Committee will continue to monitor 
these actions and push back when the administration oversteps 
its authority.
                    COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                  Washington, DC, January 19, 2015.
Hon. Jason Chaffetz,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Chairman Chaffetz: Pursuant to clause 2(d) of Rule X 
of the Rules of the House of Representatives, please find 
attached the Oversight Plan for the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce for the 114th Congress.
            Sincerely,
                                                Fred Upton,
                                                          Chairman.

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

                       (Adopted January 14, 2015)

    During the 114th Congress, the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce will hold hearings and conduct rigorous oversight over 
matters within its jurisdiction. The Committee will conduct 
thorough oversight, reach conclusions based on an objective 
review of the facts, and treat witnesses fairly. The Committee 
will request information in a responsible manner that is 
calculated to be helpful to the Committee in its oversight 
responsibilities. The Committee's oversight functions will 
focus on: 1) cutting government spending through the 
elimination of waste, fraud, and abuse and 2) ensuring laws are 
adequate to protect the public interest or are being 
implemented in a manner that protects the public interest, 
without stifling economic growth.

                      HEALTH AND HEALTHCARE ISSUES

               Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

    One year after the opening of the State and Federal 
exchanges, the Committee in the 114th Congress will continue to 
examine issues related to the Department of Health and Human 
Services (HHS) implementation of Public Law 111-148, The 
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the 
related Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, 
Public Law 111-152. This will include the numerous provisions 
contained within the law that affect the private insurance 
market in the United States, the operation of the State and 
Federal health insurance exchanges, and oversight of these 
exchanges by the Federal government. The Committee will also 
continue to examine the law's effects on individuals as well as 
the regulations and requirements imposed on both small and 
large businesses, including reporting requirements.
    The Committee will also evaluate what controls are in place 
to prevent bias, waste, fraud, and abuse in the management of 
PPACA and its programs. The Committee will examine what 
programs HHS has in place to improve the availability of 
reliable, consumer-oriented information on the cost and quality 
of health care goods, services, and providers. The Committee 
will also examine the status and future of employer-sponsored 
health care plans as well as the effects of PPACA's enactment 
on the States. The Committee will examine the impact of PPACA 
and its implementing regulations on the economy, consumers, and 
the health care industry, including the provision of subsidies 
and cost-sharing reductions.

               Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

    The Committee will review the management, operations, and 
activity of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 
(CMS) and the programs it administers. The Committee will 
examine and review Medicare and Medicaid management and 
activity as it relates to ongoing Committee efforts to prevent 
bias, waste, fraud, and abuse in Federal health care programs, 
particularly in the implementation of PPACA. The Committee will 
investigate the process by which CMS implements statutory 
formulas to set prices for Medicare payment, as well as the 
effectiveness of those formulas. The Committee will examine the 
effects that the Medicaid expansion included in PPACA will have 
on State budgets, the budgets of individuals and families, the 
budgets of providers currently providing uncompensated care, 
and the impact it may have on access to health insurance and 
health care. The Committee will investigate the processes by 
which CMS prevents bias, waste, fraud, and abuse in the award 
of government contracts.

              Food and Drug Administration and Drug Safety

    The Committee will review whether the Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA) is ensuring that regulated drugs are safe, 
effective, and available to American patients in an expeditious 
fashion. The Committee will also explore the interplay between 
these policies and drug innovation, both in the United States 
and abroad. Further, the Committee will examine FDA's 
enforcement of current drug safety laws and the issues involved 
in protecting the nation's supply chains against economically 
motivated and other forms of adulteration, including those 
posed by illegal drug supply chains and economically-motivated 
adulteration. The Committee will examine whether FDA's 
reorganization efforts are improving the effectiveness of 
product reviews, or worsening delays and inefficiency in 
decision-making. The Committee will review FDA's efforts to 
improve and modernize import-safety screening, and the 
management of its foreign inspection program.

                             Public Health

    The Committee will examine the roles of various Federal 
agencies involved in insuring and protecting the public health, 
including the implementation and management of these programs. 
In particular, the Committee will review Federal efforts on 
mental health and pandemic preparedness, including influenza 
preparedness and the United States' response to the Ebola 
epidemic and other emerging infectious disease threats from 
abroad. The Committee will evaluate the Federal response to 
Ebola and other public health emergencies to better understand 
the operation and efficacy of key public health programs and to 
address broader concerns about national all-hazards 
preparedness and response capacity. Further, the Committee will 
monitor related spending to ensure the appropriate and 
efficient use of Federal tax dollars.

                     ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT ISSUES

                         National Energy Policy

    During the 114th Congress, the Committee will examine 
issues relating to national energy policy, including U.S. 
policies that relate to the exploration, production, 
distribution, and consumption of electricity, oil and natural 
gas, coal, hydroelectric power, nuclear power, and renewable 
energy. The Committee will examine the impact of government 
policies and programs on the efficient exploration, production, 
storage, supply, marketing, pricing, and regulation of domestic 
energy resources, including issues relating to the nation's 
energy infrastructure. The Committee will continue to examine 
safety and security issues relating to energy exploration, 
production, and distribution.

                          Electricity Markets

    The Committee will review Federal electricity policies of 
the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission (FERC) to ensure that those policies 
promote competitive wholesale power markets, transmission, and 
generation infrastructure upgrades, and compliance with 
relevant statutes. It will also examine the activities of the 
DOE and FERC relating to electric industry restructuring, 
protection of consumers, and the development of efficient and 
vigorous wholesale markets for electricity. It will also 
continue to examine the activities of the DOE and FERC with 
respect to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations 
affecting the electricity sector, including regulatory 
requirements that may impact consumer prices and reliability of 
the electricity grid.

  Management of the Department of Energy and Its National Laboratories

    The Committee will continue to oversee the governance, 
management, and operations issues at DOE, including oversight, 
management, and operations of the National Nuclear Security 
Administration (NNSA) and the national laboratories. The 
Committee's oversight work will include review of the 
implementation of security and safety reforms at NNSA and DOE 
facilities, ongoing safety and security matters, the Office of 
Environmental Management's cleanup program, and DOE's 
implementation of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act.

                             Yucca Mountain

    The Committee will continue to examine the actions of DOE 
and the NRC in connection with obligations of these agencies 
under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, including licensing 
activities for the Yucca Mountain repository.

                   DOE Energy Grant and Loan Programs

    The Committee will continue to review management and 
implementation of clean energy and advanced technology grant 
and loan programs authorized under the Energy Policy Act of 
2005 and other statutes; the development of new technologies, 
products, and businesses including clean energy, advanced coal, 
nuclear, and other technologies; and the impact of DOE grant, 
cost-sharing, and loan spending on the domestic supply, 
manufacture and commercial deployment of clean and advanced 
energy products and other technologies.

                   The Nuclear Regulatory Commission

    The Committee will continue to review the activities of the 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The Committee will examine NRC's 
budget requests and conduct oversight of the manner in which 
the Commission discharges its various responsibilities, 
including licensing activity, the safety and security of 
nuclear power facilities, and the agency's regulatory changes.

                             Clean Air Act

    The Committee will continue to review significant 
rulemakings under the Clean Air Act and the potential economic 
and job impacts of those rulemakings on the energy, 
manufacturing, industrial, and construction industries, and 
other critical sectors of the U.S. economy, as well as any 
public health and environmental benefits of the regulations. 
The Committee's review will include oversight of the EPA's 
decisions, strategies and actions to meet Clean Air Act 
standards, and the current role of cost, employment and 
feasibility considerations in Clean Air Act rulemakings. The 
Committee will also continue to review EPA's implementation of 
the Renewable Fuel Standard.

                             Climate Change

    The Committee will continue to monitor international 
negotiations on efforts to control greenhouse gas emissions in 
connection with concerns about global climate change. In 
addition, the Committee will examine the EPA's efforts to 
regulate domestic greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air 
Act based on its endangerment finding. The Committee will 
consider whether such agreements and regulatory efforts are 
scientifically well grounded. The Committee will also review 
the activities undertaken in this area by DOE, HHS, and other 
agencies within the Committee's jurisdiction, including efforts 
to prepare for and respond to weather events and natural 
disasters in the future.

                     EPA Management and Operations

    The Committee intends to continue to conduct general 
oversight of the EPA, including review of the agency's funding 
decisions, resource allocation, grants, research activities, 
enforcement actions, relations with State and local 
governments, public transparency, and respect for economic, 
procedural, public health, and environmental standards in 
regulatory actions. The oversight will also include EPA program 
management and implementation and the use of chemical risk 
analysis in environmental assessment programs and the Toxic 
Substances Control Act. In addition, the Committee will review 
the government's activities in hydraulic fracturing research 
and regulation.

                  COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY ISSUES


        A Modern Communications Framework for the Innovation Age

    The Committee will continue to exercise its jurisdiction 
over wired and wireless communications to ensure our nation's 
policies governing voice, video, audio, and data services are 
promoting investment, innovation, and job creation. The 
country's current regulatory regime takes a siloed approach in 
which different technological platforms--such as wireline, 
wireless, broadcast, cable, and satellite--are regulated 
differently based on regulations that may be decades old. As we 
move deeper into the Internet era, however, providers are 
increasingly using these platforms to offer the same or similar 
services. The Committee will examine whether these regulations 
should be updated to better meet the communications needs of 
the country and to ensure its citizens enjoy cutting edge 
services and the economic benefits they bring.

                   Federal Communications Commission

    During the 114th Congress, the Committee will conduct 
oversight of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 
including the effect of the FCC's decisions on innovation and 
the U.S. economy. Among other things, the Committee will 
evaluate the impact generally of FCC actions on voice, video, 
audio, and data services, and on public safety. The Committee 
will pay particular attention to whether the FCC conducts cost-
benefit and market analyses before imposing regulations. The 
Committee will also conduct oversight to ensure compliance with 
existing processes, improve FCC procedures, and promote 
transparency.

                          Spectrum Management

    The Committee will conduct oversight of the Federal 
Communications Commission's and the National Telecommunications 
and Information Administration's (NTIA) management and 
allocation of the nation's spectrum for commercial and 
government use. Spectrum is increasingly being used to provide 
voice, video, audio, and data services to consumers. The 
Committee will evaluate spectrum-management policies to ensure 
efficient use of the public airwaves for innovative 
communications services. The Committee will also examine 
whether plans for allocating spectrum maximizes broadband 
deployment and encourages investment. The Committee will pay 
particular attention to FCC and NTIA implementation of the 
Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, which was 
intended to make more spectrum available for mobile broadband 
services, as well as raise billions in spectrum auction 
proceeds to help build a nationwide, interoperable public 
safety broadband network, fund other Committee priorities, and 
reduce the deficit.

                       Availability of Broadband

    The Committee will investigate whether regulatory policies 
are helping or hindering broadband deployment. For example, the 
Committee will conduct oversight of the $9 billion per year 
Universal Service Fund. In particular, the Committee will 
examine what procedures are in place to control waste, fraud, 
and abuse, whether the funds are appropriately targeted, and 
the impact of the funding on jobs and the economy.

                                Internet

    The Committee will exercise its jurisdiction over wired and 
wireless communications to ensure continued growth and 
investment in the Internet. In particular, the Committee will 
monitor efforts to replace the successful multi-stakeholder 
model of Internet governance--in which non-governmental 
entities develop best practices for the management of Internet 
networks and content--with domestic regulation and 
international multilateral institutions.

                      Public Safety Communications

    The Committee will examine whether the communications needs 
of first responders are being met. The Committee will examine 
the progress being made to ensure that first responders have 
interoperable communications capabilities with local, State, 
and Federal public safety officials. The Committee will also 
examine the progress being made by the First Responder Network 
Authority (FirstNet) in carrying out the mandates of the Middle 
Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. Specifically, 
the progress made in establishing FirstNet, in coordinating 
with State and local law enforcement, and in finding private 
sector partners to develop an interoperable public safety 
broadband network. In addition, the Committee will conduct 
oversight regarding the implementation of legacy 911 and Next 
Generation 911 (NG911) services. NG911 relies on IP-based 
architecture rather than the PSTN-based architecture of legacy 
911 to provide an expanded array of emergency communications 
services that encompass both the core functionalities of legacy 
E911 and additional functionalities that take advantage of the 
enhanced capabilities of IP-based devices and networks.

               COMMERCE, MANUFACTURING, AND TRADE ISSUES


                       Privacy and Data Security

    In the 114th Congress, the Committee will examine issues 
relating to the privacy and security of information and data 
collected by businesses about consumers and the potential for 
improving protection without undercutting innovative uses that 
benefit consumers and the economy. Further, the Committee will 
continue to review the manner in which fraud and other criminal 
activities affect e-commerce.

                             Manufacturing

    The Committee will explore the state of manufacturing in 
the United States to identify factors that are hampering or 
furthering U.S. competitiveness. The Committee will review the 
issues presented by the globalization of production and 
manufacturing networks, including the integrity of products and 
components assembled overseas and the impact on national 
security.

                                 Trade

    The Committee will examine trade negotiations to ensure 
that foreign governments are not imposing non-tariff trade 
barriers, such as regulations or requirements, that harm U.S. 
businesses, their competitiveness and their ability to support 
jobs in the United States.

            Department of Commerce Management and Operations

    The Committee will conduct oversight of the Commerce 
Department and complementary or conflicting Federal efforts to 
promote U.S. manufacturing, exports, and trade, including 
efforts to lower or eliminate non-tariff barriers and harmonize 
regulation of products sold internationally where other 
countries share our health, safety, and consumer protection 
goals.

      Consumer Product Safety Commission Management and Operations

    The Committee will continue oversight of the Consumer 
Product Safety Commission and its implementation and 
enforcement of laws and regulations relating to the safety of 
consumer products, including the agency's implementation of 
Public Law 112-28 and determination of priorities to ensure 
that it is efficiently and effectively protecting consumers.

                    NHTSA Management and Operations

    The Committee intends to continue oversight of the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, including the 
effectiveness of agency's structure, regulations, research 
activities, investigations, and enforcement actions pertaining 
to motor vehicle safety. The committee will be particularly 
concerned with the way the Administration processes information 
and its ability to effectively oversee ever advancing safety 
technologies.

           Federal Trade Commission Management and Operations

    The Committee will conduct oversight of the Federal Trade 
Commission's management and operations, including the impact of 
its decisions and actions on the general public and the 
business community, its determination of priorities and the 
need, if any, for refinement of its authorities.

                             MISCELLANEOUS


                             Cybersecurity

    The Committee will exercise its jurisdiction over 
cybersecurity to ensure the country is well protected while at 
the same time avoiding one-size-fits all approaches that hinder 
the flexibility of commercial and governmental actors to combat 
the rapidly evolving threats. The Committee will also review 
the efforts of agencies within its jurisdiction to secure their 
networks consistent with the Homeland Security Act of 2002. In 
doing so, the Committee will explore current cybersecurity 
threats and strategies to address those threats. The Committee 
will also examine government initiatives to improve 
cybersecurity both in the public and private sectors.

                 Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response

    The Committee will continue its examination of the roles of 
HHS agencies in assisting the nation's detection, warning 
capability, and response to potential biological attacks. In 
addition, the Committee will evaluate the potential impact and 
preparedness of the nation's public health system. The 
Committee will continue to review the implementation of the 
Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and 
Response Act of 2002 by HHS, and the extent of the coordination 
between HHS and the Department of Homeland Security, especially 
as it relates to Project Bioshield.

         Federal Oversight of High-Containment Bio Laboratories

    The Committee will examine issues related to high-
containment bio laboratories, which handle some of the world's 
most exotic and dangerous diseases, including anthrax, 
smallpox, foot and mouth disease, and Ebola virus. Among the 
issues under review are whether Federal plans or efforts to 
oversee high-containment bio laboratories are adequate, and 
whether some of these efforts are duplicative and overlapping. 
The Committee will continue its oversight into issues raised by 
the improper storage and handling of Federal select agents at 
CDC, NIH, and FDA labs. The Committee will also follow-up on 
ongoing efforts coordinated by the White House to improve 
oversight and management of Federal laboratories handling 
select agents.

            Anti-Terrorism Security for Chemical Facilities

    The Committee will continue its oversight of the Department 
of Homeland Security's implementation of the Chemical 
Facilities Ant-Terrorism Program, originally authorized in 
Section 550 of Public Law 109-295, the Homeland Security 
Appropriations Act of 2007. The Committee will continue to 
examine whether taxpayer funds are spent prudently and the 
extent to which the Department is advancing the purpose of 
securing chemical facilities against terrorist threats.

           Government Scientific and Risk Assessment Programs

    During the 114th Congress, the Committee will examine 
issues relating to the numerous Federal science programs 
assessing public health risks, including the Integrated Risk 
Information System at the Environmental Protection Agency, the 
Report on Carcinogens produced by the National Toxicology 
Program at the Department of Health and Human Services, and 
assessments proposed or ongoing in other Federal departments 
and agencies. The Committee will review programs to assess the 
objectives, transparency, and integrity of scientific 
assessments that inform regulatory and public health policies.

                          Controlling Spending

    The Committee will examine Departments and agencies under 
its jurisdiction to assure adequate and prompt implementation 
of recommendations from the Administration, the Offices of 
Inspectors General, the Government Accountability Office, and 
other sources to achieve cost savings or eliminate wasteful 
spending.

                        Critical Infrastructure

    In June 2006, the Bush Administration issued a National 
Infrastructure Protection Plan. This plan created a process by 
which the Department of Homeland Security is to identify 
critical assets and assess their vulnerabilities and risks due 
to loss or natural disaster. During the 114th Congress, the 
Committee will review the Department's activities with respect 
to identifying high-priority assets and implementing plans to 
protect these assets in areas within the Committee's 
jurisdiction. The Committee will also examine the activities of 
the Department of Energy, FERC, and other Federal agencies 
related the physical and cyber security of the nation's energy 
infrastructure. Further, the Committee will examine the roles 
and responsibilities of the private sector, which owns and 
operates the bulk of the nation's critical infrastructure 
assets.

                           Nuclear Smuggling

    The Committee will continue to monitor Federal government 
and private sector efforts at border crossings, seaports, and 
mail facilities. The Committee's review will analyze and assess 
Customs' and DOE's efforts and the utility of equipment aimed 
at detecting and preventing the smuggling of dangerous 
commerce, particularly nuclear and radiological weapons of mass 
destruction.
                          COMMITTEE ON ETHICS

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                 Washington, DC, February 12, 2015.
Hon. Jason Chaffetz,
Chairman, Oversight and Government Reform,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to House Rule, we are enclosing 
the Committee's Oversight Plan for the 114th Congress.
            Sincerely,
                                           Charles W. Dent,
                                                          Chairman.
                                            Linda Saanchez,
                                                    Ranking Member.

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

    The oversight plan of the Committee on Ethics (Committee) 
for the 114th Congress, adopted pursuant to clause 2(d)(1) of 
House Rule X, is as follows.
    The Committee is in the unusual circumstance that while its 
legislative jurisdiction is confined to the House Code of 
Official Conduct (House Rule XXIII),\1\ the Committee itself 
administers a range of ethics laws, rules and standards for 
House Members, officers and employees, as well as, in some 
instances, certain other legislative branch officials. A brief 
summary of the various provisions of law and rules that confer 
such responsibility and authority upon the Committee is 
provided below. In addition, among the functions assigned to 
the Committee in the House Rules are--
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\House Rule X, cl. 1(g).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
           To recommend to the House ``such 
        administrative actions as it may consider appropriate 
        to establish or enforce standards of official conduct'' 
        for Members and staff, and
           To investigate alleged violations by Members 
        or staff of the House Code of Official Conduct or other 
        law, rule or standard of conduct applicable to official 
        conduct.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\House Rule XI, cl. 3(a)(1), (2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Furthermore, under the Ethics Reform Act of 1989, the 
Committee is charged with providing to House Members and staff, 
through its Office of Advice and Education, information and 
guidance on the applicable ethics laws and rules, and 
responding to their questions on the application of the laws 
and rules in particular circumstances.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\2 U.S.C. Sec. 4711(i).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In fulfilling its responsibilities as summarized above, the 
Committee, on a daily basis, deals directly with the various 
laws, rules and regulations in its jurisdiction. These include 
rules on acceptance of gifts, the limitations on outside earned 
income and employment, the prohibition against private subsidy 
of official House activities, applications of the Foreign Gifts 
and Decorations Act and the rules on proper use of official 
House resources and proper use of campaign resources.
    Accordingly, in the fulfillment of its regular duties, 
there may be instances in which a change in a law, rule or 
Committee interpretation may be in order related to a matter 
within the Committee's jurisdiction. When such instances arise, 
the Committee's practice is to propose appropriate amendments 
to statutory law or the House Rules, or, where the change is 
one that can be made by the Committee on its own authority, to 
effect an appropriate change.
    In performing its duties under law and House Rules, the 
Committee will continue to be alert for instances in which a 
change in a law, rule or standard of conduct may be in order. 
When such instances arise, the Committee will seek information 
on, study and discuss the matter and develop appropriate 
changes. The Committee will itself effect those changes that 
are within its authority, but where a change would require 
amendment of statutory law or House Rules, the Committee will 
bring the matter to the attention of the House leadership and 
other committees as appropriate.
Provisions of the House Rules and Statutory Law that Confer Specific 
        Authorities on the Committee
     The House gift rule (House Rule XXV, cl. 5) 
provides, in paragraph (h), that its provisions are to be 
interpreted and enforced solely by the Committee.
     House Rule XI, cl. 3(b)(7) provides that the 
Committee is to have the functions designated in titles I and V 
of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (relating to financial 
disclosure and the outside earned income and employment 
limitations), 5 U.S.C. Sec. Sec. 7342 (the Foreign Gifts and 
Decorations Act), 7351 (on gifts to superiors), and 7353 (on 
gifts to Federal employees), and House Rule X, cl. 11(g)(4) and 
(5) (on unauthorized disclosure of intelligence).
     Provisions of the financial disclosure statute 
designate the Committee as the ``supervising ethics office'' 
for House Members, officers and employees and certain other 
Legislative Branch officers and employees (5 U.S.C. app. 4 
Sec. 109(18)(B)) and state that the statute is to be 
administered by the Committee with regard to those Members, 
officers and employees (id. Sec. 111(2)). The Committee also 
reviews the financial disclosure statements filed by candidates 
for the House.
     A provision of the statute establishing the 
outside earned income and employment limitations states that 
those limitations are to be administered by the Committee with 
respect to House Members and staff, as well as certain 
Legislative Branch officers and employees (5 U.S.C. app. 4 
Sec. 503(1)).
     For certain purposes under the Foreign Gifts and 
Decorations Act, the Committee is designated as the ``employing 
agency'' of House Members and staff (5 U.S.C. Sec. 7342(a)(6)).
     Both the Committee and the House of 
Representatives are designated as the ``supervising ethics 
office'' of House Members, officers and employees in the 
statute that governs gifts to Federal employees (5 U.S.C. 
Sec. 7353(d)(1)(A)), as well as the statute on gifts to 
superiors (id. Sec. 7351(c)). Those statutes also designate the 
Committee as the supervising ethics office for certain other 
Legislative Branch officers and employees (id. 
Sec. 7353(d)(1)(E)).

                                           Charles W. Dent,
                                                          Chairman.
                                         Linda T. Saanchez,
                                                    Ranking Member.
                    COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                  Washington, DC, February 9, 2015.
Hon. Jason Chaffetz,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Chairman Chaffetz: Pursuant to clause 2(d)(1) of Rule 
X of the House of Representatives, I hereby transmit to you the 
Oversight Plan for the Committee on Financial Services for the 
114th Congress.
            Sincerely,
                                            Jeb Hensarling,
                                                          Chairman.

                        COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT PLAN

    Pursuant to clause 2(d)(1) of Rule X of the House of 
Representatives, the following agenda constitutes the oversight 
plan of the Committee on Financial Services for the 114th 
Congress. It includes areas in which the Committee and its 
subcommittees expect to conduct oversight during this Congress; 
it does not preclude oversight or investigation of additional 
matters or programs as they arise. The Committee will consult, 
as appropriate, with other committees of the House that may 
share jurisdiction on any of the subjects listed below.
    Pursuant to House Rules, this Oversight Plan contains 
oversight initiatives that will be undertaken for the purpose 
of identifying cuts to or the elimination of programs that are 
inefficient, duplicative, outdated, or more appropriately 
administered by State and local government.

     THE DODD-FRANK WALL STREET REFORM AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT

    The Committee intends to continue its close examination of 
the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and 
Consumer Protection Act (Pub. L. No. 111-203) (the ``Dodd-Frank 
Act'') by the financial regulators charged with implementing 
the law to ensure that they prudently exercise the authority 
conferred upon them under the Act.
    Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC). The Committee 
will conduct significant oversight of the FSOC to assess its 
effectiveness in carrying out its statutory responsibility to 
make financial markets more stable and resilient and to ensure 
that it conducts its deliberations with an appropriate level of 
transparency.
    Office of Financial Research (OFR). The Committee will 
conduct oversight of the OFR to ensure that the office is 
transparent and accountable, that it makes progress towards 
fulfilling its statutory duties, that its requests for data are 
not unduly burdensome or costly, and that the confidentiality 
of the data that it collects is strictly maintained.
    Volcker Rule. The Committee will examine financial 
regulators' implementation of section 619 of the Dodd-Frank 
Act, known as the ``Volcker Rule,'' and the effect of the 
Volcker Rule on the strength and international competitiveness 
of U.S. capital markets.
    ``Too Big to Fail.'' The Committee will examine whether 
financial regulators' implementation of titles I and II of the 
Dodd-Frank Act, which together were designed to end the 
government's practice of bailing out financial institutions 
deemed ``too big to fail,'' is advancing or impeding that goal.

               FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND CONSUMER CREDIT

    Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB). The 
Committee will oversee the regulatory, supervisory, 
enforcement, and other activities of the CFPB, the effect of 
those activities on regulated entities and consumers, and the 
CFPB's collaboration with other financial regulators. The 
Committee will also examine the governance structure and 
funding mechanism of the CFPB.
    Financial Supervision. The Committee will examine financial 
regulators' safety and soundness supervision of the banking, 
thrift and credit union industries, to ensure that systemic 
risks or other structural weaknesses in the financial sector 
are identified and addressed promptly.
    Capital Standards and Basel III. The Committee will explore 
generally the twin subjects of bank capital and liquidity, and, 
in so doing, examine closely the guidelines developed by the 
Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and how domestic 
financial regulators are implementing or planning to implement 
those guidelines in the U.S.
    Mortgages. The Committee will closely review recent 
rulemakings by the CFPB and other agencies on a variety of 
mortgage-related issues. The Committee will monitor the 
coordination and implementation of these rules and the impact 
they are having on the cost and availability of mortgage 
credit.
    Deposit Insurance. The Committee will monitor the solvency 
of the Deposit Insurance Fund administered by the Federal 
Deposit Insurance Corporation and the National Credit Union 
Share Insurance Fund administered by the National Credit Union 
Administration.
    Community Financial Institutions. The Committee will review 
issues related to the health, growth, safety, and soundness of 
community financial institutions, including the effect of 
regulations promulgated pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, 
individually and cumulatively, on community financial 
institutions' role in lending to small businesses, fostering 
employment, and promoting economic growth.
    Regulatory Burden Reduction. The Committee will continue to 
review the current regulatory burden on financial institutions, 
with the goal of reducing unnecessary, duplicative, or overly 
burdensome regulations, consistent with consumer protection and 
safety and soundness.
    Credit Scores and Credit Reports. The Committee will 
monitor issues related to credit scores and credit reporting.
    Access to Financial Services. The Committee will generally 
examine ways to expand access to mainstream financial services 
among traditionally underserved segments of the U.S. 
population.
    ``Operation Choke Point.'' The Committee will conduct 
oversight of the Department of Justice, financial regulators, 
and other agencies relating to the coordinated interagency 
initiative known as ``Operation Choke Point.''
    Discrimination in Lending. The Committee will examine the 
effectiveness of regulators' fair lending oversight and 
enforcement efforts to ensure that the Federal government does 
not tolerate discrimination.
    Diversity in Financial Services. The Committee will 
continue to monitor Federal regulators' efforts to implement 
the diversity requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act.
    Improper Disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information. 
The Committee will evaluate best practices for protecting the 
security and confidentiality of personally identifiable 
financial information from loss, unauthorized access, or 
misuse. The Committee will also examine how data breaches are 
disclosed to consumers.
    Payment System Innovations/Mobile Payments. The Committee 
will review government and private sector efforts to achieve 
greater innovations and efficiencies in the payments system.
    Payment Cards. The Committee will monitor payment card 
industry practices.
    Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism. The 
Committee will review the application and enforcement of anti-
money laundering and counter-terrorist financing laws and 
regulations, and whether such laws and regulations are 
sufficient to counter threats posed by terrorist organizations 
and international criminal syndicates.
    Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The 
Committee will examine the operations of the Treasury 
Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and its 
ongoing efforts to implement its regulatory mandates.
    Money Services Businesses (MSBs) and their Access to 
Banking Services. The Committee will examine the operations of 
Money Services Businesses and assess the effectiveness of 
FinCEN and Internal Revenue Service regulation of MSBs.
    Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI 
Fund). The Committee will monitor the operations of the 
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.
    Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The Committee will 
monitor developments and issues related to the Community 
Reinvestment Act of 1977.
    Financial Literacy. The Committee will take action to 
promote greater financial literacy among investors, consumers, 
and the general public.
    Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). The Committee will 
continue to examine the operation of the Troubled Asset Relief 
Program, authorized by the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act 
(EESA), to ensure that the program is being administered 
properly and that any instances of waste, fraud or abuse are 
identified and remedied.

                            CAPITAL MARKETS

    Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Committee 
will monitor all aspects of the Securities and Exchange 
Commission's operations, activities and initiatives to ensure 
that it fulfills its Congressional mandate to protect 
investors, maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and 
facilitate capital formation.
    The JOBS Act. The Committee will conduct oversight of the 
SEC's implementation of the ``Jumpstart Our Business Startups'' 
or ``JOBS'' Act (P.L. 112-106) and the effect of that law on 
capital formation and investor protection.
    Derivatives. The Committee will continue to review the 
impact of Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act on the operations, 
growth, transparency, and structure of the over-the-counter 
(OTC) derivatives market.
    Credit Rating Agencies. The Committee will examine the role 
that credit rating agencies, also known as Nationally 
Recognized Statistical Ratings Organizations (NRSROs), play in 
the U.S. capital markets, and review the effectiveness of the 
SEC's oversight of NRSROs.
    Regulation and Oversight of Broker-Dealers and Investment 
Advisers. The Committee will review the SEC's regulation and 
oversight of broker-dealers and investment advisers.
    Self-Regulatory Organizations (SROs). The Committee will 
examine the activities, operations and initiatives of self-
regulatory organizations and the SEC's oversight of these SROs.
    Equity/Option Market Structure. The Committee will review 
recent developments in the U.S. equity and option markets and 
the SEC's response to those developments.
    Fixed-Income Market Structure. The Committee will review 
recent developments in the U.S. corporate and municipal bond 
markets and the SEC's response to those developments.
    Corporate Governance. The Committee will review 
developments and issues concerning corporate governance at 
public companies and the SEC's proposals that seek to modernize 
corporate governance practices.
    Employee Compensation. The Committee will monitor the 
implementation of provisions in Title IX of the Dodd-Frank Act 
governing the compensation practices at public companies and 
financial institutions.
    Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). The 
Committee will review the operations, initiatives, and 
activities of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, 
as well as the application of the Securities Investor 
Protection Act (SIPA).
    Mutual Funds. The Committee will continue to examine the 
condition and operation of the U.S. mutual fund industry, 
including regulatory initiatives to reform money market mutual 
funds and private sector initiatives to improve investor 
understanding of money market fund valuations.
    Advisers to Private Funds. The Committee will examine the 
functions served by advisers to private funds in the U.S. 
financial marketplace and their interaction with investors, 
financial intermediaries, and public companies.
    Securitization and Risk Retention. The Committee will 
monitor the implementation of joint agency risk retention rule-
making mandated by Section 941 of the Dodd-Frank Act.
    Covered Bonds. The Committee will examine the potential for 
covered bonds to increase mortgage and broader asset class 
financing, improve underwriting standards, and strengthen U.S. 
financial institutions.
    Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB). The Committee 
will review the operations, initiatives and activities of the 
Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board.
    Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). The 
Committee will review the operations, initiatives and 
activities of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
    Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The Committee 
will review the initiatives of the Financial Accounting 
Standards Board.
    Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB). The Committee 
will review the initiatives of the Government Accounting 
Standards Board.
    Convergence of International Accounting Standards. The 
Committee will review efforts by the SEC, the FASB, and the 
International Accounting Standards Board to achieve robust, 
uniform international accounting standards.
    Securities Litigation. The Committee will examine the 
effectiveness of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act 
of 1995 in protecting securities issuers from frivolous 
lawsuits while preserving the ability of investors to pursue 
legitimate actions.
    Securities Arbitration. The Committee will examine 
developments in securities arbitration, including the impact of 
the arbitration-related provisions contained in section 921 of 
the Dodd-Frank Act.
    Business Continuity Planning. The Committee will continue 
its oversight of the implementation of disaster preparedness 
and business continuity measures by the financial services 
industry, including equity and option markets and financial 
market utilities, and the regulatory oversight of those plans 
in order to minimize the disruptions to critical operations in 
the United States financial system resulting from natural 
disasters, terrorist attacks, or pandemics.

                    GOVERNMENT SPONSORED ENTERPRISES

    Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Committee will examine 
proposals to modify or terminate Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's 
statutory charters, harmonize their business operations, and 
wind down any legacy business commitments. The Committee will 
also examine the overall size of the GSEs' footprint in various 
aspects of the housing finance system and ways to reduce or 
constrain their large market share and develop a vibrant, 
innovative and competitive private mortgage market.
    Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). The Committee will 
monitor the activities and initiatives of the Federal Housing 
Finance Agency.
    Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) System. The Committee will 
monitor the capital requirements and financial stability of the 
Federal Home Loan Bank System, as well as the FHLB System's 
ability to fulfill its housing and community economic 
development mission and provide liquidity to the cooperative's 
member banks in a safe and sound manner.

                                HOUSING

    Housing and Urban Development, Rural Housing Service, and 
the National Reinvestment Corporation. The Committee will 
conduct oversight of the mission, operations, and budgets of 
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Rural 
Housing Service (RHS), and the National Reinvestment 
Corporation. The Committee will review current HUD and RHS 
programs with the goal of identifying inefficient and 
duplicative programs for potential elimination or streamlining.
    Public Housing. The Committee will conduct oversight of 
HUD's public housing programs that provide subsidies for 
operations, management and capital development for public 
housing agencies.
    Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program and Affordable 
Housing. The Committee will continue its effort to address 
HUD's largest rental assistance program and the government's 
role in the future of affordable rental housing.
    Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The Committee 
will conduct oversight of HUD's Community Development Block 
Grant program, which provides Federal funds to cities and 
localities to help them address housing and community 
development.
    HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME). The Committee 
will continue to monitor HUD's HOME Investment Partnerships 
Program, which provides grants to states and localities to fund 
affordable housing projects.
    Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The Committee will 
examine the appropriate role for FHA in the mortgage finance 
system, how to encourage more robust private sector 
participation, and FHA's ability and efforts to manage its 
mortgage portfolio and mitigate its risk.
    Foreclosure Mitigation. The Committee will continue to 
monitor the performance of the Obama Administration's various 
foreclosure mitigation initiatives, including the various 
components of the Making Home Affordable Program.
    Veterans' Housing. The Committee will continue to monitor 
and promote coordination between HUD and other agencies in 
their work to address veterans' housing issues.
    Fair Housing. The Committee will continue to conduct 
oversight to ensure the enforcement of fair housing practices. 
The Committee will seek to ensure that the principles of the 
Fair Housing Act of 1968 are upheld so that no person suffers 
discrimination based on their race, color, religion, sex, 
familial status, disability, or national origin in rentals, 
real estate sales, and lending practices.
    Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination 
Act (NAHASDA). The Committee will conduct oversight of the 
grants and other programs that make up NAHASDA, whose 
authorization expired on October 1, 2013.
    Settlement Procedures. The Committee will conduct oversight 
of the regulation of real estate settlement procedures, 
including appraisals and disclosures involving closing costs 
and the settlement process.

                               INSURANCE

    National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The Committee will 
conduct oversight of the NFIP and will study proposals to 
increase the participation of the private sector in the flood 
insurance market.
    Terrorism Risk Insurance Program. The Committee will 
monitor the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program, which was 
reauthorized on January 13, 2015.
    Federal Insurance Office (FIO). The Committee will monitor 
the Treasury Department's Federal Insurance Office, which was 
created by the Dodd-Frank Act to provide the Federal government 
with information and expertise on insurance matters.
    Impact of Dodd-Frank Act Implementation on the Insurance 
Sector. The Committee will monitor implementation of various 
provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act and various international 
regulatory initiatives for their potential impact on the 
insurance sector.

                       MONETARY POLICY AND TRADE

    The Federal Reserve System. The Committee will exercise 
oversight of the operations and activities of the Federal 
Reserve System, including its conduct of monetary policy, its 
regulation and supervision of the financial services sector, 
and its role in the payment system.
    Defense Production Act. The Committee will continue to 
monitor the effectiveness of the Defense Production Act, which 
was reauthorized in 2014, and its individual authorities in 
promoting national security and recovery from natural 
disasters.
    Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States 
(CFIUS). The Committee will continue to monitor the 
implementation of the Foreign Investment and National Security 
Act of 2007, which reformed the Committee on Foreign Investment 
in the United States, and seek to ensure that CFIUS fulfills 
its statutory mandate to identify and address those foreign 
investments that pose legitimate threats to national security.
    Coins and Currency. The Committee will conduct oversight of 
the printing and minting of U.S. currency and coins, and of the 
operation of programs administered by the U.S. Mint for 
producing congressionally authorized commemorative coins, 
bullion coins for investors, and Congressional gold medals. The 
Committee will continue its review of efforts to detect and 
combat the counterfeiting of U.S. coins and currency in the 
United States and abroad.
    Economic Sanctions. The Committee will monitor the 
implementation of recent financial sanctions passed by Congress 
and signed by the president, as well as any proposals to expand 
such sanctions or impose new ones. As part of this oversight, 
the Committee will monitor the efforts of Treasury's Office of 
Foreign Assets Control, which administers such sanctions.
    International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Committee will 
consider the policies of the International Monetary Fund to 
ensure effective use of resources and appropriate alignment 
with U.S. interests in promoting economic growth and stability. 
This review will include receiving the statutorily required 
annual report to Congress by the Secretary of the Treasury on 
the state of the international financial system and the 
International Monetary Fund (IMF).
    U.S. Oversight over the Multilateral Development Banks 
(MDBs) and Possible U.S. Contributions. The Committee will 
consider any Administration request that the U.S. contribute to 
the replenishment of the concessional lending windows at the 
World Bank and other multilateral development banks, which 
provide grants and below market-rate financing to the world's 
poorest nations.
    Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank). The 
Committee will examine the operations of the Ex-Im Bank, whose 
statutory authorization expires on June 30, 2015.
    International Trade. The Committee will oversee existing 
and proposed trade programs and consider policies within the 
Committee's jurisdiction to promote U.S. international trade so 
that U.S. companies retain access to foreign markets and remain 
globally competitive.
    Exchange Rates. The Committee will review and assess the 
semi-annual report to Congress from the Secretary of the 
Treasury on International Economic and Exchange Rate Policies 
pursuant to the Omnibus Trade Act of 1988.
    Global Economic Conditions. The Committee will monitor 
economic developments overseas--particularly in those countries 
experiencing severe economic stress or dislocation--and assess 
the effect of those developments on the U.S. economy.
    Extractive Industries and Conflict Minerals. The Committee 
will monitor the implementation of provisions in title XV of 
the Dodd-Frank Act imposing disclosure requirements relating to 
so-called extractive industries and conflict minerals.
                      COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

                        Adopted January 21, 2015

                            1. INTRODUCTION

    Pursuant to the requirements of House Rule X(2)(d)(1), the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs (``the Committee'') has adopted an 
oversight plan for the 114th Congress which will be shared with 
the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the 
Committee on House Administration. This plan summarizes the 
Committee's oversight priorities for the next two years, 
subject to the understanding that new developments will 
undoubtedly affect priorities and work assignments in the 
months ahead.
    Congressional oversight remains one of the key 
responsibilities of the legislative branch. Committee Rule 15 
requires each Subcommittee to hold regular oversight hearings. 
Oversight activities will thus be coordinated between the 
Committee and the Subcommittees, in order to facilitate 
comprehensive and strategic oversight of the programs and 
agencies within the Committee's jurisdiction.
    Oversight activities may include hearings, briefings, 
investigations, Member or staff-level meetings, correspondence, 
fact-finding travel, reports, and public statements. They may 
also include effective use and review of reports by the 
Government Accountability Office and by statutory Inspectors 
General, as well as Congressional Notifications submitted by 
executive branch agencies. The Committee will also consult, as 
appropriate, with other committees of the House that may share 
jurisdiction.
    The Committee's oversight activities will emphasize:
           effectiveness of U.S. foreign policy;
           effective implementation of U.S. law;
           the review of agencies and programs 
        operating under permanent statutory authority;
           the elimination of programs and expenditures 
        that are inefficient, duplicative, or outdated; and
           institutional reform, efficiency, and fiscal 
        discipline.

                     2. PRIORITY OVERSIGHT MATTERS

    a. ISIS & Syria: The Committee will scrutinize U.S. efforts 
to combat the terrorist group known as ISIS, as well as the 
larger crisis unfolding in Iraq and Syria, including the latter 
country's ongoing civil war. Particular attention will be paid 
to U.S. military and diplomatic efforts to fight ISIS, the 
organization's funding and recruitment, international efforts 
to eliminate the presence and use of chemical weapons in Syria, 
and efforts to document potential war crimes by parties to the 
conflict.
    b. International Terrorism and Transnational Organized 
Crime: The Committee will examine the current status of al-
Qaeda and its affiliates, with a specific focus on recruitment 
efforts, evolving save havens, and efforts to obtain WMDs. The 
Committee will conduct oversight of the State Department's 
various counterterrorism programs. The Committee will also 
examine the growing links between organized crime, illicit 
drugs, and global terrorism. Other transnational criminal 
issues of interest include maritime piracy, human, arms and 
wildlife trafficking, money laundering and intellectual 
property piracy issues.
    c. Iran: The Committee will continue to closely review U.S. 
policy toward Iran, with special focus on the P5+1 negotiations 
regarding the status of Iran's nuclear program. The Committee 
will also analyze the threat posed by Iran's state sponsorship 
of terrorism and growing influence in Iraq and the region, 
along with the regime's human rights abuses.
    d. Middle East and North Africa: In addition to the 
conflict in Iraq and Syria, the Committee will carefully review 
U.S. policy toward the Middle East and North Africa, to 
include: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the overall 
status of the Middle East peace process, as well as 
international efforts to rebuild Gaza; the broader transitions 
and/or reform efforts taking place in Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia, 
Libya, Bahrain, Morocco, Jordan and other countries in the 
region; and United States policies, programs, authorities and 
funding to address these challenges.
    e. Afghanistan: The Committee will comprehensively review 
U.S. policy toward Afghanistan, including the update and 
implementation of the internationally negotiated Tokyo Mutual 
Accountability Framework. Particular focus will be paid to 
efforts to tackle corruption, improve governance, and 
strengthen security. This review will assess the effectiveness 
of U.S. assistance programs, the broader political-military and 
associated counterterrorism strategies, and the full range of 
policies related to the post-2014 transition, including 
programs and budgeting processes.
    f. Pakistan: The Committee will review all elements of U.S. 
policy toward Pakistan, including efforts to eliminate safe 
havens for violent extremists and establish a stable, 
democratic country. This review will encompass both U.S. 
civilian and security assistance to Pakistan, in order to 
assess the extent to which such programs effectively advance 
U.S. national interests. The Committee will also conduct 
ongoing oversight of matters relating to Pakistan's nuclear 
program, including issues relating to nonproliferation, such as 
the legacy of the A.Q. Khan network.
    g. North Korea: The Committee will review the nuclear, 
missile and cyber threat posed by North Korea, its 
proliferation activities and weapon sales involving rogue 
regimes, its illicit activities, continuing human rights 
violations, and U.S. efforts to assist North Korean refugees. 
The Committee will review U.S. diplomatic efforts and will 
examine next steps in U.S. policy to address the North Korean 
threat.
    h. State Department Oversight, Authorization, and Reform: 
The Committee will monitor and examine the operations, budget, 
programs, planning, human resources, building, and security 
policies of the Department of State, with an eye toward 
authorization and reform legislation for Fiscal Years 2015 and 
2016 that promotes U.S. national interests in a cost-effective 
and accountable manner. Special emphasis will be placed on 
reforming and streamlining the bureaucracy of the Department of 
State--increasing programmatic functions while lowering 
overhead costs. Emphasis will also be placed on improving the 
Department's collection and use of data to inform management 
decisions, including but not limited to: improving operational 
effectiveness, alignment of budgets and strategic priorities, 
program evaluation, and human resource policies. In addition to 
hearings with the Secretary of State and other Administration 
officials regarding their budget proposals for the upcoming 
year, such efforts may include: revisions to the Department's 
policies of recruitment, training, retention, and merit based 
pay compensation in the Excepted and Competitive Services; 
consideration of reforms to Executive Branch reporting 
requirements; and a reduction or consolidation of offices with 
duplicative mandates and overlapping responsibilities. In the 
wake of increasing threats to U.S. personnel serving overseas, 
the Committee will continue to evaluate the security of our 
embassies and consulates, along with proposed reforms to the 
State Department's diplomatic security service.
    i. Asia-Pacific Region: The Committee will review the 
U.S.'s significant political, economic, and security interests 
in the Asia-Pacific, including East and Southeast Asia, South 
Asia, and the Pacific Islands. The Committee will conduct 
oversight of U.S. relations with the Asia-Pacific, including 
foreign policy, foreign assistance funding, security 
cooperation, territorial disputes, and trade relations. The 
Committee will examine the State Department's participation in 
multilateral organizations such as the Asia-Pacific Economic 
Cooperation (APEC) forum and the East Asia Summit, and closely 
monitor the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations. The 
Committee will monitor the needs of Taiwan for defensive 
weapons systems as provided for in the Taiwan Relations Act.
    j. India: The Committee's review of U.S. policy towards 
India will aim to reinvigorate bilateral cooperation. 
Particular attention will be paid to the U.S.-India security 
relationship, including cooperation on counterterrorism efforts 
and developments since the 2005 defense framework agreement. 
The Committee will also focus on efforts to enhance U.S.-India 
economic relations, including discussions surrounding a 
possible bilateral investment treaty. Stalled efforts to 
initiate civil nuclear cooperation will also be subject to 
review.
    k. U.S. International Broadcasting: The Committee will 
continue to actively monitor and review the operations and 
organization of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) and 
the full range of U.S. government-supported, civilian 
international broadcasting to respond more effectively to the 
challenges presented by state and non-state actors using modern 
communication platforms. The Committee will again look to pass 
the United States International Communications Reform Act, 
which would have reformed the BBG, and which passed the House 
unanimously in July of 2014.
    l. China: The Committee will examine China's role in the 
Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Particular focus will be placed 
on China's assertiveness in territorial disputes, rapid 
military modernization, and human rights abuses. The Committee 
will also examine China's role in the global economy, including 
trade, technology, and currency issues that affect the American 
workforce. The Committee will review China's cooperation on 
international nonproliferation efforts against North Korea, 
Iran, and Syria. The Committee will monitor the State 
Department's participation in the U.S.-China Strategic and 
Economic Dialogue and other related bilateral mechanisms. The 
Committee will investigate China's increasing use of cyber and 
economic espionage to affect foreign trade, and other policy 
outcomes.
    m. Economic Policy and Trade: The Committee will play a 
vigorous role in overseeing international economic policy, 
including U.S. leadership in trade, finance, energy, 
technology, and development policy to promote economic 
prosperity and national security. This will include, but is not 
limited to, oversight of, and potential legislation relating to 
the African Growth and Opportunity Act, the Overseas Private 
Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the Export Administration 
Act.
    n. Export Control Reform: The Committee will oversee 
proposed Executive Branch reforms of U.S. strategic export 
controls. In particular, the Committee will assess the extent 
to which proposed changes to the U.S. Munitions List and the 
Commerce Control List effectively safeguard critical 
technologies and national security, while supporting the 
defense industrial base and advancing U.S. commercial 
interests. The Committee will consider legislation on these and 
related matters as may be necessary and appropriate.
    o. U.S. Nonproliferation Policy. The Committee will examine 
the effectiveness of U.S. nonproliferation policy and the 
international nonproliferation regime in preventing the spread 
of weapons of mass destruction. The Committee will address 
opportunities to strengthen existing nonproliferation 
organizations, especially the International Atomic Energy 
Agency, increase cooperation with other countries, and enhance 
international nonproliferation agreements and mechanisms. 
Prominent issues will include the global expansion of civil 
nuclear power and the potential spread of technology, equipment 
and material useful in the development of nuclear weapons 
capabilities. The Committee will closely examine proposed and 
existing bilateral nuclear cooperation agreements with other 
countries, including their potential to promote U.S. 
nonproliferation objectives and commercial interests.
    p. Africa. The Committee will review political, economic 
and security developments on the African continent. Key issues 
will include efforts to eliminate safe havens for violent 
extremists, economic development--including implementation of 
the African Growth and Opportunity Act--effective use of aid, 
human rights and democracy promotion, responsible energy 
development, and efforts to contain Ebola and ensure a 
sustainable post-outbreak health and economic recovery in West 
African countries affected by the disease. Particular attention 
is to be paid to the developments in Mali, Nigeria, Sudan and 
South Sudan, the Central African Republic, the Great Lakes 
region and the Horn of Africa.
    q. Western Hemisphere: The Committee will conduct oversight 
regarding the content and effectiveness of U.S. political, 
defense, counternarcotics and economic policy toward the 
countries of the Western Hemisphere. Special emphasis will be 
placed on the prospects for expanding trade and other forms of 
economic cooperation, especially with Canada, Mexico, and the 
emerging Pacific Alliance, as well as the Trans-Pacific 
Partnership and ongoing regional energy developments. The 
Committee will address continuing threats from drug trafficking 
organizations, transnational criminal organizations, gangs, and 
terrorist organizations. Attention will also be paid to the 
implications of Iran, Russia and China's increasing presence 
and influence in the region. The Committee will continue to 
closely monitor the stability of, and cooperation between, the 
governments in Venezuela, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Ecuador and Cuba. 
The Committee will also closely monitor U.S. implementation of 
sanctions against human rights violators in Venezuela. The 
Committee will continue its oversight of State Department and 
USAID assistance for reconstruction efforts in Haiti, as well 
as U.S. energy, security and diplomatic cooperation with the 
countries of the Caribbean. Finally, the Committee will assess 
the Administration's strategy to address the influx of 
unaccompanied alien children from Central America, in addition 
to reviewing U.S. foreign assistance priorities in the region.
    r. Security Assistance and Arms Transfer Policy: The 
Committee will assess the effectiveness of security assistance 
programs authorized under the Foreign Assistance Act and the 
Arms Export Control Act in advancing U.S. national interests. 
In addition, the Committee will review those security 
cooperation programs funded by the Department of Defense but 
which require concurrence of the Secretary of State, or 
otherwise give rise to the Committee's jurisdiction. The 
Committee will also review law and policy relating to U.S. arms 
transfers and related end-use monitoring, as well as various 
counterterrorism tools that impact foreign policy. The 
Committee will also continue to carefully review proposed arms 
sales to ensure they comport with U.S. foreign and national 
security policy and benefit the legitimate defense needs of the 
recipient countries, as well as the process by which the 
Administration consults with the Committee and the Congress on 
such sales to ensure proper oversight.
    s. Russia: The Committee will address the impact of 
Russia's foreign policy on U.S. political, economic, and other 
interests, especially as a result of its aggression and related 
hostile actions regarding Ukraine and other countries in Europe 
and Central Asia. It will examine the range of options 
available to the U.S., including legislation to impose 
sanctions on Russia and provide assistance to vulnerable 
countries. The Committee will review the deteriorating domestic 
situation in Russia regarding democracy, civil society, the 
rule of law, and human rights and consider measures to 
reinforce these against further erosion by the regime. It will 
also examine ways to reduce Russia's ability to use its energy 
exports for political and economic coercion. In addition, the 
Committee will monitor the ongoing Kremlin-driven propaganda 
campaign, assess its impact in Russian-speaking communities 
along the Russian frontier and among broader audiences, and 
consult with Executive Branch agencies on the response to 
propaganda by the U.S. government and other partners.
    t. Ukraine: The Committee will closely monitor Russian-
supported separatist activity and the presence of Russian armed 
forces in Ukraine. It will actively oversee efforts to work 
with Ukraine's elected government to stabilize its economy, 
expand relations with the West, fight corruption, and protect 
Ukrainian sovereignty.
    u. Europe/Eurasia: The Committee will review U.S. relations 
with European countries, with an emphasis on the European Union 
and NATO. Key issues will include the impact of Russian 
aggression on Ukraine and other countries of the former Soviet 
Union, especially the potential consequences for NATO. Other 
key issues include a potential Trans-Atlantic Free Trade Area, 
the ongoing deployment of a regional ballistic missile defense 
system, the impact of the European financial crisis, 
diversification of energy sources and reducing reliance on 
Russian energy. The Committee will also examine, Turkey's 
evolving foreign policy orientation and domestic political 
trends, including efforts to combat ISIS and the spread of 
extremism. The Committee will also conduct oversight of U.S. 
policy in Central Asia.
    v. Foreign Assistance: The Committee will review the 
underlying authorities for U.S. foreign assistance with an eye 
towards reducing duplication, and increasing transparency and 
effectiveness. It will also review issues related to the 
implementation of U.S. foreign assistance programs and 
projects, including the role of U.S. missions and embassies. In 
addition, the Committee will review issues related to 
coordination between the U.S. Agency for International 
Development (USAID) and other U.S. Government agencies and 
departments that are involved in carrying out U.S. foreign 
assistance. Among a broad range of issues, the Committee will 
review U.S. foreign assistance initiatives aimed at addressing 
food security and global health challenges, including food aid 
reform, maternal health and child survival issues, Ebola 
containment efforts, and the implementation of the PEPFAR 
Stewardship and Oversight Act of 2013. Assistance provided 
through the Millennium Challenge Corporation will also receive 
close scrutiny.
    w. Human Rights and Democracy: The Committee will examine 
U.S. activities to promote democracy and protect human rights 
around the world, including in post-transition environments. 
The Committee will critically assess U.S. involvement with 
multilateral human rights organizations, to ensure that U.S. 
diplomacy serves to promote fundamental human rights and 
freedoms.
    x. United Nations and International Organizations: The 
Committee will closely review all aspects of U.S. funding of, 
and participation in, international organizations. Close 
attention will be paid to whether such funding and 
participation advances U.S. interests and values, protects the 
integrity of U.S. taxpayer dollars, and leads to increased 
transparency, accountability, and reform of those 
organizations. The Committee will closely monitor the work of 
the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations and 
Department of Field Support, and particularly efforts to 
improve performance, enhance accountability, and combat waste, 
fraud and abuse in United Nations Peacekeeping Missions.

                3. GENERAL REVIEW OF U.S. FOREIGN POLICY

    The Committee intends to exercise its oversight 
jurisdiction concerning the relations of the United States with 
foreign nations to the fullest extent allowed by House Rule 
X(1)(i). This means taking cognizance of events and 
circumstances in every region of the world outside of U.S. 
national borders, as well as U.S. foreign policy responses 
thereto, as developments warrant. According to Committee Rules, 
those responsibilities are divided among the Full Committee, 
its one functional subcommittee, and its five regional 
subcommittees, as follows:
    Full Committee. The full Committee is responsible for 
oversight and legislation relating to: foreign assistance 
(including development assistance, Millennium Challenge 
Corporation, the Millennium Challenge Account, HIV/AIDS in 
foreign countries, security assistance, and Public Law 480 
programs abroad); national security developments affecting 
foreign policy; strategic planning and agreements; war powers, 
treaties, executive agreements, and the deployment and use of 
United States Armed Forces; peacekeeping, peace enforcement, 
and enforcement of United Nations or other international 
sanctions; arms control and disarmament issues; the United 
States Agency for International Development; activities and 
policies of the State, Commerce, and Defense Departments and 
other agencies related to the Arms Export Control Act and the 
Foreign Assistance Act, including export and licensing policy 
for munitions items and technology and dual-use equipment and 
technology; international law; promotion of democracy; 
international law enforcement issues, including narcotics 
control programs and activities; Broadcasting Board of 
Governors; embassy security; international broadcasting; public 
diplomacy, including international communication and 
information policy, and international education and exchange 
programs; and all other matters not specifically assigned to a 
subcommittee. The full Committee will have jurisdiction over 
legislation with respect to the administration of the Export 
Administration Act, including the export and licensing of dual-
use equipment and technology and other matters related to 
international economic policy and trade not otherwise assigned 
to a subcommittee, and with respect to the United Nations, its 
affiliated agencies, and other international organizations, 
including assessed and voluntary contributions to such 
organizations. The full Committee may conduct oversight and 
investigations with respect to any matter within the 
jurisdiction of the Committee as defined in the Rules of the 
House of Representatives.
    Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade. 
This subcommittee has oversight and legislative 
responsibilities over the United States' efforts to manage and 
coordinate international programs to combat terrorism as 
coordinated by the Department of State and other agencies, and 
efforts to bring international terrorists to justice. With the 
concurrence of the Chairman of the full Committee, it has 
oversight of, and legislation pertaining to, nonproliferation 
matters involving nuclear, chemical, biological and other 
weapons of mass destruction, except for legislation involving 
the Foreign Assistance Act, the Arms Export Control Act, the 
Export Administration Act, and sanctions laws pertaining to 
individual countries and the provision of foreign assistance 
(which is reserved to the full Committee). It has oversight of 
matters relating to international economic and trade policy; 
commerce with foreign countries; international investment 
policy; the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the 
Trade and Development Agency; commodity agreements; and special 
oversight of international financial and monetary institutions; 
the Export-Import Bank, and customs. With the concurrence of 
the Chairman of the full Committee, it also has legislative 
jurisdiction over measures related to export promotion and 
measures related to the Overseas Private Investment Corporation 
and the Trade and Development Agency.
    Regional Subcommittees. The five subcommittees with 
regional jurisdiction are:
           The Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, 
        Global Human Rights, and International Organizations
           The Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
           The Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and 
        Emerging Threats
           The Subcommittee on the Middle East and 
        North Africa
           The Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
    As detailed below, two of the regional subcommittees also 
have functional jurisdiction. Each of the regional 
subcommittees has jurisdiction over the following within their 
respective regions:
    (1) Matters affecting the political relations between the 
United States and other countries and regions, including 
resolutions or other legislative measures directed to such 
relations.
    (2) Legislation with respect to disaster assistance outside 
the Foreign Assistance Act, boundary issues, and international 
claims.
    (3) Legislation with respect to region- or country-specific 
loans or other financial relations outside the Foreign 
Assistance Act.
    (4) Legislation and oversight regarding human rights 
practices in particular countries.
    (5) Oversight of regional lending institutions.
    (6) Oversight of matters related to the regional activities 
of the United Nations, of its affiliated agencies, and of other 
multilateral institutions.
    (7) Identification and development of options for meeting 
future problems and issues relating to U.S. interests in the 
region.
    (8) Oversight of base rights and other facilities access 
agreements and regional security pacts.
    (9) Concurrent oversight jurisdiction with respect to 
matters assigned to the functional subcommittees insofar as 
they may affect the region.
    (10) Oversight of foreign assistance activities affecting 
the region, with the concurrence of the Chairman of the full 
Committee.
    (11) Such other matters as the Chairman of the full 
Committee may determine.
    The Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human 
Rights, and International Organizations. In addition to its 
regional jurisdiction, this subcommittee has oversight of: 
international health issues, including transboundary infectious 
diseases, maternal health and child survival, and programs 
related to the global ability to address health issues; 
population issues; the United Nations and its affiliated 
agencies (excluding peacekeeping and enforcement of United 
Nations or other international sanctions); international 
cultural and educational programs and exchanges; the American 
Red Cross; and the Peace Corps. In addition, it has legislative 
and oversight jurisdiction pertaining to: implementation of the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights; other matters relating 
to internationally-recognized human rights, including 
legislation aimed at the promotion of human rights and 
democracy generally; and the Hague Convention on the Civil 
Aspects of International Child Abduction, and related issues.
    The Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats. 
In addition to its regional jurisdiction, with the concurrence 
of the Chairman of the full Committee, this subcommittee has 
oversight jurisdiction related to emerging foreign threats to 
the national security and interests of the United States.
                     COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                   House of Representatives
                                  Washington, DC, January 22, 2015.
Hon. Candice S. Miller,
Chairman, Committee on House Administration,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Jason Chaffetz,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Chair Miller and Chair Chaffetz: Pursuant to clause 
2(d)(1) of Rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
I am submitting the Committee on Homeland Security's Oversight 
Plan for the 114th Congress. The Oversight Plan was adopted by 
the Committee on Homeland Security in open session on January 
21, 2015, without amendment, by unanimous consent, a quorum 
being present.
            Sincerely,
                                         Michael T. McCaul,
                                                          Chairman.

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

    Clause 2(d), Rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives for the 114th Congress requires each standing 
Committee to adopt an oversight plan for the two-year period of 
the Congress and to submit the plan to the Committees on 
Oversight and Government Reform and House Administration not 
later than February 15th of the first session of the Congress.
    This is the oversight plan for the Committee on Homeland 
Security for the 114th Congress. It includes the areas in which 
the Committee expects to conduct oversight during the 114th 
Congress, but does not preclude oversight or investigation of 
additional matters as needs arise. The Full Committee will 
examine the following four key priorities, among other issues.

             Preventing a Terrorist Attack on the Homeland

    Protecting the homeland from a terrorist attack is the 
reason the Department of Homeland Security was created in the 
wake of the 9/11 attacks. Consequently, this Committee's 
highest priority is focusing on helping ensure that our Nation 
is strong and resilient, in the face of ever-evolving terrorist 
threats. We must also conduct robust oversight to ensure that 
the Department of Homeland Security and its partners at the 
Federal, State and local level can detect, disrupt, and defend 
against a multitude of threats facing the United States.
    During the 114th Congress, the Committee will examine the 
persisting threats to Americans and American interests from 
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, Al Qaeda in the Arabian 
Peninsula other existing and emerging terrorist cells inspired 
by Al Qaeda, and homegrown violent extremists, and domestic 
terrorists. The Committee will work to identify and address 
vulnerabilities within our Nation's critical infrastructure and 
systems and help ensure that mechanisms that dangerous people 
and entities aspire to exploit, such as our aviation and other 
transit systems, our cyber networks, and critical 
infrastructure control systems, are protected.

                          Securing Our Borders

    During the 114th Congress, the Committee will continue to 
examine the Department's efforts to secure the land, air, and 
maritime borders of the United States. The Committee will 
assess programs and technologies used to secure U.S. land 
borders on the north and the south, as well as the Caribbean 
region. A large portion of the Committee's oversight in the 
114th Congress will focus on examining what the Department is 
doing to secure the border in the face of the multiple 
immigration crises currently facing the United States. The 
Committee will also examine how the Department is leveraging 
defense technologies on the border, including equipment re-
deployed from Iraq and Afghanistan.

                    Protecting Against Cyber Attacks

    Cyber attacks are one of the biggest homeland security 
threats that our Nation faces. Malicious organized criminal 
organizations, along with state-sponsored cyber attackers 
continue to target our critical infrastructure and compromise 
our sensitive and confidential information on a daily basis. 
Our Committee, throughout the 114th Congress, will continue its 
efforts to ensure the Department has the resources and 
personnel to effectively execute its cybersecurity mission of 
protecting critical infrastructure and Federal civilian 
networks.

     Ensuring the Department of Homeland Security Runs Effectively

    The current leadership of the Department has undertaken a 
number of reviews and reforms to address a series of well-
documented management challenges, many of which harken back to 
the days when twenty two agencies were brought together to form 
this new Federal Department in 2003. Key management challenges 
include acquisitions management, and chronically-low employee 
morale. In the 114th Congress, the Committee will continue to 
conduct oversight to ensure that DHS effectively conducts its 
operations while guarding against waste, fraud, abuse, and 
duplication. We will also give close scrutiny to efforts to 
improve acquisition and procurement outcomes, bolster employee 
morale, and effectively address instances of employee 
corruption. Furthermore, the Committee is planning to advance 
legislation to authorize the activities of the Department of 
Homeland Security during the 114th Congress in an effort to 
provide statutory guidance and hold the Department accountable, 
as it seeks to carry out its core mission of protecting the 
homeland, while executing its traditional non-homeland security 
missions.

          Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency

    Departmental Efficiency and Waste, Fraud, Abuse, and Duplication

    In the 114th Congress, the Committee will oversee the 
Department of Homeland Security's day-to-day operations to 
ensure that it is operating in the most efficient and effective 
manner possible. Pursuant to Rule X, clause 2(d)(F) of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee will work 
to identify potential opportunities to eliminate duplicative or 
unnecessary programs, find efficiencies that will contribute to 
the Department's ability to meet its vital missions, and 
identify areas for cost savings. The Committee will investigate 
homeland security programs and practices, as warranted. The 
Committee will also conduct rigorous oversight to ensure the 
Department conducts effective outreach to the private sector 
and utilize commercial best practices, as appropriate. The 
Committee will continue to monitor the security of Federal 
buildings and facilities, including the role and effectiveness 
of the Federal Protective Service.

                         Acquisition Management

    During the 114th Congress, the Committee will review the 
efforts of the Department of Homeland Security to improve 
acquisition outcomes, and to ensure that effective management 
controls are put in place to prevent contract waste, fraud, and 
abuse while promoting efficiency and effectiveness. The 
Committee will review the authorities and activities of the 
Undersecretary for Management and Chief Procurement Officer to 
ensure the effective management of these key functions. The 
Committee will monitor the cost, schedule, and performance 
status of major Department acquisition programs. The Committee 
will also examine the impact of the Department's acquisition 
initiatives to enhance processes and improve outcomes related 
to its major acquisition programs.
    The Committee also will review the Department's 
implementation of Section 831(a) of the Homeland Security Act 
of 2002, which grants the Secretary authority with respect to 
research and development projects to use more flexible 
contracting mechanisms in an effort to attract ``nontraditional 
government contractors'' for needed homeland security 
technologies, as well as the Secretary's use of other 
streamlined acquisition practices. The Committee will continue 
to monitor the Department's efforts to leverage strategic 
sourcing, as outlined in Federal guidance, to increase 
efficiencies.

                          Financial Management

    In the 114th Congress, the Committee will continue its 
oversight of the Department of Homeland Security's progress to 
properly manage financial systems and data to minimize 
inefficient and wasteful spending, make more informed decisions 
to manage its programs and implement Department policies. The 
Committee will also review the Department's efforts to enhance 
its managerial cost accounting, address internal control 
weaknesses in financial reporting, achieve a clean audit 
opinion on its financial statements, and reduce the reliance on 
manual data calls to collect cost information from the various 
components and compile consolidated, reliable data.

                   Information Technology Management

    During the 114th Congress, the Committee will review the 
Department's efforts to address information technology (IT) 
challenges, including the management and integration of the 
Department's IT systems. The Committee will review the 
authorities and activities of the Chief Information Officer 
(CIO) and component CIOs to ensure the effective management and 
coordination of these key functions. The Committee will also 
monitor the Department's progress in IT architectural planning, 
investment management, cloud computing, policy development, 
operations, and related personnel management.

                         Departmental Workforce

    Throughout the 114th Congress, the Committee will monitor 
the Department's efforts to recruit and retain personnel and to 
address employee concerns set forth in the Office of Personnel 
Management's Federal Human Capital Survey and the Department's 
own personnel surveys, which have indicated morale problems 
across the Department. In addition, the Committee will continue 
to examine the Department's efforts to ensure an appropriate 
balance is struck between Federal employees and private 
contracts and guard against any unnecessary elimination of 
private sector jobs.
    The Committee will continue to monitor the Department's 
efforts to effectively and efficiently consolidate its 
headquarters from more than 40 locations throughout the 
National Capital Region, known as the St. Elizabeths 
Headquarters Consolidation Project.

                           Employee Integrity

    In the 114th Congress, the Committee will examine employee 
corruption and misconduct issues and their effect on homeland 
security. Although the vast majority of Department employees 
reflect the agency's core values, even one corrupt employee 
represents a significant management challenge. The Committee 
will review Department statistics and case studies associated 
with employee integrity issues, as well as the effectiveness of 
policies, procedures, and practices the Department utilizes to 
address such issues.

                      United States Secret Service

    In the 114th Congress, the Committee will examine the 
homeland security operations of the United States Secret 
Service, including its critical role of protecting the 
President of the United States, and the protection of 
presidential candidates in the 2016 presidential election. The 
Committee will also monitor the efforts of the Department to 
reform the agency.

                      Privacy and Civil Liberties

    Section 222 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (the Act) 
created a Privacy Officer for the Department of Homeland 
Security to ensure that the Department's information gathering 
and analysis functions and other programs across its components 
adhere to established standards for the protection of privacy. 
Section 705 of the Act also established an Officer for Civil 
Rights and Liberties to review and assess information alleging 
abuses of civil rights or civil liberties by employees and 
officials of the Department of Homeland Security. During the 
114th Congress, the Committee will continue to monitor the 
Department's efforts under such laws to strike an appropriate 
balance between the need to combat terrorist attacks against 
the United States with the privacy expectations and civil 
rights of U.S. citizens. The Committee will also examine the 
extent to which the Department is transparent with the American 
people including its process for managing Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) requests.

  Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications


                       Preparedness and Response

    During the 114th Congress, the Committee will examine the 
Administration's efforts to implement Presidential Policy 
Directive 8 (PPD-8), and the required National Preparedness 
System, which includes the various frameworks and the National 
Preparedness Goal. The Committee will review preparedness 
capabilities for mass gatherings. Additionally, the Committee 
will review the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) 
response and recovery efforts for declared disasters to ensure 
capabilities are enhanced by lessons learned and Federal 
resources are used appropriately. The Committee will 
investigate issues, if any, of waste, fraud, and abuse 
associated with FEMA's disaster response efforts.

     Assistance to State and Local Governments and First Responders

    Throughout the 114th Congress, the Committee will examine 
FEMA's allocation and administration of grants to enhance the 
ability of state and local governments and emergency response 
providers to prevent, prepare for, respond to, mitigate, and 
recover from a terrorist attack, including proposals for 
reforms to these programs. The Committee will review the 
coordination of grant programs across the Federal government; 
coordination within the Department of Homeland Security in 
developing guidance and administering grants; the ability of 
state and local governments to access, obligate, and expend 
funds; the strength of regional partnerships developed through 
grants; and the risk-based distribution and expenditure of such 
grants at the state and local levels. The Committee will 
examine options to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of 
grant programs. The Committee will also review ongoing efforts 
to comprehensively assess these investments and the impact on 
preparedness capabilities through the lens of the National 
Preparedness Goal, National Preparedness Report, State 
Preparedness Reports, and other related assessments.

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Planning, Preparedness, 
                              and Response

    During the 114th Congress, the Committee will examine the 
significant challenges posed by chemical, biological, 
radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) weapons to homeland security 
and assess the Department's progress in implementing security 
strategies including prevention, preparedness, and response 
approaches that utilize multiple tools and policies to reduce 
the likelihood and impact of CBRN attacks, and, thus, the CBRN 
risk to the Nation. The Committee will oversee the Department's 
efforts to predict and respond to the evolving CBRN threat 
landscape, and ensure that CBRN expenditures are risk-based, 
coordinated, and in general represent wise use of taxpayer 
dollars. The Committee will examine the Department's capability 
to mitigate CBRN risks through appropriate means including the 
detection of, preparedness for, and response to CBRN threats. 
The Committee will continue its oversight of those activities 
needed to ensure the safety of the public and the first 
responder community in the event of an attack, such as through 
the development of medical countermeasures programs.

                             Communications

    In the 114th Congress, the Committee will examine the 
coordination of various communications programs and offices 
within the Department of Homeland Security, including the 
achievement and maintenance of interoperable communications 
capabilities among the Department's components. The Committee 
will monitor activities of the First Responder Network 
Authority (FirstNet) and the development of the public safety 
interoperable wireless broadband network. In addition, the 
Committee will review the Department's Integrated Public Alert 
and Warning System to ensure timely and effective alerts and 
warnings are provided to the public in the event of an 
emergency.

                  Emergency Response Provider Training

    During the 114th Congress, the Committee will review the 
Department's terrorism preparedness training programs, 
including awareness of these resources among first responders 
and state and local governments and the level of coordination 
among Federal, state, and local training programs. The 
Committee will also review existing training centers and 
determine whether the Department is optimally utilizing these 
facilities to enhance first responder terrorism preparedness.

                       Exercises and Simulations

    The Committee will examine the Department's efforts to 
streamline and improve the National Exercise Program to ensure 
the program enhances the preparedness of the Nation. The 
Committee will monitor the extent to which FEMA is 
incorporating lessons learned from national exercises into 
future training, planning, and response, recovery, and 
mitigation activities.

                Subcommittee on Transportation Security


                      Addressing Evolving Threats

    In the 114th Congress, the Committee will examine efforts 
within the Department of Homeland Security to mitigate known 
and evolving terrorist threats to domestic transportation 
systems. With respect to aviation security, the Committee will 
review the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) 
multi-layered, risk-based approach to preventing an attack on 
cargo and passenger aircraft, both at home and overseas. The 
Committee will also evaluate the capabilities of the TSA 
workforce and checkpoint technologies to ensure that TSA is 
effectively screening passengers and baggage.
    In addition, the Committee will review TSA security 
measures for international flights bound for the U.S., 
including but not limited to, the use of the Federal Air 
Marshal Service (FAMS), directives that augment security 
protocols in select foreign airports, and the Secure Flight 
Program's watch list matching process. The Committee will also 
evaluate how TSA is working to leverage other federal law 
enforcement resources to enhance security on aircraft.

                     Advancing Risk-Based Security

    During the 114th Congress, the Committee will examine TSA's 
long-term goals for TSA PreTM and assess the 
effectiveness of TSA's other passenger screening programs, such 
as Managed Inclusion. The Committee will evaluate TSA's 
approach to expanding enrollment in TSA 
PreTM, including through contracts with 
private sector entities, and examine TSA's methodology to 
decide which passengers are eligible for TSA 
PreTM. Additionally, the Committee will 
monitor TSA's efforts to protect passenger privacy, and will 
monitor TSA's implementation of two new laws to provide 
expedited screening to certain passengers: the Helping Heroes 
Fly Act (P.L. 113-27) and the Honor Flight Act (P.L. 113-221).
    The Committee will also examine how TSA is ensuring that 
passengers that are designated high-risk are receiving enhanced 
screening at the checkpoint. Finally, the Committee will assess 
whether there are additional ways for TSA to enhance security 
and implement risk-based strategies at the screening checkpoint 
or in other areas of security, such as checked baggage 
screening operations and access control points at domestic 
airports.

                  Enhancing Private Sector Engagement

    In the 114th Congress, the Committee will conduct oversight 
to ensure that TSA is effectively engaging the private sector 
to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of its operations. 
Specifically, the Committee will evaluate the contracting 
process and management of TSA's Screening Partnership Program 
(SPP). The Committee will also monitor TSA's implementation of 
the Aviation Security Stakeholder Participation Act of 2014 
(P.L. 113-238). The Committee will work to ensure that 
stakeholders are properly consulted on major security policy 
decisions, through the Aviation Security Advisory Committee or 
other means. The Committee will encourage TSA to find new ways 
to leverage private sector expertise, innovation, and 
technologies in its mission to secure the Nation's critical 
transportation systems in the most effective and efficient 
manner possible.

                   Targeting Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

    During the 114th Congress, the Committee will conduct 
oversight to help identify and prevent waste, fraud, or abuse 
within TSA. As part of this overall effort, the Committee will 
conduct oversight on the implementation of H.R. 2719, the 
Transportation Security Acquisition Reform Act (Public Law 113-
245), and monitor whether TSA is complying with the provisions 
outlined in the Act. This includes, among other things, better 
private sector engagement, strategic planning, and transparency 
in how tax dollars are spent to avoid wasteful spending on 
technologies that do not perform as intended. Additionally, the 
Committee's oversight will include continued focus on the 
misclassification of employees within TSA's Office of 
Inspection, which according to the DHS Office of Inspector 
General could cost taxpayers as much as $17 million over the 
next five years if it goes uncorrected.

Streamlining and Improving Surface Transportation Security Programs and 
                              Regulations

    In the 114th Congress, the Committee will review TSA's 
efforts to secure surface transit systems, including the 
highest-risk mass transit and rail systems. The Committee's 
oversight will include a review of the Visible Intermodal 
Prevention and Response Program, the Surface Transportation 
Security Inspection Program, and TSA's surface transportation 
security regulations. The Committee will review the extent to 
which TSA effectively coordinates with its Federal, State, 
local, and private sector partners to secure our Nation's 
transportation systems and to help prevent conflicting or 
unnecessarily redundant regulations. The Committee will also 
assess the effectiveness of TSA's efforts to secure the 
Nation's pipeline systems through TSA's oversight and 
inspection activities.

Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security 
                              Technologies

    During the 114th Congress, the Committee will conduct 
oversight of the cybersecurity activities of the Department of 
Homeland Security (DHS) with particular attention to the 
activities within the National Protection and Programs 
Directorate (NPPD) and the U.S Secret Service. Areas of 
examination will include the President's Executive Order 13636 
``Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity,'' and 
operations of NPPD's EINSTEIN and Continuous Diagnostics and 
Mitigation (CDM) programs.
    Finally, the Committee will examine the implementation of 
cybersecurity legislation enacted by the 113th Congress to, 
among other things, authorize the National Cybersecurity 
Communications and Integration Center (NCCIC), help improve the 
cybersecurity workforce, and grant DHS the authority to carry 
out protection of Federal civilian networks (Public Laws 113-
246, 113-274, 113-277, 113-282, and 113-283).

                 Protection of Critical Infrastructure

    In the 114th Congress, the Committee will review the 
Department's programs to help protect critical infrastructure 
that are operated by NPPD. One of the key areas of focus will 
be on coordination within NPPD so that capabilities are 
leveraged on both sides of the house--cyber and physical--
including the work of the Office of Cyber and Infrastructure 
Analysis (OCIA). The Committee will also review how DHS, 
through NPPD, works with the critical infrastructure sectors to 
foster greater security against threats to critical 
infrastructure.
    During the 114th Congress the Committee with conduct 
oversight of the implementation of recently-passed legislation 
authorizing the Department's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism 
Standard (CFATS) program (P.L. 113-254). Further the 
Subcommittee will continue to monitor the Department's efforts 
at establishing an Ammonium Nitrate Security program, which has 
been delayed for several years.

             Science, Technology, Research and Development

    Throughout the 114th Congress the Subcommittee will focus 
on the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and its ability 
to provide DHS components with the technology advancements 
needed to effectively carry out their respective missions.
    The Subcommittee will also examine S&T's collaboration with 
the Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC) 
and the transparency in which S&T reports this work to 
Congress.

                   Nuclear and Radiological Detection

    During the 114th Congress the Subcommittee will examine on 
the threat and challenges of the Department to prevent, detect 
and respond to a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear 
attack (CBRN). The Subcommittee will specifically examine the 
efforts of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) and its 
efforts to provide DHS components with the capabilities to 
detect and prevent radiological and nuclear material from being 
smuggled into the United States.
    The Subcommittee will be working closely with the 
Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and 
Communications (EPRC) on examining the efforts of the 
Department to better predict, prevent and respond to CBRN 
threats and ensure these efforts are risk based and well 
coordinated. The Subcommittee's will be examining the 
Departments proposals to reorganize and merge components within 
the Department including the Office of Health Affairs (OHA) and 
DNDO to better coordinate the Departments efforts to combat 
this threat.

              Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security


                 Border Security Between Ports of Entry

    During the 114th Congress, the Committee will examine the 
Department's efforts to secure land and maritime borders of the 
United States, including but not limited to personnel, 
technology, infrastructure, and coordination between 
components. The Committee will also assess the status of 
programs and international agreements to secure US borders, 
from illegal entry by persons or contraband. The Committee will 
monitor the extent to which the Department can measure its 
performance in securing the borders and how these measures 
reflect the state of border security.
    The Committee will also examine the technologies used to 
secure the borders. Specifically, the Committee will conduct 
oversight of the Department's acquisitions of border 
technologies, as well as examine the extent to which the 
Department is leveraging Department of Defense technologies 
declared excess, or available to the Department through long-
term loan to effectively secure the borders.
    The Committee will also examine the Department's efforts to 
identify, detain, prioritize, and remove criminal aliens from 
the United States, including those apprehended at or near US 
borders and ports of entry who are subject to removal, and 
particularly those from special interest countries.

                   Border Security at Ports of Entry

    In the 114th Congress, the Committee will examine the 
integration and effectiveness of transportation and border 
security screening systems at ports of entry for detecting 
high-risk passengers and cargo transported within the United 
States and across our borders, including efforts to better 
facilitate travel and trade such as implementation of ``trusted 
traveler'' programs and the Beyond the Border Agreement with 
Canada.
    The Committee will continue its rigorous oversight of the 
Department of Homeland Security's biometric programs including 
the accuracy and completeness of databases and the development 
and implementing of a biometric exit system in the air, sea and 
land environments. The biometric entry system was a 9/11 
Commission recommendation and was first implemented in 2003 
with the creation of US-VISIT. The recommendation to support a 
biometric exit system has not been completed, and DHS has 
attempted to implement partial solutions short of the biometric 
requirements found in law.
    The Committee will examine the technology and 
infrastructure needs at ports of entry to better facilitate 
trade and travel while also increasing border security.

                             Visa Security

    In the 114th Congress, the Committee intends to review 
efforts to ensure the deployment and implementation of training 
and infrastructure enhancements to assist border and consular 
officials in identifying, intercepting, and disrupting 
terrorists or others who would do our Nation harm and who are 
attempting to enter the U.S. The Committee will address any 
security-related deficiencies in the immigration and 
naturalization process that terrorists could use to gain entry 
to or remain in the country for illegitimate purposes. These 
weaknesses may be exploited by terrorists and those seeking to 
commit terrorist acts. The Committee intends to continue to 
explore challenges associated with visa security.
    The Committee will continue to review visa security 
programs and policies to ensure adequate screening and vetting 
by DHS law enforcement including the Visa Security Program, the 
Preadjudicated Threat Recognition and Intelligence Operations 
Teams (PATRIOT), as well as reviewing the criteria for 
admission under the Visa Waiver Program and the Electronic 
System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). These programs are 
critical to countering the growing threat of foreign fighters, 
including Americans and Europeans, who may attempt to join ISIS 
or its affiliates in Syria or Iraq, and who may return or 
travel to the United States to commit acts of terrorism.
    The Committee will also examine the integration, security, 
and reliability of criminal, immigration, and terrorist 
databases used to screen persons seeking to enter and exit this 
country, to include advanced passenger information. The 
Committee will also assess the development of secure travel 
documents.

                       Port and Maritime Security

    In the 114th Congress, the Committee will examine various 
aspects of port and maritime security, including the security 
of port facilities; the screening of vessels, passengers, 
cargo, and crew, for potential terrorists, terrorist weapons, 
and contraband. Specifically, the Committee will examine 
nuclear detection efforts and the development of international 
security standards for shipping and containers as well as 
conduct a comprehensive analysis of the operations, including 
technology utilized, of the Transportation Worker 
Identification Credential.
    The Committee also plans to review how the Department 
manages risks emerging from maritime threats and 
vulnerabilities such as small go-fast boats and semi-
submersible vessels, the increasing maritime smuggling threat 
along the California coast and the impact of fewer interdiction 
assets and holding platforms in the source and transit zones.
    The Committee plans to review the efficiency and 
effectiveness of the Department's supply chain security 
programs, such as the Customs Trade Partnership Against 
Terrorism (C-TPAT), the Container Security Initiative (CSI), 
the need to utilize a risk-based methodology and the future of 
the Radiation Portal Monitor program to ensure a proper balance 
between the facilitation of lawful trade and the security of 
the homeland. This will include an assessment of implementation 
of the Maritime and Transportation Security Act of 2002 (P.L. 
107-295), the Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port 
Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-347), relevant provisions of the 
Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (P.L. 
108-458), and the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 
Commission Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-53).
    The Committee will examine the operations and procedures of 
the Customs and Border Protection Office of Air and Marine 
(OAM), specifically looking at OAM's interagency working 
relationships with law enforcement and Department partners and 
its specific capabilities and authorities. The Committee will 
review OAM's operational platforms and future acquisition 
programs to ensure both aviation and maritime assets are 
capable of meeting future mission needs and service 
requirements.
    The Committee plans to review the Coast Guard's statutorily 
defined homeland security missions, to include ports, 
waterways, and coastal security; drug interdiction; migrant 
interdiction; law enforcement; and defense readiness. The 
Committee will examine Coast Guard operations to ensure that 
the service is using a risk-based, layered strategy to enforce 
laws and keep America's waters secure. This will include a 
specific assessment of the Coast Guard's counter terrorism 
capabilities, including the Maritime Safety and Security Teams, 
Port Security Units, Tactical Law Enforcement Teams, and the 
Maritime Security Response Team.
    The Committee will review resource and asset needs within 
the Coast Guard to determine whether the service is 
operationally ready to address the varied threats to America's 
ports and waterways while pursuing a long-term sustainable path 
of fleet recapitalization.
    Additionally, the Committee will investigate the Coast 
Guard's specific maritime security operations and initiatives, 
such as the International Port Security Program and the 
inspection of vessels originating from ports with inadequate 
anti-terrorism measures. The Committee will examine these and 
other programs to ensure that the service is improving its 
maritime domain awareness and executing all of its missions in 
the most effective manner possible to keep America secure.

           Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence

    The security of the United States is undeniably linked to 
international security. Vulnerabilities in one part of the 
world can quickly become security threats in another; to 
include the U.S. Homeland. During the 114th Congress, the 
Committee will examine the capabilities and efforts of the 
Federal government, particularly the Department of Homeland 
Security (DHS), to identify, prevent, deter, and respond to 
threats to the Homeland.

       Emerging Threats and Homeland Counterterrorsim Activities

    The Committee will examine worldwide threats against the 
U.S. Homeland from various terrorist groups, including al Qaeda 
core, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the Islamic 
State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), al Qaeda in the Islamic 
Maghreb (AQIM), al Shahbab, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), 
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Boko Haram, and other emerging groups 
that seek to establish safe havens in destabilized regions from 
which they can plot attacks against U.S. citizens and the 
Homeland. The Committee will monitor issues related to 
homegrown terror threats and the U.S. Government's response, 
the programs and policies to counter violent extremism, as well 
as threats directed towards soft targets and those posed by 
active shooters. The Committee will conduct oversight on 
foreign fighter travel and trends, economic threats, terrorist 
financing. The Committee will also examine cyber threats to the 
Homeland from nation states and terrorist groups.
    The Committee will continue to study national efforts to 
deter terrorist activity through terrorist designations, and 
efforts to prevent individuals from entering the United States 
who are members of or have provided support to terrorist 
groups. This oversight will include how DHS contributes to 
designation decisions as well as how multiple DHS components 
use this information in determining eligibility for entry into 
the United States.

            Counterintelligence and Insider Threat Programs

    The Committee will continue to assess the development of 
DHS counterintelligence and insider threat programs, including 
Departmental organizational changes, resources, monitoring 
programs, and training initiatives. DHS's counterintelligence 
efforts are intended to prevent adversaries from penetrating 
the Department to exploit sensitive information, operations, 
programs, personnel, and resources.

               Homeland Security Intelligence Enterprise

    The Committee will conduct oversight of DHS's Intelligence 
Enterprise (DHS IE), including intelligence activities 
throughout the Department and component agencies. This will 
include a focus on the coordination and collaboration across 
intelligence offices and personnel within the Headquarters' 
elements and component agencies. Additionally, the Committee 
will review efforts to build the intelligence, analytical, and 
assessment capabilities of the Department and to ensure its 
full participation in the Intelligence Community as part of its 
homeland security mission. This will include an examination of 
the hiring authorities, practices, and career-development of 
intelligence analysts and professionals within Headquarters 
elements and component agencies.
    The Committee will examine the Department's role in 
managing, distributing, and otherwise using terrorist threat 
information in furtherance of its homeland security mission. 
The Committee will monitor the extent to which DHS effectively 
coordinates and collaborates with other Federal, state, and 
local agencies to mitigate threats to the Homeland. 
Additionally, the Committee will assess how threat information 
is incorporated in Departmental investments and programs, such 
as improvements to component traveler screening and visa 
programs, as well as research, staffing, and technology.

                      Countering Violent Extremism

    The Committee will continue to review federal efforts to 
counter violent extremism (CVE) in the United States. This will 
include programs and policies designed to counter the narrative 
of violent Islamist extremism in the United States, as well as 
national efforts to carry out engagement and outreach to 
communities at risk for radicalization and recruitment by 
jihadist networks.

                          Information Sharing

    The Committee will examine the Department's efforts to 
improve homeland security and terrorism information sharing 
among Federal, state, and local governments; law enforcement 
entities; first responders and emergency management personnel; 
and the private sector. The Committee will examine the 
Department's initiatives to coordinate information sharing to 
and from state and local fusion centers throughout the country, 
and will continue to evaluate the efficacy and efficiency of 
the National Network of Fusion Centers to determine their 
impact on securing the homeland. The Committee will also review 
coordination and information sharing procedures between state 
and local fusion centers and Joint Terrorism Task Forces. The 
Committee will examine the Department's role in managing, 
distributing, and otherwise using terrorist threat information 
in furtherance of its homeland security mission. The Committee 
will monitor the extent to which DHS effectively coordinates 
and collaborates with other Federal, state, and local agencies 
to mitigate threats to the Homeland. Additionally, the 
Committee will examine how threat information is incorporated 
in Departmental investments and programs, such as improvements 
to component traveler screening and visa programs, as well as 
research, staffing, and technology.
                   COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                  Washington, DC, February 6, 2015.
Hon. Jason Chaffetz,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Chairman Chaffetz: Pursuant to House Rule X, clause 2, 
I am pleased to enclose a copy of the Oversight Plan for the 
Committee on House Administration. The enclosed plan was 
drafted in consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, and 
was adopted by voice vote during the Committee's organizational 
meeting on January 27, 2015, which was open to the public and 
with a quorum present.
            Sincerely,
                                         Candice S. Miller,
                                                          Chairman.
                       COMMITTEE RESOLUTION 114-2

    Resolved, that the Oversight Plan of the Committee on House 
Administration for the 114th Congress, as required pursuant to 
clause 2(d)(1) of Rule X, is hereby adopted, as follows:

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

                            MEMBER SERVICES

     Oversee Members' allowance amounts, including 
structure and regulations.
     Provide guidance and outreach to congressional 
offices to ensure compliance with Committee regulations.
     Review and revise the Guide to Outfitting and 
Maintaining an Office of the U.S. House of Representatives, a 
set of regulations governing the acquisition, transfer, and 
disposal of furnishings, equipment, software, and related 
services.
     Review the calculation of the Members' 
Representational Allowances and ensure that all Members have 
adequate resources for representing their constituents.
     Oversee the processing of vouchers and direct 
payments, including those for payroll. Continue to monitor the 
migration to the use of the electronic vouchering system.
New Member Orientation
     Plan, implement, and oversee the New Member 
Orientation Program for newly-elected Members of Congress.
     Oversee the planning and implementation of the 
Congressional Research Service New Member Issues Seminar in 
Williamsburg.
Intern Program
     In coordination with the Senate Committee on Rules 
and Administration, organize, administer, and oversee the 
Intern Lecture Series.
     Review and consider revising the Intern Handbook 
and other publications and communication materials used in 
support of the Intern Program.
     Continue and expand the Congressional Internship 
Program for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities.

                    COMMITTEE FUNDING AND OVERSIGHT

     Review Monthly Reports on committee activities and 
expenditures.
     Review the Committees' Congressional Handbook 
regulations governing expenditure of committee funds and update 
regulations as needed.
     Review Primary and any Secondary Expense 
Resolutions and approve authorization of committee-funding 
levels in committee and by House Resolution.
     Review Committees' Franking expenditures.
     Monitor continued implementation of the Committee 
broadcast program.

                CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1995

     Monitor application of the Congressional 
Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) (PL 104-1).
     Review regulations adopted by the Office of 
Compliance.
     Evaluate resources available to the Office of 
Compliance and House employing offices to facilitate 
implementation of the Act.
     Conduct general oversight of the Office of 
Compliance.
     Monitor ongoing judicial proceedings to determine 
the impact on the CAA.

                          FRANKING COMMISSION

     Oversee the Members' use of the congressional 
frank by providing guidance, advice, and counsel through 
consultation or advisory opinion on the frankability of 
congressional mail
     Review proposals to reform mass mailing practices 
of Members, and regulations governing such mailings, and 
monitor current prohibition on mass mailings 90 days before a 
primary or general election.
     Review previously implemented rules to increase 
disclosure and improve the accounting of franked mail costs.
     Revise the Regulations on the Use of the 
Congressional Frank and Rules on Practice in Proceedings Before 
the House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards. 

                  HOUSE OFFICERS AND HOUSE OPERATIONS

     Coordinate with House officers and officials to 
develop long term goals for the administrative, financial and 
administrative functions of the House.
     Work with House officers to identify and reduce 
spending and create more cost effective and efficient 
operations within the House.
     Analyze management improvement proposals and other 
initiatives submitted by the House Officers, the Inspector 
General, the Capitol Police Board, the Architect of the 
Capitol, the Library of Congress, and other legislative branch 
agencies.
     Coordinate with the Subcommittee on Legislative 
Appropriations on matters impacting operations of the House and 
joint entities.
     Provide policy guidance to the House Officers, 
Inspector General and the joint entities as appropriate.
     Oversee compliance with the House Employee 
Classification Act (2 U.S.C. 291 et seq.).
     Assure coordination among officers and joint 
entities on administrative and technology matters.
     Continue review of congressional continuity 
issues, including organizing sessions of Congress at alternate 
locations, technological support for Member communications and 
chamber operations and filling vacancies in the House.
     Provide policy guidance and conduct oversight of 
security and safety issues and congressional entities charged 
with such roles.
Chief Administrative Officer
     Provide policy direction for the Chief 
Administrative Officer. Continue the review of functions and 
administrative operations assigned to the Chief Administrative 
Officer.
     Review House procurement policies and monitor the 
effectiveness of the Chief Administrative Officer's procurement 
and contract management functions. Review procedures for 
processing contracts with the House that exceed the threshold 
of $350,000.
     Continue to review ongoing process and technology 
upgrades to the House financial management system.
     Continue to monitor compliance with House Audit. 
Review the structure of House Information Resources and 
determine organizational direction of technology services in 
the House.
     Review and oversee information technology services 
provided, maintained or hosted by House Information Resources. 
Continue oversight of failsafe procedures to guarantee 
continuity of operations.
     Review new technology initiatives to better serve 
Members, committees, and the public.
     Review semi-annual financial and operational 
status reports; oversee implementation of changes in operations 
to improve services and increase efficiencies.
     Review the operations of the House gift shop and 
its management.
     Continued review of House restaurant operations; 
furniture policy, inventory and selection; and alternatives to 
the current mail delivery process in order to strengthen the 
services and tools available to Members and staff.
     Examine Chief Administrative Officer's role in 
assuring accessibility to the House wing of the Capitol, the 
House Office Buildings and other House facilities consistent 
with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
     Review staff benefits offered by the House and 
proposals to modify benefits.
Clerk of the House
     Review and approve contracts and requests for 
proposals by the Clerk that exceed the $350,000 spending 
threshold.
     Oversee the House Document Repository.
     Review standards for the electronic exchange of 
legislative information among the Houses of Congress and 
legislative-branch agencies.
     Coordinate on matters under the jurisdiction of 
the House Fine Arts Board.
     Continue review of functions and administrative 
operations assigned to the Clerk.
     Review of semi-annual financial and operational 
status reports; recommend changes in operations to improve 
services and increase efficiencies.
     Review the printing needs of the Clerk to evaluate 
the potential for eliminating duplication.
     Oversee preparation of congressionally-authorized 
publications.

Sergeant-at-Arms

     Review and oversee security operations in the 
House, including the House chamber, the galleries, the Capitol, 
House Office Buildings, Capitol Grounds, and District offices.
     Review and oversee initiatives designed to 
increase security and security awareness for Members and staff 
in district offices.
     Review annual financial and operational status 
reports; recommend changes in operations to improve services 
and increase efficiencies.
     Review impact of electronic access to controlled 
spaces.
     Continue review of functions and administrative 
operations assigned to the Sergeant-at-Arms.
     Review the security operation of House parking 
facilities, regulations, and allocation of parking spaces.
     Consult with the Sergeant-at-Arms on policies 
adopted by the Capitol Police Board.
     Review the policies and procedures for visitor 
access to the Capitol.
     Review the printing needs of the Sergeant-at-Arms 
and the Capitol Police Board to identify the potential for 
eliminating duplication.
     Examine Sergeant-at-Arms' role in assuring 
accessibility to the House wing of the Capitol, the House 
Office Buildings, and other House facilities consistent with 
the Americans with Disabilities Act.
     Review the use of technology generally in the 
protection of the House of Representatives.
     Oversee the Office of Emergency Management, 
including the implementation of coordinated plans for emergency 
evacuation and response.

House Inspector General

     Review proposed audit plan and audit reports, 
including the annual financial statements audit.
     Review comprehensive financial and operational 
audits of the House, investigate any irregularities uncovered, 
and monitor necessary improvements.
     Monitor progress of House audits.
     Continue review of functions and administrative 
operations assigned to the Inspector General.
     Direct Inspector General to conduct management 
advisories to improve implementation and operation of key House 
functions.

           OVERSIGHT OF LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AND OTHER ENTITIES

Information and Technology Coordination

     Oversee, in conjunction with the Senate, forums 
for the sharing of technology plans and capabilities among the 
legislative branch agencies.
     Oversee, in conjunction with the Senate, the 
Legislative Branch Telecommunications group.
     Oversee management of the Congress.gov website.
     Oversee work of the Legislative Branch Financial 
Managers' Council.
     Oversee, in conjunction with the Senate, proposals 
to reduce technology costs through consolidation and use of 
internet-based resources.

Library of Congress

     Conduct a review of the progress that the Library 
has made in providing public access to government information, 
especially in electronic form.
     Continue oversight of Library of Congress 
operations, including inventory and cataloguing systems.
     Continue oversight of Law Library operations.
     Continue oversight of Congressional Research 
Service operations, and consider any need to modify management 
of the Service.
     Review implementation of the Library of Congress 
Fiscal Operations Improvement Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-481), 
the Veterans' Oral History Project Act (Public Law 106-380), 
the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000 (Public Law No: 
106-474), and the History of the House Awareness and 
Preservation Act (Public Law 106-99).
     Consider human-resources legislation proposed by 
the Library.
     Review the use of technology generally in Library 
of Congress operations.
     Review printing policies of the Library of 
Congress to assure compliance with Title 44 of the U.S. Code.
     Review reports by Library of Congress Inspector 
General and implementation of audit recommendations. Examine 
options to improve operation and structure of the Library of 
Congress Inspector General's office.

United States Capitol Police

     Monitor administrative operations of the agency, 
including budgetary management, civilian component, attrition 
rates, recruitment efforts and incentive programs for officers 
and civilian employees.
     Review proposals for additional USCP facilities 
and equipment.
     Review analysis of uniformed officer post/duty 
assignments to determine and authorize force levels to meet the 
agency's security requirements within the Capitol complex to 
include the Capitol Visitor Center, the Library of Congress and 
U.S. Botanic Garden.
     Review and consider proposals to improve USCP 
training program for new recruits, and in-service training.
     Authorize and oversee the installation and 
maintenance of new security systems and devices proposed by the 
Police Board.
     Review and authorize regulations prescribed by the 
Police Board for use of law enforcement authority by the 
Capitol Police.
     Examine Capitol Police role in assuring 
accessibility to the House wing of the Capitol, House Office 
Buildings and other facilities consistent with the Americans 
with Disabilities Act.
     Monitor the ongoing implementation of the Radio 
Modernization Project.
     Review reports by USCP Inspector General and 
implementation of audit recommendations. Examine options to 
improve operation and structure of the USCP Inspector General's 
office.

Government Publishing Office

     Oversee operations of the Government Publishing 
Office, including the Superintendent of Documents.
     Review and adopt legislative proposals to reform 
government printing by eliminating redundancies and unnecessary 
printing, increasing efficiency, and enhancing public access to 
government publications.
     Monitor implementation of remedial actions taken 
by management to address audit issues identified by the GPO 
Inspector General.
     Review the printing needs of the House of 
Representatives to identify the potential for eliminating 
duplication.
     Examine current GPO printing and binding 
regulations to determine advisability of change.
     Oversee Superintendent of Documents' Sales and 
Depository Library Programs.
     Review GPO labor practices and labor agreements.
     Review use of GPO facilities and other assets to 
identify possible alternatives enhancing value to the Congress 
and the public.

Architect of the Capitol

     Review the operations of the office of the 
Architect.
     Review the electronic and procured services 
provided by the Architect.
     Oversee Architect of the Capitol's maintenance of 
House buildings and the House side of the Capitol, and review 
plans for rehabilitation of House buildings, including 
oversight over the Cannon House Office Building renovation.
     Continue oversight of life safety measures, 
accessibility measures, and improved evacuation mechanisms in 
House buildings.
     Review the AOC Office of Sustainability's efforts 
to reduce energy consumption by the Capitol complex.
     Oversee operations of the Capitol Visitors Center, 
in conjunction with the Senate Committee on Rules and 
Administration.
     Review reports by Architect of the Capitol 
Inspector General and implementation of audit recommendations. 
Examine options to improve operation and structure of the 
Architect of the Capitol Inspector General's office.

Office of Congressional Accessibility Services

     Oversee management and operations of Office of 
Congressional Accessibility Services, such as the 
implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), in 
conjunction with Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.

Smithsonian Institution

     Review the Smithsonian Inspector General's reports 
on the status of the Smithsonian.
     Oversee general museum and research facility 
operations of the Smithsonian Institution.
     Review and evaluate the Smithsonian Institution's 
use of authorized public funds.
     Review proposed appointments of Citizen Regents to 
the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents.
     Review proposals for authorization of new 
Smithsonian facilities. Review Smithsonian policies regarding 
initiation of planning, design and construction of projects.
     Review operations of the National Zoo.
     Review operations and conduct oversight of 
Smithsonian Enterprises.
     Review the use of technology generally in 
Smithsonian operations.
     Review any proposals to charge fees for admission 
to any Smithsonian exhibits.

                      TECHNOLOGY USE BY THE HOUSE

     Continue oversight of House Information Resources 
and other technology functions of the House to improve 
technology governance, services and the electronic 
dissemination of information.
     Oversee implementation of House Rule XI 2(e)(4) 
requiring committee documentation to be made available 
electronically, to the maximum extent feasible.
     Review cyber security measures.
     Review technology standards for hearing rooms as 
they relate to the Committee broadcast program.
     Oversee and continue to implement an enterprise 
House Disaster Recovery Program for House offices, standing and 
select committees and Member offices.
     Oversee implementation of the House Office of 
Legislative Counsel & Law Revision Counsel's Modernization 
Project.
     Oversee and coordinate the House strategic 
technology plan.
     Oversee continuation of House technology 
assessment in both new media and cloud services.

            OVERSIGHT OF FEDERAL ELECTION LAW AND PROCEDURES

     Recommend disposition of House election contests 
pending before the Committee; monitor any disputed election 
counts.
     Review operations of the Federal Election 
Commission (FEC) and evaluate possible changes to improve 
efficiency, improve enforcement of the Federal Election 
Campaign Act, and improve procedures for the disclosure of 
contributions and expenditures. Consider authorization issues 
and make recommendations on the FEC's budget.
     Review federal campaign-finance laws and 
regulations, including Presidential public financing, and 
consider potential reforms.
     Examine the role and impact of political 
organizations on federal elections.
     Review operations of the Election Assistance 
Commission (EAC) and evaluate possible changes to improve 
efficiency and improve implementation of the Help America Vote 
Act (HAVA). Consider authorization issues and make 
recommendations on the EAC's budget.
     Examine the impact of amendments made by HAVA and 
the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE Act) to 
the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act 
(UOCAVA), and consider proposals to improve voting methods for 
those serving and living abroad.
     Review state and federal activities under the 
National Voter Registration Act to identify potential for 
improvement to voter registration and education programs and 
reducing costs of compliance for state and local government.
     Review all aspects of registration and voting 
practices in federal elections. Monitor allegations of fraud 
and misconduct during all phases of federal elections and 
evaluate measures to improve the integrity of the electoral 
process.
                       COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

    In accordance with Rule X of the House of Representatives, 
the Committee on the Judiciary is responsible for determining 
whether the laws and programs within its jurisdiction are 
implemented and carried out in accordance with the intent of 
Congress and whether they should be continued, curtailed, 
eliminated, or enhanced. Accordingly, in the 114th Congress the 
Committee will review all laws and programs within its 
jurisdiction to assess their application, administration, 
execution, and effectiveness. The Committee will also review 
the organization and operation of Federal agencies and entities 
within its jurisdiction for the administration and execution of 
laws and programs within its jurisdiction.
    The Committee will review all agencies and programs within 
its jurisdiction to identify wasteful, inefficient, or 
duplicative programs that should be streamlined or eliminated, 
as well as those that could be enhanced. The Committee will 
also review the mission and operations of all agencies, 
including component organizations, within its jurisdiction. 
Through such oversight, the Committee seeks to determine how 
these agencies and entities can achieve more impactful and 
effective programs with an eye toward improving the efficiency 
and effectiveness of Federal programs and agencies. The 
Committee also seeks to eliminate fraud, abuse, and 
mismanagement. As a result of this oversight, the Committee 
anticipates streamlining and eliminating spending on agencies 
and programs within its jurisdiction, if appropriate.
    This document outlines the current plans of the Committee 
on the Judiciary for oversight activities in the 114th 
Congress. The Committee's oversight and investigative 
activities will be coordinated between the Full Committee and 
the Subcommittees in order to facilitate comprehensive and 
strategic oversight of the programs and agencies within its 
jurisdiction. Oversight activities will include hearings, 
briefings, correspondence, reports, and public statements.

                             FULL COMMITTEE

    U.S. Department of Justice. In conjunction with the 
Subcommittees, the Committee will conduct oversight of the U.S. 
Department of Justice, including all Department components and 
agencies.
    Budget Oversight and Management Performance. The Committee 
will conduct oversight and identify U.S. Department of Justice 
grant programs that should be streamlined or eliminated, as 
well as those that could be enhanced. The Committee will also 
conduct oversight of all agencies and programs within its 
jurisdiction to uncover waste, fraud, or abuse and to identify 
programs that are inefficient, duplicative, or outdated, or 
that are more appropriately administered by State or local 
governments. The Committee will also consider the extent to 
which federally funded or administered agencies and activities 
can more efficiently handle certain tasks on a national level 
and whether they save, reduce, or render more effective State 
or local government expenditures or activities. In addition, 
the Committee will consider whether any federal programs within 
its jurisdiction should be enhanced, concomitant with cuts to 
or the elimination of less effective programs.
    The U.S. Copyright Office: The Committee will conduct 
oversight of the Copyright Office as it completes its 
transition to a digital environment. Oversight will include 
review of its recordation system and public access to its 
registration records.
    Copyright Law and Policy: The Committee will examine the 
provisions of the Copyright Act to ensure it addresses the 
challenges faced by copyright owners, users, and consumers in 
the digital environment.
    Office of the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement 
Coordinator (IPEC): The Committee will examine how the IPEC is 
functioning and whether it has the authority and resources 
necessary for it to be effective. To the extent this involves 
non-copyright-related intellectual property issues, this will 
be coordinated closely with the Subcommittee on the Courts, 
Intellectual Property, and the Internet Subcommittee.
    Intellectual Property Enforcement Agencies: The 
Subcommittee will review the intellectual property enforcement 
efforts of the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection division and the Department of Justice. 
To the extent this involves non-copyright-related intellectual 
property issues, this will be coordinated closely with the 
Subcommittee on the Courts, Intellectual Property, and the 
Internet Subcommittee.
    International Intellectual Property Laws: The Subcommittee 
will conduct oversight of the impact of international 
intellectual property laws, regulations, and policies upon 
American interests. In addition, the Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of international trade agreements and their 
negotiations, especially as they relate to potential trademark 
issues. To the extent this involves non-copyright-related 
intellectual property issues, this will be coordinated closely 
with the Subcommittee on the Courts, Intellectual Property, and 
the Internet Subcommittee.
    Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act: The 
Committee will examine the application of the Satellite 
Television Extension and Localism Act in light of technological 
and marketplace changes in advance of the potential 
reauthorization of the legislation.

  SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME, TERRORISM, HOMELAND SECURITY & INVESTIGATIONS

    U.S. Department of Justice: The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of the law enforcement agencies of the U.S. 
Department of Justice.
          A. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): The 
        Subcommittee will conduct oversight of the FBI. In 
        addition to its traditional criminal investigatory 
        jurisdiction, the Subcommittee will also conduct 
        oversight of the FBI's counter-terrorism and counter-
        intelligence authorities.
          B. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA): The 
        Subcommittee will review the operations of the DEA, 
        including domestic and international drug enforcement, 
        money laundering and narco-terrorism investigations.
          C. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and 
        Explosives (ATF): The Subcommittee will review the 
        mission and operations of the ATF, including federal 
        firearms enforcement, explosives investigations, and 
        tobacco and alcohol trafficking operations.
          D. U.S. Marshals Service (USMS)/Office of the Federal 
        Detention Trustee (OFDT): The Subcommittee will review 
        the mission and operations of the USMS, including 
        fugitive apprehensions, court and witness security, and 
        its responsibilities under the Sex Offender 
        Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). The 
        Subcommittee will also conduct oversight on the 
        operations of OFDT.
    The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP): The Subcommittee will 
review the mission and operation of the federal prison system, 
including prisoner rehabilitation, reentry programs, and 
management of a growing offender population.
          Federal Prison Industries: The Subcommittee will also 
        conduct oversight of the Federal Prison Industries 
        (FPI), a government corporation that employs offenders 
        incarcerated in federal prisons and provides job 
        training opportunities to prisoners by producing goods 
        and services for federal agencies.
    Criminal Division: The Subcommittee will conduct oversight 
of the Justice Department's Criminal Division.
    National Security Division: The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of the Justice Department's National Security 
Division.
    Office of Justice Programs (OJP): The Subcommittee will 
review the mission and operations of OJP and its component 
organizations and the administration of law enforcement 
assistance grants in order to identify programs that should be 
streamlined or eliminated, and those that could be enhanced.
    Office on Violence against Women (OVW): The Subcommittee 
will review the mission and operations of OVW and the 
administration of Violence against Women Act (VAWA) grants.
    Community Oriented Policing Services Office (COPS): The 
Subcommittee will review the mission and operations of COPS and 
the administration of community policing grants.
    Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA): The 
Subcommittee will conduct oversight on the operations of EOUSA.
    U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS): The 
Subcommittee will conduct oversight of DHS law enforcement 
components, including the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Immigration 
and Customs Enforcement, the Bureau of Customs and Border 
Protection, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Federal Air Marshals 
Service.
    U.S. Sentencing Commission: The Subcommittee will review 
the mission and operations of the U.S. Sentencing Commission 
with particular attention to the role of the Commission 
following the Supreme Court's decision in U.S. v. Booker, 543 
U.S. 220 (2005) and its progeny. The Subcommittee will also 
examine the extent to which federal courts are imposing 
sentences that diverge from those recommended by the sentencing 
guidelines.
    National Security: The Subcommittee will review the use of 
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and U.S. PATRIOT 
Act authorities by Intelligence Community (IC) agencies.
    Domestic/Home-Grown Terrorism: The Subcommittee will review 
the threat to our national security from home-grown terrorists 
including the recruitment and training or self-radicalization 
of home-grown terrorists and the federal government's efforts 
to preempt, investigate, and prosecute domestic terrorism.
    GAO Report on DOJ Funding Sources: The Subcommittee will 
review the alternative sources of funding at DOJ, including 
fines, fees, and penalties, that make up approximately 15 
percent of DOJ's budgetary resources.
    Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 
(OJJDP): The Subcommittee will review the mission and 
operations of OJJDP.
    Criminal Division--Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering 
Section: The Subcommittee will conduct oversight of the Asset 
Forfeiture and Money Laundering section of the Justice 
Department's Criminal Division.
    Encryption and Handheld Electronic Devices: The 
Subcommittee will conduct oversight on concerns expressed by 
law enforcement that the increased use of unbreakable 
encryption on handheld devices and other personal electronics 
may hinder their efforts to investigate crime.
    Crimes against Children: The Subcommittee will review laws 
and law enforcement tools designed to combat child 
exploitation, including reauthorization of the Adam Walsh Act, 
and the proliferation of child pornography on the Internet.
    Protection of U.S. Citizens' Constitutional Rights: The 
Subcommittee along with the Subcommittee on the Constitution 
and Civil Justice will examine the adequacy of current 
protections for U.S. citizens' Constitutional rights vis-aa-vis 
law enforcement and national security efforts.
    Electronic Communications Privacy Act: The Subcommittee 
will examine whether this decades-old statute requires 
modernization in light of the digital revolution that has taken 
place since the statute's enactment.
    Cybersecurity: The Subcommittee will review the laws and 
law enforcement tools designed to combat and prevent cyber 
attacks.
    Firearms: The Subcommittee will continue to examine ways to 
reduce firearms-related violence, including examining current 
federal law and state compliance with requirements to post 
information to the NICS database.
    Criminal Code: The Subcommittee will examine issues related 
to Criminal Code reform, including improving and streamlining 
Title 18 and whether all criminal statutes in the U.S. Code 
should be consolidated and/or listed in Title 18.
    Over-criminalization: The Subcommittee will continue to 
examine ways to address the problem of over-criminalization and 
over-federalization, using the information accumulated during 
the 2013-2014 hearings before the Over-criminalization Task 
Force.
    Criminal Street Gangs: The Subcommittee may consider 
enforcement and prevention issues concerning criminal street 
gangs, and the issue of how gang affiliations may be broken to 
reduce the number of both street and prison gangs.
    Crime Prevention: The Subcommittee may examine the extent 
to which federal policies and funding are adequate to support 
crime prevention strategies at the Federal, State, local, and 
tribal levels.
    International and Domestic Human Trafficking: The 
Subcommittee will review law enforcement and other activities 
within its jurisdiction that address international and domestic 
trafficking in human beings.

           SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE CONSTITUTION AND CIVIL JUSTICE

    Protection of U.S. Citizens' Constitutional and Civil 
Rights: In general, the Subcommittee will examine the adequacy 
of current protections for U.S. citizens' constitutional and 
civil rights.
    Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice: The 
Subcommittee will examine the enforcement record and priorities 
of the Civil Rights Division. The Subcommittee will focus on 
the Division's activities in the areas of education, 
employment, credit, fair housing, public accommodations, law 
enforcement practices, voting rights and the integrity of 
federal elections, and federally funded and conducted programs.
    Fiscal Responsibility: The Subcommittee will examine 
constitutional reforms to address government spending.
    Federalism/Congressional Authority: The Subcommittee plans 
to examine the proper balance between the finite powers 
allocated to the federal government in the U.S. Constitution 
and the powers reserved to the states.
    Exercise of Constitutional Authority: The Subcommittee will 
conduct oversight of the exercise of constitutional authority 
by the legislative, judicial, and executive branches.
    Civil Justice: The Subcommittee will review the policies 
and practices of the civil justice system and consider whether 
reform is needed.
    Community Relations Service: The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of the operations of the Community Relations Service.
    Office of Government Ethics: The Subcommittee will consider 
the priorities and operation of the Office of Government 
Ethics.
    Property Rights: The Subcommittee will consider whether 
there is a need to address existing protections for citizens' 
private property rights.
    Religious Liberty: The Subcommittee will consider the 
federal role in the protection of Americans' rights under the 
Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses.
    Abortion: The Subcommittee will examine the 
constitutionality and enforcement of federal and state statutes 
that relate to abortion.
    Marriage: The Subcommittee will examine constitutional 
issues concerning marriage.
    War on Terrorism: The Subcommittee will consider 
constitutional issues associated with the War on Terrorism.
    Detention of Suspected Terrorists: The Subcommittee will 
conduct oversight on matters related to the long-term detention 
of suspected terrorists, including the protection of the 
related constitutional rights of U.S. citizens.
    United States Commission on Civil Rights: The Subcommittee 
will review the work of the Commission, its management, and its 
implementation.

            SUBCOMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION AND BORDER SECURITY

    Constitutionality of President Obama's Executive Actions on 
Immigration: The Subcommittee will conduct hearings on the 
constitutionality of the Administration's deferred action 
programs.
    Implementation of President Obama's Executive Actions on 
Immigration: The Subcommittee will conduct oversight on the 
implementation of the Administration's deferred action 
programs, new immigration enforcement priorities, and other 
executive actions announced on November 20, 2014.
    Executive Office for Immigration Review: The Subcommittee 
will conduct oversight of the Department of Justice's 
adjudication of immigration cases.
    Secure Communities Program: The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight on the ending of the Secure Communities program by 
the Administration, policy changes regarding the use of 
detainers by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), 
and legal and policy questions surround the issuance of ICE 
detainers.
    U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS): The 
Subcommittee will conduct oversight of the components within 
DHS that are responsible for enforcing and ensuring the 
integrity of United States immigration laws, including ICE and 
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
    Budgetary Resources: The Subcommittee expects to conduct 
oversight of the sufficiency of budgetary resources with regard 
to immigration functions at USCIS and ICE.
    Legal Immigration: The Subcommittee expects to conduct 
oversight over our current legal immigration laws and programs, 
including whether relevant federal agencies are efficiently 
administering and enforcing these laws and programs, issues 
relating to backlogs, family reunification, whether excessive 
regulations are stifling the use of these programs, the impact 
on U.S. citizens, comparisons with our global competitors, and 
related issues.
    Illegal Immigration: The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of the causes and methods of illegal immigration and 
how to better prevent it in the future.
    Fiscal Impacts of Immigration: The Subcommittee expects to 
conduct hearings on the fiscal effects of legal and illegal 
immigration, including their impact on the Social Security 
system and other federal programs.
    Immigration Enforcement: The Subcommittee intends to 
examine the sufficiency of current immigration enforcement laws 
and programs, including whether relevant federal agencies' 
policies and enforcement records are sufficient and consistent 
with current federal statutes, the level of cooperation with 
other countries, the proper roles for the federal government, 
states and localities in enforcing our immigration laws, and 
the status of implementation of the congressionally-mandated 
exit tracking system.
    Fraud: The Subcommittee expects to conduct hearings on 
fraud associated with petitions for visas and other immigration 
benefits, including allegations of fraud in the asylum and 
credible fear determination processes. The Subcommittee also 
intends to conduct oversight of identity fraud and identity 
theft in the immigration context.
    Influx of Unaccompanied Alien Children and Family Units: 
The Subcommittee expects to conduct oversight of the 
Administration's handling of the influx of unaccompanied alien 
children and family units along our southern border and 
proposed legislative changes.
    Criminal Issues: The Subcommittee expects to conduct 
hearings on the impact of crimes committed by immigrants, 
trends in gang violence among immigrant communities, and the 
sufficiency of efforts to remove violent criminals.

    SUBCOMMITTEE ON COURTS, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, AND THE INTERNET

    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: The Subcommittee will 
conduct oversight of the USPTO, including the status of pending 
patent and trademark applications and developments with patent 
and trademark quality. The Subcommittee will also continue to 
exercise oversight to ensure that the USPTO has full access to 
the fees it collects from applicants and appropriately 
exercises its fee-setting authority.
    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and Implementation of the 
America Invents Act: The Subcommittee will conduct oversight on 
the implementation of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and 
the America Invents Act that contained numerous changes to our 
nation's patent system.
    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Global Intellectual 
Property Rights Attachee Program: The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight on the Global Intellectual Property Rights Attachee 
program's efforts to promote high standards of IP protection 
and enforcement internationally for the benefit of U.S. 
stakeholders.
    Federal Judiciary: The Subcommittee will conduct oversight 
of the federal judiciary, including evidence issues and civil 
and appellate procedures. In addition, the Subcommittee will 
examine the resources available to Article III courts, 
including judicial salaries and security for federal judges.
    The Service of Judicial Process on Foreign Entities: The 
Subcommittee will examine the difficulty of serving judicial 
process on foreign entities in order to ensure that the rights 
of all U.S. citizens can be protected in an increasingly global 
economy.
    Technology Issues: The Subcommittee will examine 
developments in technology and the Internet affecting public 
policy, including issues surrounding Internet governance.
    Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers 
(ICANN): The Subcommittee will review the domain name system, 
its structure and governance, and the impacts that changes to 
this system would have on intellectual property rights holders.
    State Justice Institute: The State Justice Institute (SJI) 
provides matching grants to state courts that allow them to 
develop methods to work more efficiently and productively. The 
Subcommittee intends to review SJI operations.

    SUBCOMMITTEE ON REGULATORY REFORM, COMMERCIAL AND ANTITRUST LAW

    Administrative Process and Procedure: The Subcommittee will 
conduct oversight on the topic of regulatory reform in general, 
including examining specific regulations, as well as issues 
related to the Administrative Procedure Act, the Congressional 
Review Act, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act, trends in regulatory 
citizen suits, regulatory litigation, judicial doctrines of 
deference to agency determinations, the overall costs and 
benefits of federal regulation in general and their impact on 
specific communities, regulatory budgeting, the extent to which 
agencies compete for policymaking primacy with the Legislative 
Branch, and the role that the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs within the Office of Management and Budget 
plays in the federal rulemaking process. In addition, the 
Subcommittee will examine regulatory litigation and 
enforcement.
    Bankruptcy: The Subcommittee expects to conduct oversight 
of the Bankruptcy Code and bankruptcy system, including their 
responsiveness to the needs of financially troubled businesses, 
individuals and municipalities. The Subcommittee may conduct 
oversight of bankruptcy judgeship needs.
    State Taxation Affecting Interstate Commerce: The 
Subcommittee will conduct oversight of issues related to state 
taxation that affect interstate commerce, particularly with 
respect to appropriate nexus standards.
    Agencies: The Subcommittee will conduct oversight of the 
Justice Department's Civil Division, Environment and Natural 
Resources Division, Antitrust Division, Tax Division, Executive 
Office for United States Trustees, and Office of the Solicitor 
General and their respective budgets. It will also conduct 
oversight of the Department's compliance with the Freedom of 
Information Act and the Office of Management and Budget's 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.
    Administrative Conference of the United States: The 
Subcommittee will conduct oversight on the Administrative 
Conference of the United States.
    Arbitration: The Subcommittee may conduct oversight of 
issues arising under the Federal Arbitration Act.
    Legal Services Corporation: The Subcommittee will review 
the mission and operations of the Legal Services Corporation.
    Interstate Compacts: The Subcommittee may conduct oversight 
to determine the extent of compliance with the constitutional 
process by which States seek Congressional approval of 
interstate compacts.
    Divergence in U.S. Merger Review and Enforcement: The 
Subcommittee may examine disparities in the tools available to 
the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice with 
regard to mergers and whether these disparities result in 
different substantive standards.
    International Divergence in Antitrust Enforcement: The 
Subcommittee may conduct oversight of international competition 
laws.
    Antitrust Exemptions: The Subcommittee may conduct 
oversight of industry antitrust exemptions to determine whether 
such exemptions continue to serve the public interest.
    Net Neutrality: The Subcommittee will examine proposed 
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations regarding 
net neutrality and the role of antitrust laws in enforcing the 
principles of net neutrality.
    Effects on Competition Caused by Government Participation 
in Markets as a Provider of Goods and Services: The 
Subcommittee will examine instances where government 
participates in a particular market and whether such 
participation impacts competition.
    China and Antitrust Enforcement Policies: The Subcommittee 
will examine China's anti-competitive enforcement actions and 
how the antitrust enforcement agencies are coordinating with 
other federal government agencies and their Chinese 
counterparts regarding such enforcement efforts.
    Section 5 of the Federal Trade Communications Act: The 
Subcommittee may examine the Federal Trade Commission's use of 
its authority under section 5 of the Federal Trade 
Communications Act.
    Telecommunications Act of 1996: The Subcommittee will 
conduct a review of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
    Mergers: The Subcommittee will examine mergers on a case-
by-case basis.
    Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): The 
Subcommittee may examine the CFPB, including with regard to its 
activities concerning arbitration.
    Process Reforms for Congressional Review and Approval of 
Interstate Compacts: The Subcommittee may examine the process 
by which interstate compacts are approved by Congress.
    Settlements Requiring Payments to Nongovernmental Entities: 
The Subcommittee will examine an increasing trend of Justice 
Department settlements requiring payments to third parties, 
particularly in the context of mortgage lending settlements.
                     COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                  Washington, DC, January 28, 2015.
Hon. Jason Chaffetz,
Chairman, Committee on Government Reform,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: In accordance with clause 2(d)(1) of 
House of Representatives Rule X, I enclose a copy of the 
oversight plan adopted by a quorum of the Committee on Natural 
Resources today in open session.
            Sincerely,
                                                Rob Bishop,
                                                          Chairman.
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                              INTRODUCTION

    Under clause 2 of Rule X of the House of Representatives, 
each standing committee of the House has general oversight 
responsibilities to determine whether laws and programs 
addressing subjects within its jurisdiction are being 
implemented in accordance with the intent of Congress to 
determine whether they should be continued, reformed, 
curtailed, or eliminated.
    Congress has a responsibility to keep the Executive Branch 
accountable to the American people and ensure that decisions by 
agencies are open and transparent. During the 113th Congress, 
the Committee on Natural Resources conducted thoughtful 
oversight on a number of specific issues and policies 
administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior and other 
agencies under the Committee's jurisdiction--seeking answers to 
how and why policy decisions are made, who made the decision, 
and how it affects people, our economy and the environment.
    In the 114th Congress, the Committee will continue to 
pursue aggressive oversight of the Executive Branch. To ensure 
a specific focus, the Committee will form a new subcommittee 
entirely dedicated to oversight and investigation of each 
federal agency within its jurisdiction. Additionally, through 
oversight hearings and investigations the Committee and its 
subcommittees will focus oversight efforts on promoting job 
creation and economic growth, reducing spending and ensuring 
responsible use of taxpayer resources, and protecting public 
access to public lands and waters for recreation and economic 
development.
    This oversight plan outlines the initial, primary focuses 
of the Committee, though additional oversight activities are 
expected to be generated throughout the first and second 
sessions of the 114th Congress.

                             FEDERAL LANDS

    Budget and Spending Review--The Committee will review the 
Fiscal Year 2016 budget request for programs under its 
jurisdiction, including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), 
the National Park Service (NPS), the U.S. Forest Service 
(USFS), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS.)
    Strengthening the Core National Park Service Functions of 
Stewardship, Visitor Experience and Maintenance of Park 
Facilities--The Committee will conduct oversight on ways to 
ensure that budget constraints, should they occur, do not fall 
on the traditional National Park Service visitor services and 
property maintenance portion of their budget.
    New Parks--Proposals for additional parks and park 
expansions will be examined with due regard for the merits of 
the proposal, spending constraints, our national need for 
access to vital resources, and the protection of private 
property rights.
    National Park Management--The Committee will conduct 
oversight on ways to reduce the substantial and growing 
maintenance backlog (estimated at over $11 billion for FY 2013) 
and enhance public enjoyment of the parks.
    Wilderness Designations and Releases--The Committee will 
examine proposals for additional wilderness designations as 
well as proposals for the release of areas found not suitable 
for wilderness designation.
    Forest Health and Wildfires--The Committee will conduct 
oversight hearings on forest health, wildfire prevention and 
suppression, and the need for more active management of our 
national forests.
    County Payments and School Funding--Following examples of 
states, tribes, and local communities, the Committee will 
pursue changes to management to replace the current uncertain 
and diminishing funding by creating a more sustainable and 
reliable program.
    National Forest Recreation--Oversight will be conducted on 
ways to strengthen public access to National Forests for a wide 
range of family recreational and sporting activities and that 
fees for use of developed sites are not excessive.
    Management of Bureau of Land Management Land--The Committee 
will conduct oversight on ways to ensure that traditional uses, 
such as grazing, are permitted in an efficient and fair manner 
and address the substantial maintenance backlog.
    Strengthening the Role Our Vast System of Bureau of Land 
Management Lands Can Contribute to Economic Growth, National 
Security, and Sound Conservation--Oversight will be conducted 
on ways to ensure that our public lands provide secure domestic 
sources of energy, food, fiber, minerals, jobs and recreation 
under appropriate conservation standards.
    Checks and Balances--The Committee will examine 
administratively imposed activities and designations to ensure 
that these actions fully respect the interests and culture of 
the affected local people and do not infringe on authorities 
that more properly belong to elected officials in Congress and 
local government.
    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge Oversight--According to FWS, 
the backlog for their 560 refuges now exceeds $3.4 billion and 
there are more than 12,000 deferred projects. Committee will 
resume its oversight of this growing backlog and will continue 
to inquire why FWS is committed to acquire an ever increasing 
amount of private land while doing an increasingly poor job of 
managing what they already own.

                                WILDLIFE

    Invasive Species--Thousands of acres of public land in the 
United States are overgrown by invasive species. These foreign 
invaders are destroying valuable infrastructure, preventing 
recreational opportunities and are costing federal taxpayers 
millions of lost dollars. The Committee intends to examine ways 
to effectively address the problems caused by non-native 
species.
    Lacey Act--The Committee will conduct a series of 
comprehensive oversight hearings on various provisions that 
have been added to this federal law since its original 
enactment in 1900. Among the issues to be examined are: why are 
American citizens required to comply with foreign laws, why 
individuals are denied ``innocent owner'' protections under the 
Lacey Act and what has been the impact of the Legal Timber 
Protection Act of 2008.
    Public Access within the National Wildlife Refuge System--
During recent years, the Committee was contacted by several 
Representatives concerning development of specific 
Comprehensive Conservation Plans for refuges, which are 
required by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act 
of 1997. In some instances, these plans became controversial 
and had the potential to negatively impact public access for 
anglers, hunters and recreationists.
    Sikes Act--The Department of Defense controls nearly 30 
million acres of fish and wildlife habitat at nearly 400 
military installations. The Committee is interested in 
obtaining an update of the Department's conservation efforts, 
whether additional opportunities are being provided to disabled 
sportsmen as mandated by Public Law 105-261 and the status of 
efforts to require Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans 
for State-owned National Guard facilities.
    Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species--
The Committee will continue its oversight role in monitoring 
the Administration's implementation of proposals adopted by the 
Convention at the 16th Conference of the Parties.

                          ENERGY AND MINERALS

    Expanding Domestic Energy Production--The Committee will 
focus on the importance of increasing American-made energy in 
order to create more new high-paying jobs, increase our 
economic competitiveness, and to improve national security. In 
February 2010, the Department of the Interior released a jobs 
report that showed that 1.4 million Americans were employed in 
jobs related to programs and activities of the Department. 
Nearly half the jobs identified in the report were related to 
oil, natural gas and mining activities on federal lands, and 
yet those activities only occupy a small fraction of the total 
lands managed by the Department.
    Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Natural Gas--The 
Committee has jurisdiction over the administration of the Outer 
Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) and will work to ensure 
safe and responsible production of America's offshore oil and 
natural gas resources. The Committee will build upon oversight 
and legislative efforts to reform the Offshore Planning 
Process, direct specific offshore lease sales, codify the 
reorganization of the former MMS, provide fair and equitable 
revenue sharing for all coastal states, and promote new safety 
efforts.
    Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA)--The committee will 
examine and conduct oversight of the Coastal Zone Management 
Act and its implementation and impacts on OCS oil and gas 
exploration and development.
    Onshore Oil and Natural Gas Programs--In the 114th Congress 
the Committee will focus on the state of oil and natural gas 
leasing on federal lands in the western United States. This 
will include leasing delays and declines in production from 
federal lands, reforms to streamline onshore energy leasing and 
permitting, development of oil shale resources, access and 
leasing in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA), and 
access to ANWR. This Congress there will be additional 
oversight on Alaskan oil and natural gas development by 
reviewing NPRA administrative reforms and an in depth review of 
the Administration's regulation of hydraulic fracturing.
    Renewable and Alternative Energy--In the 114th Congress, 
the Committee will conduct oversight over current solar, 
geothermal, and wind programs operated by the Bureau of Ocean 
and Energy Management (BOEM), BLM, and the USFS. The Committee 
will examine ways to streamline the leasing and permitting of 
these renewable and alternative energy forms.
    National Mineral Security Strategy--The Committee will 
conduct oversight on domestic mineral resources, current and 
planned production, and possible future production 
opportunities, including of critical minerals.
    Coal Mining Regulations and Leasing--The Administration and 
Department of the Interior continue to wage a war on coal. The 
Committee has conducted and will continue extensive oversight 
of the job-destroying regulatory changes, such as the Stream 
Buffer Zone Rule, proposed by the Administration to stifle coal 
mining, production and use. The Committee will focus on this 
issue through both legislative relief and aggressive oversight.
    United States Geological Survey--The Committee for several 
years has had growing concern over the path and programs 
operated by the United States Geological Survey (USGS.) 
Particularly of concern are the growing non-resource or hazard 
programs at USGS and other Department programs; USGS data 
quality dependence on outside data; mineral and energy programs 
focused on stopping mineral development not promoting it; and 
mapping programs. The Committee intends to closely examine the 
current operations of USGS and may consider legislation to 
consolidate and streamline the focus of the agency to reduce 
waste and duplication not only in the USGS but across agencies.
    Federal Mapping Programs--The federal government spends 
billions each year on new geospatial data. This spending, 
including tens of billions in the stimulus act, is frequently 
wasteful, duplicative and uncoordinated. During hearings in 
previous congresses, witnesses were clear that multiple 
Administrations have had this problem with little control, 
central oversight or effective management. The Committee 
intends to reexamine this issue and may consider legislation to 
consolidate and streamline the Department's geospatial programs 
to reduce waste and duplication. In addition, the Committee 
intends to conduct oversight of federal agencies and how they 
track and monitor their land management responsibilities and 
purposes.

                            WATER AND POWER

    Budget and Spending Review--At a time of growing water 
supply needs, water-use conflicts, curtailment of water and 
power deliveries due to federal regulation and a spiraling 
national debt, the Committee intends to examine the Bureau of 
Reclamation's and the U.S. Geological Survey's annual budget 
request and ongoing spending. The goal of such oversight is to 
determine whether the agencies are accountable to the American 
taxpayers, water and power ratepayers and other beneficiaries 
and to ascertain whether they are fulfilling their core 
missions.
    Oversight of the Power Marketing Administration Budgets--
The Committee will continue budget oversight of the four Power 
Marketing Administrations that sell hydropower generated at 
federal dams and reservoirs to wholesale customers that serve 
millions of retail electricity customers.
    Protecting and Promoting Hydropower as a Clean, Renewable 
Energy Source--Litigating interests and regulatory efforts 
undermine existing hydropower resources and curtail the growth 
of new hydropower. The Committee will examine these efforts and 
ways to protect and promote large-scale and small-scale 
hydropower generation at existing and potential facilities.
    Increasing Traditional Water Supplies--Visionary leaders 
developed much of the western water supply infrastructure that 
urban and rural communities have depended upon for generations. 
These existing water storage and delivery projects continue to 
serve millions of ratepayers and food consumers nationwide, but 
their operations are being curtailed by endless litigation and 
agencies bent upon rationing water supplies. The Committee will 
focus on the need to protect existing water storage/conveyance 
facilities and also examine and overcome regulatory, financial 
and other barriers to building new ones as a way of returning 
to a policy of abundance.
    Water Project Financing--The Committee intends to analyze 
different types of water projects to determine the most cost-
effective approach to providing new water supplies and other 
benefits. This examination, when necessary, will include but 
not be limited to a determination of project's purposes, cost 
per acre foot, water and non-water benefits and the current 
process used to determine cost/benefit ratios.
    Returning to the ``Beneficiary Pays'' Principle--Recent 
efforts to integrate wind and solar resources into the 
electricity grid can have impacts on existing water and power 
users who do not benefit from such integration. The Committee 
intends to examine the impacts of integration schemes, 
including those by the Western Area Power Administration.
    Maintaining Electricity Transmission/Distribution Service 
on Federal Lands--Energy rights of way on federal lands have a 
direct impact on electricity transmission and distribution 
systems. Vegetative management on these rights-of-way is an 
issue in some areas of the western United States. The Committee 
intends to examine these matters as it relates to electricity 
reliability and catastrophic forest fire prevention.

                                 OCEANS

    Budget and Spending Review--The Committee will conduct 
oversight of the budgets of the National Marine Fisheries 
Service and certain ``wet'' programs of National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), within the Department of 
Commerce. In addition, the Committee will examine the impact of 
NOAA's changing priorities on fishery dependent communities.
    Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
Reauthorization--The Magnuson-Stevens Act is the primary 
statute regulating commercial and recreational fishing in 
federal waters. The Act was last reauthorized in the 109th 
Congress and a number of issues related to the reauthorization 
were examined by the Committee in the 113th Congress, when a 
bill was reported by the committee. The Committee will continue 
this work to reauthorize the Act in the 114th Congress.
    National Ocean Council and Ocean Zoning--Through an 
Executive Order, the White House created a new National Ocean 
Council (NOC) and a structure for a new Coastal and Marine 
Spatial Planning initiative, otherwise known as ocean zoning. 
The Committee will examine the authority used to create this 
entity and initiative, what sources of funding will be used, 
what authorities this new entity will have, and what effect any 
new policy initiatives from the NOC will have on other 
departments and agencies.

                    INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE AFFAIRS

    Budget and Spending Review--The Committee will review the 
budget request and staffing levels for the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians, 
and other Departments, offices and functions relating to Indian 
and Alaska Native affairs.
    Federal Barriers to Economic and Energy Development on 
Indian lands--Certain federal laws and policies governing 
public lands are applied to lands held in trust or restricted 
status for tribes and individual Indians. For example, the 
Interior Department's proposed rule regarding hydraulic 
fracturing in the production of oil and gas resources treats 
lands held for the exclusive use and benefit of Indians as 
though they belong to the public. The Committee will review 
whether it is appropriate to apply public land laws to Indian 
lands in the manner proposed by the Obama Administration.
    Land Buyback--The Claims Resolution Act of 2010 provided 
for a one-time direct appropriation of $1.9 billion to 
Department of the Interior for the consolidation of highly 
fractionated Indian land, pursuant to the Indian Lands 
Consolidation Act. The Committee will exercise its duty to 
review the operation of the land consolidation program and hold 
the Administration accountable for the expenditure of this sum 
of money.
    Fee-to-Trust Issues--The 2009 Supreme Court decision in 
Carcieri v. Salazar was one of the most significant judicial 
actions concerning Indian lands and tribal recognition since 
1934. The Department of the Interior has failed to cooperate 
with the Committee in identifying a potential resolution. For 
example, the Department refuses to divulge which tribes and 
lands are affected by Carcieri. This obstructs potential 
bipartisan legislative action to reform and improve the process 
of acquiring lands for Indians in a balanced manner that 
reflects contemporary land use and ownership among tribal and 
non-Indian communities in 21st century America. The 
Department's actions to date have all but invited expensive 
litigation, confusion, and delays in the fee-to-trust process. 
In the 114th Congress, the Committee will review the 
Department's actions to assist Members determine an appropriate 
course of action to update fee-to-trust policy.
    Alaska Natives--The Committee will review the 
implementation of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and 
other laws pertaining to Alaska Natives (including the Alaska 
National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980).
    Natural Resources Management on Indian Reservations--The 
Department of the Interior holds approximately 56 million acres 
of land in trust or restricted status for tribes and individual 
Indians. The Committee will review current law, policy, and 
agency action concerning these resources in furtherance of the 
goal of increasing tribal self-governance and economic 
development opportunities for the benefit of Native Americans. 
The Committee may focus on the implementation of the HEARTH Act 
of 2012 and on the Department's recent revision of surface 
leasing rules affecting Indian trust and restricted lands.
    Indian Country Law and Order--The Committee plans to review 
the implementation and impact of provisions of the Tribal Law 
and Order Act and the tribal jurisdiction provisions included 
in the Violence Against Women reauthorization that fall under 
the jurisdiction of the Committee. In addition, the Committee 
will review federal policies and actions (and inaction) 
concerning safety, crime prevention, and law enforcement in 
Indian Country.
    Indian Health Care Improvement Act Implementation/Indian 
Health Service--In the 114th Congress the Committee intends to 
review implementation of Indian health care, with a focus on 
the delivery of medical services to Indian people, particularly 
those in remote reservations where access to health care is 
difficult and costly.
    Tribal Recognition--Since the 1960s the Secretary of the 
Interior has granted recognition to tribes even though some 
experts and tribes have noted that such recognition was made 
without authorization from Congress. For example, the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs regulatory process for extending recognition to 
new tribes, found in Part 83 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations, was established by the Department without 
authorization from Congress. Recent Departmental actions 
concerning the recognition of tribes have stirred controversy. 
The Department administratively ``reaffirmed'' the recognition 
of a tribe that had not been named on any list of tribes 
recognized pursuant to treaty or statute. The Department has 
refused to invoke any legal defense on behalf of the United 
States in lawsuits filed by certain groups seeking tribal 
recognition where new casinos appear to be at stake. Because 
the power to recognize a tribe is a solemn action that grants 
special political status on the tribe's members, the Committee 
may conduct a thorough overview of recognizing new tribes and 
may focus on a controversial proposed rule by the Department to 
lower the standards for the recognition of new tribes.
    Indian Gaming--According to the National Indian Gaming 
Commission, in 2013 the Indian gaming industry generated $28 
billion in revenues from 449 casinos operated by more than 200 
tribes pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. 
Indian gaming is inextricably linked with fee-to-trust and 
recognition and therefore it may be addressed in the context of 
the Committee's review of recognition and fee-to-trust 
(including Carcieri) issues described above. In addition, the 
Committee in the 114th Congress may conduct hearings 
specifically on gaming to ensure that appropriate enforcement 
and oversight by the National Indian Gaming Commission, 
Department of the Interior, and Department of Justice is being 
conducted.
    Tribal Trust Settlements--The Committee may review the 
negotiation and settlement of lawsuits against the United 
States filed by more than 100 Indian tribes. The basis of the 
lawsuits, filed under previous Administrations, was that the 
United States mismanaged trust lands and trust accounts of 
Indian tribes in violation of the government's statutory 
obligations. As of October 2014, lawsuits filed by 82 tribes 
have been settled with this Administration for $2.74 billion. 
Dozens more may be settled during the remainder of the 
Administration. The Committee is interested in ensuring that 
the settlements are fair and just for tribes and taxpayers.
    Tribal Sovereign Immunity--In May 2014, a sharply divided 
Supreme Court in Michigan v. Bay Mills Indian Community upheld 
a judge-created doctrine that tribes possess absolute immunity 
from civil lawsuit except with respect to a lawsuit filed by 
the federal government. The Committee may focus on the 
implications of the controversial ruling.

                             INSULAR ISSUES

    Budget and Spending Review--The Committee will conduct 
oversight of the budget of the Office of Insular Affairs, 
within the Department of the Interior.
    General Oversight of the Office of Insular Affairs--The 
Committee expects to review the fundamental issues facing each 
of the territories and freely associated states: support and 
development of self-government and self-determination; economic 
development and self-sufficiency through the private sector; 
accountability of federal funds; implementation and enforcement 
of federal laws; implementation and funding for the Compacts of 
Free Association; and management of limited land and water 
resources.
    Puerto Rico--The results of plebiscite vote over the past 
few years and what it means in terms of Puerto Rico's future 
political status will be examined.

                      ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT (ESA)

    Following House passage in 2014 of Committee-led 
legislation, the Committee will continue to examine ways to 
update and improve the ESA, which has not been authorized since 
1988. The Committee will also continue to examine the impacts 
of litigation-settlement driven listings, critical habitat 
designations, and other executive branch regulations to ensure 
transparency, sound science and state, local, landowner, and 
tribal involvement.

              THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA)

    Oversight of Implementation and Effectiveness--The 
Committee will conduct oversight on the implementation of the 
law and on NEPA's effectiveness in achieving the purposes for 
which it was enacted more than 45 years ago in 1969.

                   FEDERAL BUDGET AND SPENDING REVIEW

    The Committee's jurisdiction covers the Department of the 
Interior, the Council on Environmental Quality, the Indian 
Health Service, and certain programs of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. Forest Service. 
The Committee will examine each of these agencies for 
opportunities to streamline, reduce costs, and either close or 
consolidate outdated programs. The committee will particularly 
focus on those programs that have seen significant growth over 
the last few budget cycles or sudden significant spikes in 
funding as a result of agency decisions. The Committee will 
also look at the growing number of executive branch 
regulations, executive orders, and other actions from those 
agencies that are adversely impacting private property owners, 
local governments, tribes, states, and private industry.

                         GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

    The Committee will conduct oversight of global climate 
change's impacts on federal lands, oceans, and other resources 
and strategies for using federal lands, oceans, and other 
resources to mitigate its harmful effects.
              COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

    Rule X, Clause 2(d) of the Rules of the House requires each 
standing committee of the House to adopt and submit a two-year 
oversight plan to the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform and the Committee on House Administration by February 15 
of the first session of each Congress.
    The following is the oversight plan for the Committee on 
Oversight and Government Reform and its subcommittees for the 
114th Congress. The Committee will conduct oversight and 
investigations pursuant to its legislative jurisdiction and its 
broad jurisdiction under House Rule X.
    This oversight plan contains a detailed list of matters for 
oversight and investigation that will advance the Committee's 
mission to ensure the efficiency, effectiveness, and 
accountability of the federal government and all its agencies. 
The list is not exhaustive. The Committee will retain the 
flexibility to investigate instances of waste, fraud, and abuse 
as they emerge, and to conduct oversight of other issues as 
appropriate.

                 WASTE, FRAUD, ABUSE, AND MISMANAGEMENT

    The Committee will continue its efforts related to 
oversight of waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement of federal 
government spending. Although the Government Accountability 
Office (GAO), inspectors general, and whistleblowers continue 
to raise concerns about waste in federal spending, the 
executive branch and Congress often fail to adequately address 
the issue. The Committee's oversight will cover all federal 
government departments, agencies, and programs with an eye 
toward solutions for eliminating wasteful spending. Many of the 
following sections address specific areas where the Committee 
has an opportunity to make an immediate difference by 
addressing wasteful spending. Furthermore, the Committee plans 
to offer targeted legislative proposals that go to the heart of 
this issue by proactively addressing the issue of waste, fraud, 
abuse, and mismanagement.

                    OPEN GOVERNMENT AND TRANSPARENCY

    The Committee will continue to advocate for technological 
solutions to increase transparency throughout the government. 
Broadly speaking, the Committee will seek to ensure that the 
federal government's information--with a few well-defined 
exceptions, such as national security information--is made 
available online and that it is formatted in ways that 
facilitate easy access and analysis. The Committee will 
evaluate possible legislation to set policy goals for 
technology-driven transparency for program performance, 
regulatory materials, and legislative documents. The Committee 
will also examine public access to information through the 
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), examine the implementation 
of other open government laws, such as the Presidential Records 
Act and the Federal Advisory Committees Act, and consider 
whether any statutory mandates may impede public access to 
information.
    In 2014, the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act 
(DATA Act) was signed into law. The DATA Act, if effectively 
implemented, will transform federal spending transparency by 
providing program and activity level spending information. The 
Committee will oversee implementation efforts by the Office of 
Management and Budget and the Department of Treasury.
    The Committee will continue to investigate the persistent 
challenges and failures associated with the preservation of 
presidential and federal records, as required by law. Dating 
back to the Clinton Administration, changes in technology have 
challenged each subsequent administration's ability to capture, 
manage, and preserve the growing and diverse volume of 
electronic records. Despite new policies intended to improve 
transparency, concerns have been raised that problems remain. 
The Committee intends to examine the challenges created by the 
changing landscape of digital communication, including the use 
of personal e-mail and social media for government business.
    The Committee will focus on executive branch compliance 
with FOIA. The Committee will monitor implementation of the 
memorandum issued by the President on January 21, 2009, 
reinstating a presumption in favor of disclosure. The Committee 
will also examine implementation of the OPEN Government Act of 
2007 and the Electronic FOIA Amendments of 1996.

                           HOMELAND SECURITY

    The creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 
required one of the largest consolidations of federal agencies 
in history. The Department was ultimately formed by bringing 
together 22 different government offices, agencies, and 
components. Though the Department has made progress in 
integrating these various agencies, there is still room to 
improve efficiency and responsiveness. The Committee will 
review the operations, management, and decision-making at DHS. 
The Committee will evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of 
homeland security strategy, laws, initiatives, and technology. 
In particular, the Committee will focus on aviation, rail, 
port, and transit infrastructure, our northern and southwestern 
borders, and other facilities at risk, federal funding 
interaction with local responders, and efforts to strengthen 
the U.S. public health system.
    The Committee will also review the issuance of visas and 
passports, as well as other border control and security 
identification issues. The Committee will also examine border 
and immigration policies and the operations of U.S. consulates.
    The Committee will conduct oversight of the federal 
government's emergency management capabilities to ensure that 
lessons learned from previous disasters--such as the need for 
improved planning and execution, communications operability, 
and coordination between all levels of government and within 
the federal government--are part of federal agency reform 
efforts.
    The Committee will also conduct oversight of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure it is prepared to 
handle domestic emergencies.

                NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN OPERATIONS

    The Committee's interagency jurisdiction allows for the 
examination of the effectiveness, efficiency, and cooperation 
of all U.S. government agencies and departments with a role in 
national security and foreign operations.
    The Committee will conduct oversight of policies, 
procedures, and programs affecting the safety and security of 
U.S. government personnel and facilities abroad. The 
Committee's oversight will include, but not be limited to, U.S. 
Department of State and U.S Department of Defense efforts to 
protect embassy personnel and property.
    The Committee's oversight of U.S. diplomatic, military, and 
development efforts within the CENTCOM area of responsibility 
will include, but not be limited to: investigations of the 
training and equipping of the Afghan National Security Forces; 
the efficiency, accountability, and efficacy of a variety of 
development and reconstruction efforts, including the use of 
private contractors; the capacity of various U.S. Government 
agencies and departments to carry on activities in Afghanistan; 
and the State Department's diplomatic mission in Iraq and 
Afghanistan.
    The Committee will identify ways to reform the interagency 
process and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse among the various 
U.S. national security agencies, departments, and foreign aid 
organizations. The Committee's oversight will include, but not 
be limited to a review of U.S. military combatant commands, 
especially AFRICOM, SOUTHCOM, U.S. Agency for International 
Development, U.S. Institute of Peace, and the State Department. 
In particular, the Committee will monitor the status of 
reconstruction efforts in Haiti.
    The Committee will conduct oversight of U.S. diplomatic, 
military, and development efforts to address the issue of 
global terrorism both in the short-term and long-term. The 
Committee's oversight will include whether the United States is 
maximizing the use of all elements of the national security 
power and how anti-terror efforts, such as the detention and 
trial of unlawful enemy combatants, are coordinated with other 
important U.S. national security interests and the rule of law. 
The Committee's review will include the international standing 
of the United States, humanitarian assistance, development 
programs, and public diplomacy efforts.
    The Committee will evaluate U.S. vulnerability to global 
energy supply disruptions. The scope of the Committee's 
oversight will include the extent to which supply 
diversification through the production of domestic renewable 
and non-renewable resources is an adequate and cost-effective 
solution for the Defense Department's national security 
objectives.
    The Committee will continue oversight of the U.S. 
Department of Veterans Affairs' care and management of 
veterans' needs. The Committee will examine the large backlog 
of veterans' benefit claims and efforts to streamline the 
claims process, as well as veteran transitional issues. The 
Committee will continue to oversee and assess the efforts of 
the United States to secure and protect human rights and 
religious freedom throughout the world.

                   TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

    The Committee will examine the country's aging 
infrastructure. It will address ways to modernize the way 
Americans move by reviewing the efficiency of national 
transportation and infrastructure projects and by identifying 
and preventing waste. Oversight in this area will include 
highway and airport redevelopment projects, and fixed rail 
system improvements.
    Additionally, the Committee will examine high speed rail 
developments and concepts throughout the country, as well as 
overseas, to help determine the most feasible and cost-
effective way to improve mass transit.
    In addition, the Committee will consider the role 
technology plays in advancing commercial and private travel. 
Oversight in this area will include looking into laws, 
regulations, and policies related to unmanned aerial vehicles 
and self-driving cars, for example. The Committee will also 
examine the status of our nation's merchant marine, including 
the current condition of the ocean-going fleet in the foreign 
trade.

                   TRANSPORTATION SAFETY AND SECURITY

    The Committee will examine domestic and international 
efforts to better track aircraft and identify ways to close 
existing gaps in global positioning systems caused by the use 
of outdated technology. Currently, air traffic controllers rely 
on human pilots to track aircraft in areas where radar does not 
exist, including over the oceans.
    The Committee will closely examine laws, regulations, and 
policies governing the Transportation Security Administration 
(TSA). The Committee's oversight efforts will focus on 
maximizing the effectiveness and efficiency of airport 
security, including technology, checkpoint screening, perimeter 
security, workforce requirements for screening agents, 
information sharing, and private sector solutions for 
increasing airport security.
    The Committee's oversight also will include reviewing the 
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) to 
ensure proper standardization of the identification cards to 
reduce security gaps.

                     FEDERAL REAL PROPERTY DISPOSAL

    Since 2003, federal real property management has been on 
the GAO High Risk list. The Government holds thousands of 
unneeded properties and spends hundreds of millions of dollars 
on upkeep and maintenance of those properties. For example, in 
FY 2013, the government disposed of 21,464 unneeded properties 
with annual operating costs of $411 million. A June 2010 
Presidential Memorandum on property disposal directed OMB to 
develop guidance that would include agency-specific targets to 
achieve $3 billion in cost savings. The Committee intends to 
examine what progress has been made toward this goal, and to 
consider changes that could be made to the Federal Real 
Property and Administrative Services Act that would expedite 
real property disposal.
    The Committee will also review the General Services 
Administration's fleet vehicle leasing and sales programs, as 
well as look into government ownership of fleets in other modes 
of transportation.

                             PUBLIC HOUSING

    The Committee will examine overall costs associated with 
public housing throughout the country and territories, as well 
as the significant unmet need for public housing in the United 
States. Addressing management concerns within the U.S. 
Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) public 
housing and low-income rental assistance programs is a priority 
for the Committee.

                           TECHNOLOGY POLICY

    Federal agencies spent over $81 billion in fiscal year 2014 
buying, operating, and maintaining information technology 
products, services, and systems. Many of these systems fail to 
deliver the productivity gains that were expected, or worse, 
simply fail. The Committee will review the federal government's 
information technology procurement and management policies to 
ensure that taxpayers are getting the maximum return for their 
money. The Committee will closely monitor the executive 
branch's efforts to stop IT projects that are not on target, 
streamline those that are wasteful, and work to ensure that 
inefficient legacy systems are decommissioned.
    The Committee will look broadly at ways technology can 
improve governmental processes. In particular, the Committee 
will focus on the need to transition from outdated legacy 
systems to newer and more efficient systems--such as those that 
utilize cloud computing and other technologies--to drive 
savings. The Committee will continue to assess the progress of 
federal IT investments and shine light on underperforming 
programs and assets.
    Changes in technology present government agencies with new 
possibilities and new challenges. The Committee will continue 
to monitor agency misuse of technology and identify oversight 
failures.
    The Committee will also closely follow the implementation 
of the Federal Information Security Act of 2014 (FISMA), the 
Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) 
relevant provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2014 (NDAA), and the Digital Accountability and 
Transparency Act of 2014 (DATA Act).
    The Committee will examine and evaluate agency privacy and 
security practices to ensure protection of confidential data. 
The Committee will also focus on emerging technologies and the 
impact they are having, and will have, on our existing laws and 
institutions.
    The Committee will review the impact of federal IT mandates 
under laws such as the Federal Information Security Management 
Act (FISMA), the E-Government Act of 2002 and the Clinger-Cohen 
Act. The Committee will seek input from government employees on 
the front lines of procurement and implementation to determine 
whether these mandates have improved data security, public 
access, and IT enterprise planning--and at what cost.
    The Committee will also examine the role of the Federal 
Government in internet regulation and governance, and the 
impact of data protection laws on U.S. economic interests. In 
addition, the Committee will also focus on privacy in a digital 
age.

                             CYBERSECURITY

    The Committee intends to conduct oversight of policies, 
strategies, and role in cybersecurity. This includes examining 
breaches of government, contractor, and private sector networks 
as well as the role federal agencies play in cyber incident 
threat intelligence, management and response, and cybersecurity 
risks to the private sector.
    The Committee will review the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology's (NIST) cybersecurity framework and 
its impact on the private sector. The Committee will conduct 
oversight of the Department of Homeland Security's National 
Cybersecurity Protection System and the Federal Risk and 
Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP).
    The Committee will monitor and conduct oversight of federal 
agency information security practices that are required under 
FISMA and OMB guidelines, as well as the role of DHS and other 
federal agencies in these activities. The Committee will 
examine and evaluate the National Cybersecurity and 
Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) and its progress in 
facilitating private-public information sharing.

             FEDERAL REGULATION AND THE REGULATORY PROCESS

    While many federal regulations are necessary to effectively 
implement the laws that Congress passes to protect health, 
consumers, and the environment, federal regulations can also 
impose significant burdens on regulated industry. The Committee 
will place special emphasis on oversight of the federal 
regulatory process to ensure that federal regulators work to 
minimize unnecessary burdens on small businesses, job creation, 
economic growth, and competitiveness.
    The Committee will evaluate agency rulemakings to ensure 
that agencies do not exceed their regulatory authority and 
adhere to the requirements embodied in executive orders and 
statutes when developing a regulation. Regulators have an 
obligation to develop rules in an open and transparent manner 
and provide adequate time for the public to participate in a 
meaningful way. The Committee will scrutinize practices not 
subject to typical rulemaking requirements, such as the 
issuance of guidance documents, interim final rulemakings, and 
settlement agreements, as well as the issuance of local, state, 
or federal taxes, fines, fees, or penalties.
    In addition, the Committee will focus on the role of the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in agency 
rulemakings to ensure that it carries out its regulatory duties 
in a timely and transparent manner.
    Finally, the Committee will examine the impact of unfunded 
mandates on state and local governments, and private entities, 
and explore ways to potentially enhance the effectiveness of 
the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.

                      HEALTH CARE AND ENTITLEMENTS

    The Committee will identify waste, fraud, abuse, and 
mismanagement in government entitlement programs. The Committee 
will focus on problems at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services in an effort to minimize the amount of taxpayer money 
misspent through Medicare and Medicaid.
    The Committee will conduct oversight related to the 
budgetary and economic impact of America's entitlement programs 
as well as options that would increase choice in health care 
markets and lower the health care cost curve. The Committee 
will also examine the increase in federal entitlement programs, 
with a focus on waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement within 
those programs.
    The Committee will continue to conduct oversight of the 
implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care 
Act (PPACA). Specifically, the Committee will focus on bringing 
transparency to the federal government's increased role in 
health care markets, with a focus on determining the impact of 
policies on consumer choice and insurance premiums. The 
Committee will continue to closely examine regulations 
promulgated under new PPACA authorities, and other executive 
branch actions, to ensure that they are consistent with the 
law. Furthermore, the Committee will continue to review health 
care policy, procedures, and practices at the federal, state, 
and local level.
    The Committee will also conduct oversight of the Food and 
Drug Administration (FDA), with a focus on ensuring that FDA 
strikes the right balance between the availability of drugs and 
medical devices and patient safety. The Committee will examine 
the causes and effects of critical pharmaceutical drug 
shortages, recent increases in the price of certain generic 
drugs, and the policies and procedures in place to protect the 
public from the outbreak of dangerous or deadly diseases.

                         DRUG POLICY AND SAFETY

    The Committee will examine specific pressing federal drug 
policy issues and the federal agencies that play a role in 
enforcing and overseeing federal drug policy. The Committee's 
drug policy efforts will be aimed at reducing the volume of 
illegal drugs available for domestic use, reducing the volume 
of improper access to and use of otherwise legal drugs, 
reviewing the collateral consequences of criminal convictions, 
and evaluating the agencies and offices that are tasked with 
handling crucial drug missions and, where necessary, 
recommending changes. The Committee will also consider 
reauthorization of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

                  THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE

    The Committee will continue to work with the Government 
Accountability Office (GAO) to review the implementation of 
government policies and procedures, and whether taxpayer 
dollars are being spent efficiently.
    In February 2015, the Government Accountability Office will 
issue its biannual High Risk report, which identifies 
government programs that are particularly vulnerable to waste, 
fraud, and abuse. The Committee will provide ongoing oversight 
of agencies and programs included on the High Risk list by 
holding hearings, meeting with agency officials responsible for 
included programs, and monitoring agencies' corrective plans 
and actions.

                FINANCIAL SECTOR AND CONSUMER PROTECTION

    The Committee will conduct oversight of the financial 
sector, focusing on those regulatory agencies whose failures 
were implicated in the financial crisis and those agencies that 
were created, or saw their powers expanded, by the Dodd-Frank 
Act of 2010. The Committee will monitor financial regulators' 
management, technological initiatives and rulemaking, with a 
view towards promoting capital formation, predictable and 
efficient markets, and investor and consumer protection.
    The Committee will monitor the work of the Financial 
Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) and the Office of Financial 
Research (OFR), including the ``systemically important 
financial institution'' designation process.
    Key topics for oversight include the need for technology-
driven transparency in financial regulatory filings so that 
markets can quickly digest crucial information, management, and 
communications challenges at key agencies, including the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the 
implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act.
    The Committee will conduct oversight of Fannie Mae, Freddie 
Mac, and their regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency 
(FHFA). The Committee will further explore potential risks to 
taxpayers associated with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and 
government housing policies, and will work to ensure that 
additional taxpayer money is spent efficiently and effectively. 
The Committee will also conduct oversight to ensure that FHFA 
is implementing policies that protect homeowners from abusive 
mortgage origination and servicing practices and that maximize 
assistance to homeowners, in accordance with federal statutes.
    The Committee will conduct oversight of the Federal 
Reserve, including its use of non-traditional quantitative 
easing techniques, potential financial risks associated with 
its growing portfolio of assets, and the effectiveness of its 
regulatory procedures.
    The Committee will continue to monitor the SEC's 
implementation of the JOBS Act and Dodd-Frank Act.
    The Committee will continue to conduct oversight of the 
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, focusing on the Bureau's 
management, budget, operations, rulemakings, enforcement 
actions, and its success in protecting consumers from improper 
and abusive financial products.
    The Committee will continue to conduct oversight of the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and review the actions it 
took in monitoring financial fraud with respect to third-party 
payment processors.
    The Committee will examine consumer protection efforts 
across the federal government. As a part of this oversight, the 
Committee will examine the regulatory and enforcement actions 
of the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial 
Protection Bureau, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

                           INSPECTORS GENERAL

    In fiscal year 2013 alone, the inspector general community 
identified potential savings in executive branch departments 
and agencies totaling almost $51.8 billion.
    Continuing its work from the previous Congresses, the 
Committee will send letters to 72 Inspectors General to obtain 
data associated with open and unimplemented IG recommendations 
that have the potential to save billions of dollars. The 
Committee will use this information to identify government-wide 
trends and to encourage the agencies to implement the 
recommendations.
    The Committee will also monitor and address challenges to 
access and independence throughout the community of federal 
inspectors general. The Committee will continue to highlight 
Congress' intent that inspectors general are entitled to 
receive unfettered access to information and records from their 
respective agencies. The Committee will also pursue legislation 
to make the IGs more effective.

                      FEDERAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

    The Committee will examine federal financial management. 
This review will include compliance with financial management 
and accounting laws, as well as the security and reliability of 
federal financial systems. The Committee will also focus on 
agency efforts to reduce improper payments and achieve a clean 
government-wide audit.
    Financial management reforms in 1990 required all federal 
agencies to conduct financial audits and for GAO to audit the 
consolidated financial statements of the federal government. To 
date, GAO has not been able to issue an audit opinion. In the 
2014 statement, GAO identified three reasons: 1) the federal 
government cannot account for and reconcile intra-governmental 
financial activity between federal entities, 2) the Department 
of Treasury has not developed an effective process for 
preparing the consolidated statements, and 3) the Department of 
Defense has yet to produce auditable financial statements.
    The size of DOD's budget accounts for a significant portion 
of the federal government's total spending and, as a result, 
the United States has never produced an audit of its financial 
statements. The Committee will focus on overseeing DOD's 
financial management processes and its progress towards 
becoming auditable.
    The Committee will also continue to investigate improper 
payments distributed by federal agencies. Under the 2002 
Improper Payments Information Act (IPIA), federal agencies are 
required to annually review all programs and activities to 
identify those entities susceptible to significant improper 
payments. For FY 2013, improper payments totaled $105.8 
billion.

                         GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING

    Controlling federal government contract spending is 
critically important. The cost of contract spending more than 
doubled from FY 2001 ($223 billion) to FY 2010 ($540 billion). 
Contract spending began to decline in FY 2011 ($539 billion) 
and continued to decline through FY 2013 ($462 billion). Still, 
the FY 2013 contract spending total was more than double the 
spending in FY 2001 ($223 billion). Despite the recent overall 
contracting spending trend (which is largely attributable to 
the overall budget and the U.S. policy to decrease the U.S. 
presence in Afghanistan and Iraq), challenges remain in 
contracting spending. The Committee will seek to ensure that 
controlling spending does not have a negative impact on 
contract oversight and administration. To that end, the 
Committee will investigate waste, fraud, and abuse in federal 
contracting.
    The Committee will monitor the Administration's use of 
civil and criminal remedies to address wrongdoing. Transparency 
at the point of contract award and throughout the life cycle of 
the federal contract can prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. 
Additionally, the Committee will focus special attention on 
transparency relating to past performance and contract 
oversight concerns. The Committee will review federal 
contractor ethics and disclosure requirements, as well as the 
proper role of contracting for preferences and set-aside 
programs for small and disadvantaged businesses.
    The Committee will conduct oversight of contracting issues 
associated with the transition of responsibilities from the 
Defense Department to the State Department in Iraq, as well as 
oversight of contracting in Afghanistan to prevent corruption. 
Finally, the Committee will focus on IT acquisition and 
oversight issues because far too many federal IT investments 
fail or incur cost overruns and schedule slippages and do not 
contribute to mission objectives. The executive branch has 
launched various initiatives to improve management of 
approximately $80 billion in IT investments and the Committee 
will closely monitor these initiatives.

                              GRANT REFORM

    The Committee intends to examine the efficiency, fairness, 
and transparency of agency grant-making processes. The 
Committee will examine federal efforts to reform and streamline 
the grant process across multiple federal agencies. The 
Committee will investigate allegations of waste, fraud, and 
abuse in the grants process within specific federal agencies 
and examine efforts to adopt consistent government-wide 
policies for grants applications and reporting. The Committee 
will also examine Department of Justice grants and other law 
enforcement assistance programs, such as the Department of 
Defense's 1033 program.

                        SUSPENSION AND DEBARMENT

    The federal government spends almost $1 trillion on 
contracts and grants annually. Despite congressional oversight 
efforts, GAO has determined that there are serious weaknesses 
in the suspension and debarment programs of numerous agencies. 
This has resulted in the awarding of federal funds to 
companies, organizations and individuals which should have been 
barred from receiving such funds, including those with criminal 
convictions, federal tax liabilities, or ties to terrorist 
organizations. The Committee will continue to conduct oversight 
to promote efficiency, transparency, and accountability related 
to suspension and debarment, to include improvements to 
managing the government-wide database of suspended and 
disbarred contractors.

                          DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

    The Committee will review the District's use of federal 
education funds authorized under the Department of Defense and 
Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act. As part of a three-
sector approach to education reform in D.C., this law 
authorizes funding for education improvement measures for the 
city's traditional and charter public schools, as well as 
provides scholarships to low-income students so they can attend 
a private school of their choice.
    The Committee will examine the Washington Metropolitan Area 
Transit Authority (WMATA). WMATA has experienced numerous 
problems relating to customer safety and Metrorail accidents 
over the past several years. While WMATA has publicly committed 
itself to taking the necessary steps to address operational and 
safety deficiencies, routine and rigorous oversight of the 
agency remains warranted. The Committee will specifically 
review the January 2015 Metro incident at L'Enfant Plaza, and 
will monitor WMATA's response.

                                 CENSUS

    The Committee will review the process by which the 2020 
Decennial Census will be conducted, its level of accuracy, and 
the appropriateness of the Decennial's overall budget. The 
successful planning of the 2020 Decennial Census will determine 
the level of funding in 2018, 2019, and 2020, the years that 
account for most of the Census Bureau's funding. A particular 
focus will be placed on the Bureau's ability to successfully 
utilize technology to significantly reduce costs. The Committee 
will also review the non-decennial operations of the Census 
Bureau to identify opportunities for savings by improving 
efficiency and reducing waste. The Committee will also seek to 
determine if the Bureau's data collection activities are overly 
broad and whether they serve legitimate public interests.

                 NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND FEDERAL RECORDS

    The Committee will conduct oversight of NARA's management 
of government records and the procedures NARA is putting in 
place to handle and archive records generated by new 
technologies, including social media. The Committee will also 
examine NARA's recommended procedures and agency adoption of 
those procedures to ensure the electronic capture and archival 
of records created electronically.
    The Committee will examine the Presidential Library system, 
specifically looking at the governance of the Presidential 
Libraries, how the foundations interact with NARA, and how the 
foundations and NARA coordinate and cooperate to fulfill the 
mission of the Presidential Library system.

            GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT AND THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE

    Current challenges facing the executive branch, coupled 
with the deficit, require a new approach to government. The 
Committee will examine the major structural and organizational 
issues that cause government waste and redundancy. The 
Committee will work to modernize the federal personnel system, 
and better align worker compensation with the private sector. 
Performance management will be part of the Committee's review. 
The Committee will also look to ensure the size and composition 
of the federal workforce is driven by critical needs. The 
Committee will consider reauthorization of the Merit Systems 
Protection Board and the Office of Government Ethics.
    The Committee will oversee implementation of the Government 
Performance and Results Act Modernization Act (GPRAMA), with 
particular focus on program level data. GPRAMA requires OMB to 
create and publish an inventory of all federal programs and 
associated data. In a 2014 report on OMB's program inventory, 
GAO found that many federal programs are not identifiable and 
the data is not comparable, making the program inventory nearly 
unusable. Usable program level data is essential for GAO to 
complete its work and will be necessary for effective 
implementation of the DATA Act.

                      UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

    The United States Postal Service (USPS) lost $5.5 billion 
in FY 2014 and continues to face systemic liquidity challenges 
as mail volume continues to decline. Additionally, USPS 
currently stands in default on $22.4 billion in payments to the 
U.S. Treasury to fund the costs of retiree health care.
    GAO added USPS's financial condition to its high-risk list 
in 2009 and since then has been a major proponent of reform. 
GAO believes that major restructuring is necessary and not 
doing so will increase the risk that taxpayers and the U.S. 
Treasury will have to provide financial relief.
    Since FY 2006, USPS mail volume has declined by more than 
27 percent, with the greatest decline in its most profitable 
product, First-Class Mail. Persistent, ongoing declines in mail 
volume are now projected for the foreseeable future as 
electronic communication increasingly supplants paper based 
communication. As a result of these mail volume declines, USPS 
has seen its annual revenue decline by $8 billion from its peak 
in FY 2008 and USPS is now losing $15 million per day. 
Additionally, for the first time in its history, USPS reached 
its statutory debt limit in September 2012.
    The Committee will examine actions and plans USPS is taking 
to preserve universal service, avoid insolvency, improve 
financial management, and prevent a taxpayer bailout. The 
Committee will also pursue the enactment of substantive postal 
reform legislation, building on reform bills the Committee 
reported during the 112th and 113th Congresses. To assist in 
its efforts, the Committee will continue to work with USPS, 
GAO, and other postal experts.

                                 ENERGY

    The United States has become the world leader in oil and 
gas production. It is imperative that this administration 
protect this vital national resource. With this goal in mind, 
the Committee will examine the state of U.S. energy 
transportation infrastructure, particularly oil and gas 
pipelines. Inadequate capacity has created major bottlenecks 
and forced producers to transport domestic oil and gas via such 
inefficient means such as rail and truck. Additionally, the 
pipeline permitting process--involving agencies as varied as 
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of State, and 
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission--is a contributing 
factor to network incapacity.
    In light of the significant changes in global oil supply, 
the Committee will review current U.S policy on oil and natural 
gas exportation. This oversight will focus on the impacts of 
the current ban on crude exports and the implementation of the 
liquefied natural gas (LNG) export program.
    The Committee will conduct oversight of the 
Administration's efforts to regulate the practice of hydraulic 
fracturing, which has been regulated by the states for decades. 
The Committee will also conduct oversight of EPA's ongoing 
study of the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and 
drinking water.
    The Committee will examine the Administration's policies 
toward energy production on federal lands and waters. The 
Committee will also examine the impacts of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process.
    The Committee will also continue its broad investigation of 
the Department of Energy's portfolio, including, but not 
limited to, the Department's loan guarantee programs; the 
Office of Environmental Management; stockpile stewardship; and 
nuclear safety and disposal.

                              ENVIRONMENT

    The Committee will continue to take an active role in 
overseeing the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 
implementation of the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. The 
Committee will conduct oversight of these matters with a focus 
on consumer impact, federal interaction with state management 
processes, constitutionality, agency process, adequate economic 
analysis of proposed rules, and cumulative impact analysis. 
Further, the Committee will determine the impacts these rules 
have on the health, safety, and economic well-being of American 
families, job creation, and electricity generation.
    The Committee will also continue to review the EPA's 
internal controls and workforce management. Specific areas of 
focus will be on time and attendance fraud, document 
preservation, and inspector general access.
    The Committee will also continue to examine the EPA's 
implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard and its impact on 
consumers and businesses.
    The Committee will also continue to monitor the Chemical 
Safety Board, specifically its management, information sharing 
with other agencies, ability to retain employees, and 
investigative capabilities.

                  PUBLIC LANDS & PUBLIC LAND AGENCIES

    The federal government owns roughly 28 percent of the 2.27 
billion acres of land in the United States, with the vast 
majority of that federal land concentrated in western states. 
The Committee will broadly examine federal land management with 
a focus on maintenance priorities, impact on states, return on 
investment and the impact of litigation.
    The Committee will also conduct oversight on the Department 
of the Interior's regulatory responsibilities. The focus of 
this oversight will be the impact of the Department's 
regulatory and policy agenda and how these environmental laws 
affect private landowners, small businesses, and all public 
land users.
    The Committee will generally review the public land 
agencies' permitting and leasing programs to ensure that 
citizens are being treated fairly and that federal lands are 
open and inviting for multiple uses. This oversight will focus 
on energy leasing projects, recreational permits, and the 
commercial permitting process.
    The Committee will examine the Department's implementation 
of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to ensure that listings are 
made with the goal of recovering species and removing them from 
the list. This oversight will focus on the ESA litigation 
process, scientific independence and integrity, cost of ESA 
compliance, and transparency of the listing process.

      

                     [RULES COMMITTEE PRINT 114-7]

114th Congress                                                         
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                           

======================================================================




OVERSIGHT PLAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON RULES FOR THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH 
                                CONGRESS

                                _______
                                

         February 10, 2015. Approved by the Committee on Rules

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Sessions, from the Committee on Rules, submitted to the Committee 
     on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on House 
                      Administration the following

                              R E P O R T

    Clause 2(d)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires each standing Committee, not later 
than February 15 of the first session, to adopt an oversight 
plan for the 114th Congress. The oversight plan must be 
submitted simultaneously to the Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform and the Committee on House Administration.
    The following agenda constitutes the oversight plan of the 
Committee on Rules for the 114th Congress. It includes areas in 
which the Committee and its subcommittees expect to conduct 
oversight during this Congress, but does not preclude oversight 
or investigation of additional matters or programs as they 
arise. The Committee will consult, as appropriate, with other 
committees of the House that may share jurisdiction on any of 
the subjects listed below.

                               Background

    The Committee on Rules has existed as part of the House 
committee structure since the First Congress, when it was 
established in 1789 as a select committee. The essential 
portion of the present jurisdiction of the Committee is set 
forth in clause 1(o) of rule X, which grants the Committee 
jurisdiction over:
    (1) Rules and joint rules (other than those relating to the 
Code of Conduct) and the order of business of the House.
    (2) Recesses and final adjournments of Congress.
    In addition, clause 3(j) of rule X assigns to the Committee 
special oversight responsibility over the congressional budget 
process.
    The Committee on Rules has always been at the forefront of 
efforts to reform the processes and procedures of the House to 
improve the effectiveness of the institution.
    The Committee also continues to play a lead role in 
providing recommendations for substantive changes to the rules 
of the House, which are adopted on the opening day of each 
Congress. Such changes have included streamlining the committee 
system to be more effective in conducting oversight and other 
business, ensuring the continuity of Congress in the face of 
man-made and natural disasters, increasing the transparency of 
committee and House actions, and modernizing the operations of 
the House.
    Some of the substantive changes to House rules adopted on 
the opening day of the 114th Congress include:
     Updating the Truth-in-Testimony requirements for 
nongovernmental witnesses to disclose payments or contracts to 
the witness or an organization they represent originating from 
foreign governments in the required disclosure;
     Requiring the Congressional Budget Office and 
Joint Committee on Taxation to incorporate the macroeconomic 
effects of ``major legislation'' into the official cost 
estimates used for enforcing budget resolution and other rules 
of the House;
     Continuing the prohibition against consideration 
of a concurrent resolution on the budget, or any proposed 
amendment to or conference report on, unless it includes 
specified information and estimates related to direct spending, 
including means-tested direct spending and nonmeans-tested 
direct spending;
     Continuing the requirement for ``spending 
reduction'' accounts in appropriations bills to ensure that 
spending cuts can reduce the costs of appropriations bills 
rather than be used exclusively as offsets for additional 
spending;
     Providing clarification on the procedures of the 
House upon receipt of Article V memorials from the States;
     Continuing the authorization of a chair of a 
committee to request that the Government Accountability Office 
perform a duplication analysis of any bill or joint resolution 
referred to that committee;
     Continuing the requirement that committee reports 
on bills or joint resolutions to include a statement estimating 
the number of directed rule-makings required by the measure; 
and
     Requiring that a Ramseyer print contained in 
committee reports show the entire text of amended or repealed 
sections of statute along with proposed changes. The Committee 
will continue to work with the House Office of Legislative 
Counsel and committees to determine the steps necessary to 
comply with the updated rule.
    In addition to the items discussed below, the Committee 
will continuously monitor the implementation and effectiveness 
of the rules changes adopted at the beginning of this Congress.

                       Major Areas for Oversight

    Budget Process Reform. The annual budget process continues 
to present challenges to authorizing committees, appropriations 
committees, and the House as a whole. In each of the last 
eighteen fiscal years, Congress has failed to enact some or all 
of the annual appropriations bills prior to the start of the 
new fiscal year. Over that same time period, Congress only 
completed action on the budget resolution by the target date 
three times, failed to adopt a budget resolution nine times, 
and, in the remaining years, adopted a budget resolution 31 
days late on average. In the second session of the 111th 
Congress, the House and Senate not only failed to adopt a 
concurrent resolution on the budget, but for the first time the 
House and Senate Budget Committees failed to even report a 
resolution. Congress also failed to enact even a single regular 
appropriations bill for fiscal year 2011. In the 112th 
Congress, the House passed a concurrent resolution on the 
budget for two consecutive years, but the Senate did not 
consider a budget resolution during either session of the 112th 
Congress.
    In the 113th Congress, the House passed a concurrent 
resolution on the budget in both fiscal years 2014 and 2015, as 
well as 4 and 8 regular appropriations bills, respectively. The 
Senate failed to pass a single regular appropriations bill in 
either session while only passing a concurrent resolution on 
the budget for fiscal year 2014. While some progress was made 
with the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, which 
reflected an agreement on discretionary spending caps for 
fiscal years 2014 and 2015 between the House and Senate, the 
Senate was unable to adopt a fiscal year 2015 budget 
resolution.
    To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the 
legislative budget process, the Committee will examine 
alternative budget processes, including the use of biennial 
budgeting. A two-year budget cycle could provide committees and 
Members much-needed flexibility and time for increased scrutiny 
of government programs and funding requests; however, there is 
the potential for unintended consequences on authorizing and 
appropriations committees, which should be examined further.
    The Nation is facing record deficits and record levels of 
public debt. Congress must ensure that its processes are best 
structured to allow for comprehensive oversight and informed 
decision-making.
    Macroeconomic Analysis. The American public and many in 
Congress continue to highlight the pressing need to reduce 
Federal government spending and by extension our debt. This 
increased focus on government spending has also led to greater 
interest in the cost and revenue estimates of proposed 
legislation. In many cases, these estimates are also used to 
trigger budget enforcement mechanisms.
    The Committee is committed to ensuring that the most 
accurate and comprehensive analysis is available to Members and 
the public. The 114th Congress rules package provides that cost 
estimates for major legislation incorporate macroeconomic 
effects into official cost estimates. Major legislation is 
defined as measures that cause a gross budgetary effect in any 
fiscal year of the current budget resolution that is equal to 
or greater than 0.25 percent of the projected GDP for that 
year. The analysis will continue to be performed by the non-
partisan Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee on 
Taxation. Incorporating these impacts will improve the quality 
and accuracy of budget estimates. The committee will continue 
to monitor the effectiveness of this analysis.
    Effective and Efficient Committee Jurisdiction. The 
Committee on Rules has always played an integral role in 
modernizing the rules of the House, including its rules on 
jurisdiction. In the 104th Congress, the House streamlined what 
was considered to be a bloated and ineffective committee 
system, abolishing three full committees (Committees on Post 
Office and Civil Service, the District of Columbia, and 
Merchant Marine and Fisheries). In the 107th Congress, the 
trend toward jurisdictional efficiency continued with the 
establishment of a new Committee on Financial Services. In the 
108th Congress, the House responded to the changing security 
environment and the creation of the Department of Homeland 
Security by creating the Select Committee on Homeland Security, 
which became a standing committee of the House in the 109th 
Congress.
    The House rules for the 114th Congress include two 
modifications to rule X. The first adds language to the 
Committee on the Judiciary's jurisdictional statement with 
respect to the criminalization of conduct. Currently, the 
committee maintains jurisdiction over measures that create or 
repeal a crime, and over measures that alter criminal penalties 
with regard to crimes already existing in law. The rules change 
is intended to cover measures that alter the elements of a 
crime so as to criminalize new conduct, and in so doing, 
trigger an existing criminal penalty. This rules change is not 
intended to cover measures that merely supply the regulatory 
framework or address the regulatory underpinnings of the 
overall enforcement scheme.
    The second modification adds language to the Committee on 
Appropriations' jurisdictional statement with respect to 
certain loan obligations and new loan guarantees with a textual 
reference to section 504(b) of the Congressional Budget Act.
    The Committee notes that there was minimal jurisdictional 
conflict in the 112th and 113th Congress. In furtherance of 
this goal, the Committee on Rules will continue to review 
proposals to streamline the committee system and increase 
effective oversight of the Executive branch and the Federal 
budget during the remainder of the 114th Congress.
    Impact of New Information Technologies on the House. In 
recent years, the House has adapted and upgraded its 
technological capabilities to improve efficiency, 
accessibility, and transparency. Members are communicating more 
effectively with their constituents through the use of 
websites, blogs, and tele-townhalls, and many Members 
communicate with their constituents in real time through social 
media applications.
    Technology is also affecting the way Congress considers 
legislation. For example, more data and analysis is readily 
available to Members in the execution of their duties. Bills 
and committee reports are available and often searchable 
electronically, and the public can follow Congressional 
proceedings in real time through ``cybercasts.''
    Providing real-time information allows the broader public 
access to the day-to-day proceedings of the House. Technology 
is helping bridge the gaps of time and distance to bring 
representative government closer to the people and Members 
closer to their constituents. Technology is helping to create a 
more orderly process and to reduce costs and bureaucracy.
    The rules of the 114th Congress continue to embrace the 
work of the 112th and 113th Congresses with respect to 
electronic availability as an alternative to physical printing 
by the Government Publishing Office. Like any major change, 
this one will require oversight and adjustment as the House 
gains experience with the new rule and its implementation. In 
the 112th Congress, the House opened its portal for hosting 
electronic versions of text at http://docs.house.gov. At the 
beginning of the 113th Congress, the second phase of the 
project--the committee ``repository''--came online to host 
electronic versions of committee documents. The House Office of 
Legislative Counsel, in conjunction with the Law Revision 
Counsel, is working on a series of electronic tools to 
facilitate ``comparative prints'' of legislation, amendments, 
and statutes.
    H. Res. 5 (114th Congress) instructs the appropriate 
officers and committees to continue to advance government 
transparency by taking further steps to publish documents of 
the House in machine-readable formats.
    The Committee will continue to monitor the progress of 
these projects and determine whether any additional rule or 
policy changes are necessary.
    Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. As the House focuses its 
attention on creating jobs and restoring economic growth, it is 
critical that the Federal government not impose burdensome 
mandates on our nation's job creators nor on our state and 
local governments.
    In the 104th Congress, the 1996 Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act (UMRA) was enacted. Among a number of provisions designed 
to reduce or eliminate unfunded mandates, the law requires the 
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to estimate the cost of 
unfunded public and private sector mandates. CBO cost estimates 
are required to be included in committee reports accompanying 
legislation brought to the House floor for consideration.
    For fiscal year 2015, this framework requires CBO to 
estimate the direct mandate costs of intergovernmental mandates 
exceeding $77 million and of private sector mandates exceeding 
$154 million proposed in any measure reported from a committee. 
It also establishes a point of order against consideration of 
legislation that contains intergovernmental mandates with 
mandate costs estimated to exceed the threshold amount. In 
addition, Title II requires Federal administrative agencies to 
assess the effects on state and local governments and the 
private sector of proposed and final Federal rules and to 
prepare a written statement of estimated costs and benefits for 
any mandate requiring an expenditure exceeding $100 million in 
any given year.
    Since the 112th Congress, the House has passed several 
measures aimed at improving the effectiveness of UMRA. In the 
114th Congress, the Committee will continue to examine the 
application of the procedures and enforcement mechanisms 
associated with UMRA, as well as proposals for expanding the 
application of the law to capture indirect costs.
    Health Care Reform Legislation. In March 2010, President 
Obama signed health care reform legislation into law (P.L. 111-
148 & P.L. 111-152). The law created an Independent Payment 
Advisory Board and contains rules and procedures for 
congressional consideration of the Board's proposals. The law 
also contains expedited procedures for consideration of a joint 
resolution for the dissolution of the Board.
    Section 3(a) of H. Res. 5 (114th Congress) contained a 
provision that suspends the procedures for congressional 
consideration of IPAB proposals. The Rules Committee will use 
this opportunity to review necessary changes to House 
procedures relating to IPAB.
    The Congressional Review Act of 1996. Job creation and 
economic growth continues to be the number one priority for the 
House in the 114th Congress. Part of this agenda includes a 
systematic review of existing Executive branch regulations that 
could hinder economic growth and job creation. While the House 
undertakes a review of existing regulations and their potential 
impacts on job creation and the economy, it is essential that 
Congress also be prepared to respond to future regulatory 
proposals.
    The Congressional Review Act (CRA) provides Congress with 
an opportunity to review--and stop--regulations before final 
implementation. Under the expedited procedures established by 
P.L. 104-121, if a majority of the House and Senate vote to 
approve a joint resolution of disapproval and the President 
signs it into law within 60 legislative days of the 
regulation's publication in The Federal Register, the proposed 
regulation cannot go into effect.
    In the 114th Congress, the Rules Committee may examine the 
CRA, and its procedures, in order to determine if the CRA can 
be better utilized to ensure that burdensome regulations do not 
impede job creation and economic growth, as well as continue to 
support efforts to adopt the REINS Act, which will provide for 
more Congressional scrutiny of major agency regulations.

                        Committee Consideration

    The Committee on Rules met in open session on February 10, 
2015 and ordered the measure reported by voice vote, a quorum 
being present.
              COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                    Washington, DC, March 10, 2015.
Hon. Jason Chaffetz,
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Chairman Chaffetz, Pursuant to Rule X of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology adopted its oversight plan on January 27, 2015 
in an open hearing, with quorum present.
    Attached, please find the Committee's oversight plan for 
the 114th Congress.
            Sincerely,
                                               Lamar Smith,
                                                          Chairman.

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

    House Rule X sets the Committee's legislative jurisdiction 
while also assigning broad general oversight responsibilities 
(Appendix A). Rule X also assigns the Committee special 
oversight responsibility for ``reviewing and studying, on a 
continuing basis, all laws, programs, and Government activities 
dealing with or involving non-military research and 
development.'' The Committee appreciates the special function 
entrusted to it and will continue to tackle troubled programs 
and search for waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in non-
military research and development programs regardless of where 
they may be found.
    Much of the oversight work of the Committee is carried out 
by and through the Oversight Subcommittee. However, oversight 
is conducted by every Subcommittee and the full Committee. All 
components of the Committee take their oversight charge 
seriously and work cooperatively to meet the Committee's 
oversight responsibilities.
    The Committee also routinely works with the U.S. Government 
Accountability Office (GAO) and the Inspectors General (IG) of 
the agencies under its jurisdiction to maintain detailed 
awareness of the work of those offices. The Committee currently 
has numerous outstanding requests with the GAO. These include 
bipartisan requests as well as those signed by multiple 
Committee Chairmen with shared interests.
    The Committee also works collaboratively with the National 
Academies of Science, the Congressional Research Service, the 
Office of Government Ethics, and the Office of Special Counsel, 
as well as various other independent investigative and 
oversight entities.
    Oversight is commonly driven by emerging events. While the 
Committee will address burgeoning issues and topics as they 
transpire, the work contained in this plan reflects an accurate 
portrayal of its oversight intentions as of January, 2015.

                                 SPACE

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Human Space Flight 
        Program
    The Committee will continue to provide oversight of NASA's 
human spaceflight program as it undergoes a period of 
uncertainty and transition following various Administration 
proposals. Specific attention will be paid to the feasibility 
of NASA's plans and priorities relative to their resources and 
requirements.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Commercial Space Transportation
    FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) 
licenses commercial launch vehicles. An area of increasing 
interest is the emergence of a number of fledgling commercial 
human suborbital space flight ventures. In addition to its 
oversight of the FAA's AST, the Committee will examine the 
progress of the emerging personal space flight industry, as 
well as the challenges it faces.
NASA Space Science
    The Committee will monitor NASA's efforts to prioritize, 
plan, launch, and operate space science missions within cost 
and schedule. Particular attention will be paid to programs 
that exceed cost estimates to ensure they do not adversely 
impact the development and launch of other missions.
FAA Research and Development (R&D) Activities
    The Committee will oversee the R&D activities at the FAA to 
ensure that they lead to improvements in the U.S. Aerospace 
sector. The Committee has a particular interest in the 
performance of the Joint Planning and Development Office 
(JPDO), and FAA's management of its Next Generation Air 
Transportation System (NextGen) program.
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS)
    The Committee will evaluate the ability, cost, safety, and 
reliability of commercial providers to meet NASA requirements 
to deliver cargo and crew to the ISS.
International Space Station (ISS) Utilization and Operation
    The plans for operation and utilization of the ISS will 
continue to draw the Committee's attention as NASA attempts to 
fully utilize the unique research opportunities that the 
facility offers, while exclusively relying on logistical 
services from commercial and foreign providers. Given the 
significant national investment to date in the facility, 
Congress has directed that NASA maintain a strong research and 
technology program to take advantage of ISS' unique 
capabilities.
Aeronautics Research
    An important area for oversight will be NASA's aeronautics 
research and development program. The Committee plans to 
examine NASA's ability to support the interagency effort to 
modernize the nation's air traffic management system, the 
development of unmanned aviation systems (UAS), as well as its 
ability to undertake important long-term R&D on aircraft 
safety, emissions, noise, and energy consumption--R&D that will 
have a significant impact on the quality of life and U.S. 
competitiveness in aviation.
NASA Contract and Financial Management
    A perennial topic on GAO's high risk series, NASA financial 
management will continue to receive attention from the 
Committee. The Committee will also monitor NASA's contract 
management to ensure acquisitions are handled appropriately.
Near Earth Objects
    Congress has provided guidance to NASA relating to Near 
Earth Objects. The Committee will continue to monitor NASA's 
compliance with that direction, as well as determine whether 
additional oversight is necessary.
    Within the Space Subcommittee's jurisdiction, activities 
warranting further review include costs associated with 
cancellation of the Constellation program, NASA's approach to 
develop and fund a successor to the Space Shuttle, and 
investment in NASA launch infrastructure. NASA has not clearly 
articulated what types of future human space flight missions it 
wishes to pursue, or its rationale.

                                 ENERGY

Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science

    DOE plays a leading role in supporting basic research in 
the physical sciences and driving long-term innovation and 
economic growth. The Committee will conduct oversight of Office 
of Science programs to review prioritization across, and 
management within, its major program areas. Special attention 
will also be given to the cost, operation, and maintenance of 
DOE's existing and planned major facilities.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) R&D

    The Committee will undertake efforts to improve focus, 
prioritization, and transparency of EERE programs, and provide 
close oversight to ensure that programs are managed 
efficiently, duplication is limited, and funding is allocated 
appropriately and effectively.

Nuclear Energy R&D

    The Committee will provide oversight of the nation's 
nuclear R&D activities. DOE, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
and industry stakeholders are working to advance reactor 
construction of new nuclear reactors. The Committee will 
examine how DOE R&D can best contribute to this goal through 
the advancement of various nuclear energy technologies.

Fossil Energy R&D

    Fossil energy will remain a crucial aspect of America's 
energy portfolio for the foreseeable future. In the 114th 
Congress, the Committee will continue to ensure that fossil 
fuel R&D programs are appropriately focused and managed 
efficiently. Expected areas of oversight include coal R&D 
prioritization and program management and oil and gas R&D 
efforts.

Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy (ARPA-E)

    The Committee will undertake oversight of ARPA-E program 
funding and management in the 114th Congress, examining the 
appropriate role for and focus of ARPA-E in the context of 
DOE's numerous other clean energy-focused programs and 
activities.

DOE Loan Guarantees

    Program management problems associated with past DOE loan 
guarantees in recent years call for greater attention by the 
Committee. Ensuring the program minimizes risk to taxpayers and 
addresses previously identified problems will be a priority in 
the 114th Congress.

DOE Contract Management

    DOE programs have come under frequent scrutiny for contract 
management practices. GAO designated DOE's contract management 
as high-risk in 1990 and continues to identify areas of 
potential waste, fraud, and abuse.

                              ENVIRONMENT

Science and R&D at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

    The Committee will continue to provide oversight of EPA's 
management of science and its use of science in the decision 
making process, including lab management, regulatory science, 
transparency, and risk assessment. In particular, the Committee 
will examine how to better integrate science into the 
Administration's regulatory decision-making process. This 
includes how EPA uses and manages scientific data to reach its 
regulatory conclusions.

Climate Research Activities

    The Committee will continue to monitor the broad array of 
programs addressing climate change issues across the Federal 
government to ensure that existing programs are necessary, 
appropriately focused, effectively coordinated, and properly 
organized to prevent duplication of efforts and waste taxpayer 
resources.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather 
        Forecasting

    The Committee will examine funding prioritization and 
program management challenges related to the NOAA's mission to 
understand and predict changes in weather, particularly as they 
relate to severe weather events that threaten life and 
property.

NASA Earth Science

    The Committee will monitor NASA's efforts to prioritize, 
plan, and implement Earth science missions within cost and 
schedule. Particular attention will be paid to programs that 
exceed cost estimates to ensure they do not adversely impact 
the development and launch of other NASA priorities. The 
Committee will also examine the impact of large increases in 
funding for the Earth Science Directorate relative to funding 
requested for other science disciplines.

                        RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

                                RESEARCH

National Science Foundation (NSF)

    The Committee will continue to oversee the NSF. With the 
recent reauthorization of the America Creating Opportunities to 
Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and 
Science (COMPETES) Act, special attention will be paid to the 
implementation, execution and effectiveness of these new 
programs.
    Further, the Committee will look for ways to trim 
duplicative and unused programs in an effort to maximize 
available resources. The innovative work of the National 
Science Foundation is important to the economic prosperity and 
competitiveness of the United States. However, there are 
various activities within the Foundation that may go beyond the 
mission of the agency and require more scrutiny and potential 
cuts in order to ensure that federal investments in basic 
science remain primarily focused on research that actually 
benefits the Nation.

Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics (STEM) K-12 Oversight

    STEM education is vital to the 21st Century economy. 
Members of the Committee have expressed interests in improving 
STEM education activities from pre-K through graduate and 
continuing education in order to cultivate a top-notch future 
scientific and technical workforce, including well-qualified 
teachers in STEM fields. Determining the appropriate forms of 
federal support for these outcomes is important to the 
Committee.
    While STEM education is critical to maintaining the 
scientific and technical workforce essential to our 
competitiveness, many duplicative, wasteful, or simply unused 
programs exist across a number of federal agencies and must be 
more closely examined and, where warranted, cut.

Academic/Industry Partnerships

    The Committee will review the effectiveness and 
consequences of academic/industry partnerships. Agencies and 
universities are again debating the level of scrutiny and 
control that should be applied to research in light of the 
possible use by our adversaries of American discoveries and 
inventions. At the same time, industry questions the value of 
controls on technology sales and argues that such controls 
disproportionately limit American firms in competition for 
global sales. How to balance these competing interests remains 
a perennial subject for Committee oversight.

U.S. Antarctic and Arctic Programs

    The U.S. has conducted operations on the Antarctic 
continent under the terms of the Antarctic Treaty System since 
1959, and U.S. research activities in the Arctic predate that. 
The NSF serves as the steward for U.S. interests in Antarctica. 
Research in these extreme regions is a fundamental component to 
understanding the Earth and its systems. The future of the 
icebreaker fleet that provides vital logistical support for NSF 
activities in the harsh polar environments continues to be of 
concern.

NSF Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) 
        Program

    The Committee will continue to monitor and oversee NSF's 
MREFC program, including how priorities for projects are 
developed, long-term budgeting for such priorities, the 
management of cooperative agreements, and decision-making with 
regards to ever-changing scientific community needs.

Government-wide R&D Initiatives in Emerging Fields

    The Committee will continue to oversee the collaboration 
and interagency process associated with emerging fields such as 
networking and information technology, biotechnology, 
cybersecurity, and nanotechnology.

                               TECHNOLOGY

Cybersecurity

    The Committee has continuously stressed the protection of 
the nation's cyber-infrastructure, which underpins much private 
and public activity. The Committee will continue to provide 
critical oversight of how NIST, DHS and NSF address this 
important topic and will be particularly interested in how 
federal agencies balance security mandates with the ability to 
allow technological development through innovation.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

    The Committee will conduct program oversight for NIST, and 
other programs in the Department of Commerce, paying special 
attention to the evaluation of their alignment with and impact 
on industry. NIST manages a number of multi-agency 
manufacturing initiatives. The Committee will scrutinize these 
initiatives to ensure they are operating effectively and 
efficiently, and to ensure that they are not encroaching on 
areas better served by the private sector.
    In another area of NIST, the Committee is aware that 
America's competitive position can be dramatically improved, or 
weakened, depending on how standards for different products and 
processes are developed. NIST is the only federal agency with 
long-term expertise in this arena, and the Committee is 
concerned that the cooperation on standards development across 
agencies is less than optimal. Furthermore, the Committee 
intends to review the six laboratory units of the agency to 
ensure they are operating effectively in preparation for 
reauthorizing these activities.

Advanced Technologies

    The Committee will examine R&D programs to ensure that they 
are focused in areas that support the most promising new areas 
of technology, including technology in the bio, nano, energy 
and health sectors. Real improvements in the cost and accuracy 
of health care can be achieved through effective integration of 
information technology within the health care industry. NIST 
has a critical role to play in helping to develop standards and 
conformance testing processes that will protect patient privacy 
and minimize private sector waste. The Committee will also 
examine NIST's role in the development of the smart grid, the 
management of cross-agency information technology (NITRD) and 
nanotechnology (NNI) research programs, and measurement science 
underpinning the biotechnology industry.

Department of Transportation (DOT) R&D Programs

    The Committee will conduct oversight with regard to 
implementation of MAP-21 and related surface transportation R&D 
programs within the federal government, with a particular focus 
on strategic planning, performance metrics, effectiveness and 
redundancy elimination.

Economic Competitiveness and Job Creation

    The Committee will evaluate federal policies that enhance 
domestic and international competitiveness for U.S. companies, 
conduct oversight of federal policies that present barriers to 
innovation, and support policies that encourage job creation in 
innovative, growing economic sectors. The Committee will also 
conduct oversight of policies enacted by the Small Business 
Innovation Research Program (SBIR), and ensure that it is 
focused on the most promising innovations.

Technology Transfer

    The Committee will seek recommendations for continued 
improvements in the technology transfer incentives built into 
law by the Bayh-Dole Act, the Stevenson-Wydler Act, and the 
SBIR/STTR programs to improve America's competitiveness and 
innovative capacity. In addition, the Committee seeks to re-
introduce the TRANSFER Act.

United States Fire Administration (USFA)

    The USFA is responsible for training and education of 
career and volunteer firefighters and first responders across 
America. They also support management of several grant programs 
that provide equipment and support staffing for firefighters. 
The Committee will closely monitor the direction of these 
programs and the continued efforts of the USFA to ensure first 
responders have the necessary support and training.

Natural Hazards

    The Committee has supported interagency research programs 
to mitigate the damage caused by natural disasters such as 
earthquakes, windstorms, and fires by developing early warning 
systems and improved building and infrastructure design. The 
Committee will continue to evaluate programs to protect 
Americans from these and other hazards.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology

    The Committee will continue to monitor the maturation of 
DHS, particularly the effectiveness and organization of the 
Science and Technology Directorate, and the research and 
technology programs associated with the Domestic Nuclear 
Detection Office.

                               OVERSIGHT

Agency Compliance with Congressional Directives and Requests

    The Committee will be vigilant in its oversight to ensure 
that authorization acts, appropriation acts, and other 
congressional directions are complied with appropriately.

NOAA Satellite Modernization

    The Committee will continue its close monitoring of 
satellite modernization at NOAA. The restructured Joint Polar 
Satellite System (JPSS) will continue to draw the Committee's 
attention, as will the Geostationary Operational Environmental 
Satellites and the broader issues of research-to-operations 
planning and data continuity.

Agency Information Technology Security

    The Committee will continue to conduct oversight of agency 
efforts to protect information technology systems. Threats and 
intrusions increase as GAO and IG recommendations go 
unaddressed. The Committee will ensure that agencies comply 
with existing statutes and address outside recommendations in a 
timely manner.

Risk Assessment

    As the number and complexity of regulations increases 
throughout federal and state governments, the risk assessments 
that inform those decisions are garnering more attention. The 
Committee will continue to oversee how risk assessments are 
developed and how they are used in the regulatory process to 
ensure that policies are based on the best science available.

Scientific Integrity

    The Committee will continue to collect and examine 
allegations of intimidation of science specialists in federal 
agencies, suppression or revisions of scientific finding, and 
mischaracterization of scientific findings because of political 
or other pressures. The Committee's oversight will also involve 
the development and implementation of scientific integrity 
principles within the executive branch.

Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository Closure Decision

    The Committee will continue to evaluate DOE's decision to 
close the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository.

Critical Minerals, Materials, and Isotopes

    The Committee will provide oversight of materials, 
minerals, and isotopes that are critical to U.S. national 
interests. Shortages and supply concerns associated with 
helium-3, rare earth elements, californium-251, and plutonium-
238 highlight the need to be ever vigilant in our monitoring of 
critical materials, minerals and isotopes.

Additional Science Activities

    Pursuant to House Rule X, 3(k), the Committee will review 
and study on a continuing basis laws, programs and Government 
activities throughout the government relating to non-military 
research and development.

Emerging Issues

    The Committee will conduct oversight of additional matters 
as the need arises and as provided for under House Rule X, 
3(k). The Committee will also work closely with federal 
oversight bodies to identify and address instances of waste, 
fraud, abuse and mismanagement in the federal government to 
ensure the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars.

                             COLLABORATION

    The Committee maintains a rich relationship with its 
Inspectors General, GAO, the National Academies of Science, the 
Congressional Research Service, the Office of Government 
Ethics, and the Office of Special Counsel, as well as various 
other independent investigative and oversight entities. The 
Committee will continue to work with those offices, relying on 
them to identify major mismanagement issues, using their 
reports in hearings, and working with the High Risk Series 
published by GAO to guide hearings and inquiries.
    The Committee will retain its open-door policy regarding 
whistleblowers, whether they are contractors or government 
employees, and they should rest assured that we will never 
betray a confidence. Even if the information offered turns out 
not to be useful, as sometimes happens, the Committee will 
remain a haven for such figures and we understand the absolute 
necessity for citizens to feel safe in their communications 
with Congress.

                               Appendix A


                              House Rule X


                       ORGANIZATION OF COMMITTEES

Committees and their legislative jurisdictions

    1. There shall be in the House the following standing 
committees, each of which shall have the jurisdiction and 
related functions assigned by this clause and clauses 2, 3, and 
4. All bills, resolutions, and other matters relating to 
subjects within the jurisdiction of the standing committees 
listed in this clause shall be referred to those committees, in 
accordance with clause 2 of rule XII, as follows:
    (p) Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
    (1) All energy research, development, and demonstration, 
and projects therefor, and all federally owned or operated 
nonmilitary energy laboratories.
    (2) Astronautical research and development, including 
resources, personnel, equipment, and facilities.
    (3) Civil aviation research and development.
    (4) Environmental research and development.
    (5) Marine research.
    (6) Commercial application of energy technology.
    (7) National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
standardization of weights and measures, and the metric system.
    (8) National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
    (9) National Space Council.
    (10) National Science Foundation.
    (11) National Weather Service.
    (12) Outer space, including exploration and control 
thereof.
    (13) Science scholarships.
    (14) Scientific research, development, and demonstration, 
and projects therefor.

Special oversight functions

    3(k) The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology shall 
review and study on a continuing basis laws, programs, and 
Government activities relating to nonmilitary research and 
development.
                      COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                 Washington, DC, February 12, 2015.
Hon. Jason Chaffetz,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
House of Representatives.
Hon. Candice S. Miller,
Chairman, Committee on House Administration,
House of Representatives.
    Dear Chairman Chaffetz and Chairman Miller: Pursuant to 
House Rule X (2)(d)(1), I am pleased to enclose a copy of the 
Oversight Plan of the Committee on Small Business. The enclosed 
document was drafted in consultation with the Ranking Minority 
Member and was approved, a quorum being present, by voice vote 
without amendment during the Committee's organizational meeting 
on February 12, 2015.
            Sincerely yours,
                                              Steve Chabot,
                                                          Chairman.

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

     February 12, 2015, Approved by the Committee on Small Business

    Mr. Chabot, from the Committee on Small Business, submitted 
to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the 
Committee on House Administration the following

                                 Report

    Rule X, cl. 2(d)(1) of the Rules of the House requires each 
standing Committee to adopt an oversight plan for the two-year 
period of the Congress and to submit the plan to the Committees 
on Government Reform and House Administration not later than 
February 15 of the first session of the Congress. Under Rule X, 
the Committee has oversight authority to investigate and 
examine any matter affecting small business. This Report 
reflects that broad oversight jurisdiction.
    Pursuant to Rule X, cl. 2(d)(1)(F), this oversight plan 
also includes proposals to cut or eliminate programs that are 
inefficient, duplicative, outdated, or more appropriately 
administered by State or local governments.

              OVERSIGHT OF FEDERAL CAPITAL ACCESS PROGRAMS

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
Small Business Administration (SBA) and other federal agencies 
that provide capital to America's entrepreneurs that may 
include any or all of the following, as well as matters brought 
to the attention of the Committee subsequent to the filing of 
this Report:
           Effectiveness of the capital access programs 
        to generate jobs in the fastest growing small 
        businesses.
           Whether lenders are meeting their goals to 
        lend to small businesses and create jobs.
           Risk to the taxpayers of the capital access 
        programs and if those risks are not reasonable, then 
        elimination of those programs.
           Adequacy of SBA oversight of its lending 
        partners to ensure that federal taxpayers are properly 
        protected.
           Capabilities of the SBA information 
        technology to manage the loan portfolio.
           Whether SBA rules, regulations and guidance 
        result in transparent and reasoned decisionmaking with 
        respect to capital access programs.
           Assessment of credit-scoring algorithms as a 
        replacement for individual credit assessment by SBA and 
        its lending partners.
           The exercise of discretion by SBA to create 
        pilot programs and the risk they pose to the taxpayer 
        and whether such authority should be curtailed or 
        eliminated.
           Whether SBA disaster loan program and its 
        oversight ensures that small businesses are able to 
        revive and rebuild communities without unduly placing 
        the federal taxpayer at risk.
           Efficacy and duplication of federal capital 
        access programs offered by the Department of 
        Agriculture to small businesses in rural areas.
           Utilization by small businesses of export 
        capital programs at the Export-Import Bank and the 
        Overseas Private Investment Corporation.
           Continued examination of the Small Business 
        Lending Fund and State Small Business Credit Initiative 
        established by Pub. L. No. 111-240, the Small Business 
        Jobs Act of 2010, in creating jobs and providing 
        capital to small businesses.
           Impact of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform 
        and Consumer Protection Act, Pub. L. No. 111-203, on 
        small business access to capital.
           Implementation of crowdfunding and other 
        provisions of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, 
        Pub. L. No. 112-106.
    In performing oversight, the Committee will focus on 
particularly risky aspects of financial assistance programs 
including, but not limited to, commercial real estate 
refinancing, premier certified lenders, participating security 
small business investment companies, small business lending 
companies, express lenders, and loan programs utilizing 
simplified lending applications.

OVERSIGHT OF SBA AND OTHER FEDERAL ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
the SBA programs that provide training and advice to small 
businesses that may include any or all of the following, as 
well as matters brought to the attention of the Committee 
subsequent to the filing of this Report:
           Examining effectiveness of SBA 
        entrepreneurial development programs in creating jobs 
        at startups and traditional firms.
           Determining whether certain programs should 
        be eliminated as a result of their ineffectiveness or 
        duplication of programs provided by other agencies or 
        by the private sector.
           Suggesting methods for enhancing 
        coordination among federal agencies in providing 
        assistance to entrepreneurs, including, but not limited 
        to, businesses located in rural areas and those seeking 
        to provide goods and services in the federal 
        procurement marketplace.
           Enhancing the efficacy and utilization of 
        the Manufacturing Extension Partnership at the 
        Department of Commerce, including developments in 
        renewable energy.
           Recommending improvements in assistance to 
        small businesses in rural areas, including those 
        involved in agriculture, forestry, and energy 
        production.

          OVERSIGHT OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING MATTERS

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
the federal procurement system that may include any or all of 
the following, as well as matters brought to the attention of 
the Committee subsequent to the filing of this Report:
           Whether fraud or other problems exist in the 
        federal government contracting programs overseen by the 
        SBA including the 8(a), HUBZone, service-disabled 
        veteran, women-owned contracting, and Small Business 
        Innovation Research programs.
           Effectiveness of SBA contracting programs to 
        increase participation by small businesses in federal 
        procurement.
           Effectiveness of federal agency protections 
        against contract bundling and consolidation.
           The accuracy and utility of SBA size 
        standards and federal procurement databases.
           Operation and effectiveness of federal 
        agency assistance provided to small businesses 
        interested in federal procurement, including that 
        provided by the SBA, Offices of Small and Disadvantaged 
        Business Utilization and Procurement Technical 
        Assistance Centers.
           Development of federal acquisition policies 
        and whether small businesses have sufficiently 
        effective voice in development of such policies.
           Cost-effectiveness of outsourcing government 
        work to private enterprise rather than expanding the 
        government to do provide the good or service internally 
        (i.e., government insourcing).
           Implementation and efficacy of changes made 
        in small business federal procurement programs arising 
        from the enactment of the National Defense 
        Authorization Acts for FYs 2012-2015.
           Examination of the Small Business Innovation 
        Research Program as modified by the National Defense 
        Authorization Act for FY 2012, Pub. L. No. 112-81, 
        including, but not limited to, increased efforts at 
        commercializing federally-funded technology.
    In performing oversight, the Committee will focus its 
efforts on uncovering abuse and misuse of the small business 
designation to obtain federal government contracts.

                      OVERSIGHT OF SBA MANAGEMENT

    The Committee will conduct the hearings and investigations 
into the management of the SBA that may include any or all of 
the following, as well as matters brought to the attention of 
the Committee subsequent to the filing of this Report:
           The appropriate mission of the SBA.
           Whether agency employees in the field are 
        empowered to assist small businesses.
           Duplication of offices and missions at SBA 
        headquarters.
           Effectiveness of personnel management to 
        ensure that employees are rewarded for assisting small 
        businesses.
           Capabilities of SBA employees to provide 
        proper assistance to small business owners.
           Agency personnel capabilities to properly 
        manage loan defaults to maximize recovery of 
        collateral.
           Whether SBA improperly utilizes statutory 
        authority to create untested initiatives and the 
        procedures by which the agency develops such programs.
    In carrying out this oversight, the Committee will focus 
particularly on streamlining and reorganizing of the agency's 
operations to provide maximum assistance to small business 
owners. Offices that primarily provide assistance or advice to 
headquarters staff that do not promote the interests of small 
businesses or protect the federal government as a guarantor of 
loans will be recommended for cuts or elimination. For some 
potential offices that the Committee will examine, refer to the 
section titled ``Reductions in Programs and Spending.''

         OVERSIGHT OF FEDERAL REGULATORY AND PAPERWORK BURDENS

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
unnecessary, burdensome, and duplicative federal rules, 
reporting and recordkeeping requirements affecting small 
businesses that may include any or all of the following, as 
well as matters brought to the attention of the Committee 
subsequent to the filing of this Report:
           Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
           Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
           Consumer Safety Products Commission.
           Department of Agriculture.
           Department of Energy, particularly the 
        Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
           Department of Interior, particularly the 
        Bureau of Land Management and Minerals Management 
        Service.
           Department of Labor, particularly the 
        Occupation Safety and Health Administration.
           Department of Homeland Security, 
        particularly the Transportation Security 
        Administration.
           Department of Transportation, particularly 
        the Federal Aviation Administration and Federal Motor 
        Carrier Safety Administration.
           Environmental Protection Agency.
           Federal Communications Commission.
           Federal Financial Institutions Examination 
        Council and its constituent agencies.
           Food and Drug Administration.
           Office of Federal Procurement Policy.
           Securities and Exchange Commission.
    The Committee will identify specific rules and regulations 
already issued or at the proposed rule stage to assess the 
impact on small businesses. The Committee will pay close 
attention to the effect that regulations have on the 
implementation of advanced technologies including, but not 
limited to, the deployment of broadband communications (either 
by wireline or wireless services) throughout the United States. 
Oversight of the regulatory process also will, to the extent 
relevant, examine the work of the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget. 
Special attention will be paid to the work performed by the 
Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the United States Small Business 
Administration to ensure that Office is fulfilling its mission 
to advocate vigorously on behalf of America's small business 
owners in regulatory matters at federal agencies. Finally, this 
oversight will entail an examination of compliance by federal 
agencies with amendments to Executive Order 12,866 and 
memoranda on regulatory flexibility and regulatory compliance 
issued by the President on January 18, 2011 and still in effect 
as of the approval of this Oversight Plan.

                    OVERSIGHT OF FEDERAL TAX POLICY

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
the federal tax code, its impact on small business, and 
Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) collection of taxes that may 
include any or all of the following, as well as matters brought 
to the attention of the Committee subsequent to the filing of 
this Report:
           Identification of tax code provisions that 
        hinder the ability of small businesses to create jobs 
        and recommendations for modifying those provisions to 
        boost small business job growth.
           Examination of the structure of the tax code 
        in order to simplify compliance for small businesses.
           Assessment of the recordkeeping and 
        reporting requirements associated with tax compliance 
        and suggestions for reducing such burdens on small 
        businesses.
           Evaluation of the estate tax provisions to 
        determine whether they inhibit the ability of 
        successive generations to maintain successful job 
        creating enterprises.
           Efficiencies at the IRS that improve the 
        interaction between the government and small business 
        owners.
           Inefficiencies at the IRS that force small 
        businesses to divert capital from job growth to tax 
        compliance.

                    OVERSIGHT OF HEALTH CARE POLICY

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
federal health care policy (such as Medicare and Medicaid) and 
the continued implementation of the Patient Protection and 
Affordable Care Act that may include any or all of the 
following, as well as matters brought to the attention of the 
Committee subsequent to the filing of this Report:
           The cost of the Patient Protection and 
        Affordable Care Act to small businesses, including the 
        self-employed.
           The impact of the Patient Protection and 
        Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid on the 
        ability of physicians, pharmacists, and allied health 
        care providers to offer the best care possible to 
        patients.
           The impact of state tort and insurance laws 
        on the cost of medical care.
           Examination of increases in efficiencies 
        that will improve the provision of health care while 
        reducing costs to small businesses that offer their 
        workers health insurance.

                       OVERSIGHT OF ENERGY POLICY

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
energy policy to reduce the cost of energy and increase energy 
independence that may include any or all of the following, as 
well as matters brought to the attention of the Committee 
subsequent to the filing of this Report:
           Innovations developed by small businesses 
        that create greater energy independence.
           Federal regulatory policies that increase 
        dependence on foreign sources of energy.
           Policies needed to incentivize production of 
        energy in the United States.
           Examination of commercialization of research 
        in renewable energy.
           Federal regulations or policies that 
        increase energy costs for small businesses.
    The primary thrust of the Committee's efforts will focus on 
efforts to use the innovation of America's entrepreneurs to 
fuel the drive for greater energy independence, including the 
development of renewable energy products.

          OVERSIGHT OF TRADE AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY POLICY

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
international trade and intellectual property policies of 
America and its trading partners that may include any or all of 
the following, as well as matters brought to the attention of 
the Committee subsequent to the filing of this Report:
           Impact of free trade agreements to increase 
        exports by American small businesses.
           Whether the federal government is doing 
        enough to protect the intellectual property rights of 
        small businesses by foreign competitors.
           The impact of federal intellectual property 
        policies, particularly patents and copyrights, to 
        protect the innovations of American entrepreneurs.
           Efforts to increase exports by small 
        businesses.
           Whether the United States Trade 
        Representative and Department of Commerce sufficiently 
        protect the interests of small businesses in the 
        negotiation of free trade agreements.
           Whether the United States Trade 
        Representative takes positions at the World Trade 
        Organization that sufficiently promote the interests of 
        American small businesses.
    The focus of oversight will emphasize the best mechanisms 
to promote and protect advanced technology innovations of small 
businesses.

                  REDUCTIONS IN PROGRAMS AND SPENDING

    In addition to the programs and policies already cited, the 
Committee will examine any and all offices and programs that 
fall within the Committee's legislative jurisdiction to find 
areas that could lead to reduction in the federal deficit. Some 
programs and offices may include:
           State Small Business Credit Initiative 
        operated by Department of Treasury.
           Express Loan Program overseen by SBA.
           Emerging Leaders Initiative started by SBA.
           Clusters Program initiated by the SBA.
           Innovation and Impact Fund Pilot Programs 
        operated by the SBA.
           SBA Office of Policy.
           SBA Regional Administrators.
           Office of Advocacy Regional Advocates.
           SBA Deputy District Directors.
           SBA Office of International Trade.
           SBA Office of Native American Affairs.
    In particular, the Committee will assess whether 
reorganization and reassignment of employees to more critical 
functions at the SBA, such as positions in the Office of 
Government Contracting and Business Development will provide a 
more effective agency at assisting small businesses generate 
growth.
             COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                  Washington, DC, February 9, 2015.
Hon. Jason Chaffetz,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Chairman Chaffetz: Pursuant to clause 2(d) of rule X 
of the Rules of the House of Representatives, I submit to the 
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform the Oversight Plan 
of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the 
114th Congress. On January 27, 2015, the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure met in open session and 
adopted this Oversight Plan by voice vote with a quorum 
present.
            Sincerely,
                                              Bill Shuster,
                                                          Chairman.

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

    In accordance with Rule X of the House of Representatives, 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is 
responsible for determining whether laws and programs within 
its jurisdiction are being implemented according to 
Congressional intent and whether they should be continued, 
changed, or eliminated. In the 114th Congress, the Committee 
will review the activities of government agencies and entities 
within its jurisdiction and the public and private interests 
they affect or regulate. As appropriate, the Committee will 
investigate ways to improve the overall performance and 
operation of the agencies and entities it oversees, promote 
reform and cost savings, and eliminate fraud, wasteful 
spending, abuse and mismanagement where possible.
    The oversight and investigation functions are vested at the 
Full Committee level. Oversight and investigation activities 
will be coordinated between the Full Committee and the 
Subcommittees. This structure will facilitate oversight of 
issues that cut across the jurisdiction of several 
Subcommittees. The Committee will continue to exercise its 
oversight duties through its own staff as well as through work 
performed at the Committee's request by the Government 
Accountability Office (GAO) and the various Inspectors General 
within their respective agencies and departments. Oversight 
activities will include hearings, briefings, correspondence, 
reports, media releases, and public statements.
    The GAO provides Congress a biennial update on its High 
Risk Program, which identifies Federal programs and operations 
that it considers to be at high risk for waste, fraud, abuse, 
mismanagement, or in need of broad reform. Consistent with the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee will hold 
hearings on the programs within the Committee's jurisdiction on 
GAO's ``high-risk'' list. The rules also require the Committee 
to hold at least one hearing every 120 days on ``waste, fraud, 
abuse, or mismanagement in Government programs which that 
committee may authorize.'' These hearings will focus on ``the 
most egregious instances of waste, fraud, abuse, or 
mismanagement,'' as documented by any report that the Committee 
has received from an Inspector General or GAO. Finally, the 
Committee will hold hearings if any agency has received 
disclaimers on its agency financial statements.
    The Committee has identified several particular areas for 
oversight and investigation in the 114th Congress. These areas 
are organized by Subcommittee and discussed below:

                        SUBCOMMITTEE ON AVIATION

    1. Implementation of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act 
of 2012. The ``FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012'' 
(FMRA) was signed into law on February 14, 2012. The FMRA 
authorizes funding for and reforms and revises the safety 
programs, air traffic control modernization (NextGen) efforts, 
and operations of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 
through fiscal year 2015. This law also contains over 100 
deadlines for Federal government action, including: 
rulemakings, program implementations, plans, studies and task 
force actions. The Subcommittee will continue to closely 
oversee the FAA's efforts to implement the mandates contained 
in the FMRA and to improve aviation safety.
    2.  Safety Programs. The Subcommittee has held numerous 
safety hearings and will continue its oversight. Maintaining a 
safe and efficient aviation system is critical to the aviation 
industry, passengers, the U.S. economy, job creation, and U.S. 
competitiveness in the global marketplace. Issues to be 
addressed include: regional airline safety, general aviation 
safety, key safety treaties, the safe integration of unmanned 
aircraft systems (UAS), pilot and controller training, ways to 
reduce losses of separation between aircraft, the FAA's 
enforcement and certification activities, and the FAA's 
voluntary reporting and data sharing and assessment programs.
    3. National Transportation Safety Board. Authorization for 
the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) expired in 
2008. A reauthorization bill passed the House in 2010 but was 
not enacted. Reauthorization of the NTSB may be considered in 
the 114th Congress.
    4. Oversight of the Office of the Secretary. The Office of 
the Secretary within the Department of Transportation (DOT) 
inherited several aviation functions when the Civil Aeronautics 
Board was abolished. These functions include ensuring that air 
carriers do not engage in unfair and deceptive practices that 
could harm consumers and ensuring that business agreements 
among air carriers do not result in harmful effects. Many of 
these functions have a dramatic impact on the industry, 
competition, and job creation. Hearings may be held to evaluate 
various DOT programs and policies affecting aviation, including 
slots, essential air service, air carrier alliances, aviation 
consumer issues, international air service, key safety 
treaties, and the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme.
    5. Oversight of the Commercial Space Industry. The mission 
of the Office of the FAA's Commercial Space Transportation is 
to ensure protection of the public, property, and the national 
security and foreign policy interests of the United States 
during commercial launch or reentry activities, and to 
encourage, facilitate, and promote U.S. commercial space 
transportation. The Subcommittee will continue to monitor the 
status and future of the U.S. commercial space transportation 
industry and the role of the FAA in providing safety oversight 
of the industry.
    6. Evaluation of FAA's NextGen Air Traffic Control 
Modernization. Since the early 1980's, the FAA has been working 
to modernize the air traffic control system and is implementing 
the Next Generation Air Transportation (NextGen). FAA states 
that NextGen will result in greater airspace system efficiency; 
reduced noise exposure; reduced emissions and fuel burn; 
improved safety; increased accuracy and reliability in 
equipment and software used for navigation and air traffic 
control; and the capability for future computer enhancements. 
Over the years, the FAA's NextGen efforts have often been 
behind schedule and over budget. The Subcommittee will continue 
to monitor and examine the FAA's efforts to establish 
performance metrics, meet deadlines, stay within budget, ensure 
an appropriate level of aircraft equipage with NextGen 
avionics, and streamline implementation of the NextGen program.
    7. Airline Financial Position and Customer Service. Much of 
the last decade has been a difficult one for the airline 
industry. The cumulative impacts of 9/11, the severe acute 
respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak, spikes in fuel prices, 
and the global recession have taken their toll, although the 
industry has been profitable over the last few years. Moreover, 
over the next decade, the FAA predicts that air traffic 
operations will increase. When the economy improves, passenger 
complaints about delays, cancellations, overbooking, customer 
service, and transparency in airfares and ancillary fees 
charged by airlines may rise again as passenger traffic 
rebounds. The Subcommittee will continue to examine 
opportunities to improve the airline industry's 
competitiveness, review recently established regulations to 
ensure the aviation system remains safe and accessible to the 
traveling public, and provide oversight of standards for 
passenger service.

        SUBCOMMITTEE ON COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION

    1. Coast Guard Budget. In April, 2014, the House passed 
H.R. 4005, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 
2014 which authorized $8.72 billion for the Service in each of 
fiscal years 2015 and 2016. On December 3, 2014, the House 
adopted H.R. 5769, the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-281), which authorized 
$8.7 billion for fiscal year 2015. The Senate companion bill to 
H.R. 5769 was signed into law on December 18, 2014.
    In the 114th Congress, the Subcommittee will hold hearings 
on the President's fiscal year 2016 and 2017 budget requests 
and consider legislation to authorize the Coast Guard. The 
Subcommittee will explore ways to improve Coast Guard 
operations, and improvements to laws governing shipping.
    2. Coast Guard Acquisition. The Coast Guard is currently 
undergoing a major recapitalization of its oceangoing assets. 
The recapitalization will replace or modernize more than 90 
ships and 200 aircraft used to carry out the Service's missions 
beyond near coastal waters. It will also replace antiquated 
command, control, and communications systems. The program faces 
serious challenges related to schedule and budget. The longer 
the acquisition program drags out, the more resources are 
siphoned off to maintain existing assets. In many cases, those 
assets are at or beyond projected service life and are more 
difficult and expensive to maintain. The Subcommittee is 
concerned that delays in new asset acquisition, competing 
demands from shoreside infrastructure and other Coast Guard 
cutter capital needs, and the cost of legacy asset maintenance 
threaten the ability of the Service to complete this 
recapitalization.
    In the 114th Congress, the Subcommittee will continue to 
closely review the program, as well as any changes to the 
program which may be necessary to ensure the men and women of 
the Coast Guard who risk their lives for our Nation have the 
best equipment possible at the best price for the taxpayer.
    3. Mission Balance. The Subcommittee continues to have 
concerns with the Coast Guard's ability to balance funding and 
focus among the Service's many competing missions. Since 
September 11, 2001, the Coast Guard has placed increasing 
emphasis on the Service's homeland security efforts which have 
had varying effects on levels of effort among its other 
missions. Security-related missions such as ports, waterways, 
and coastal security and migrant interdiction have seen 
dramatic increases from pre-September 11, 2001 levels. However, 
resources and man-hours devoted to missions such as drug 
interdiction and fisheries law enforcement are well below pre-
September 11, 2001 levels.
    In the 114th Congress, the Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of the Coast Guard's mission balance to ensure the 
Service reviews its many missions, makes decisions about which 
missions it cannot afford to undertake, and plan its resources 
allocation among its many missions appropriately.
    4. Maritime Domain Awareness. The effort to know what is 
happening at all times on the waters of the United States and 
aboard the vessels that transit them is known as Maritime 
Domain Awareness (MDA). The successful implementation of MDA is 
critical to maritime safety and security.
    The Coast Guard relies on several new and developing 
technologies to assist in implementing MDA. The Subcommittee is 
concerned with the ability and desire of the Coast Guard to 
assess new technologies in order to acquire maritime domain 
awareness information more efficiently and accurately.
    In the 114th Congress, the Subcommittee will continue its 
oversight of the Service's, assessment, development and 
implementation of MDA technologies to ensure the best system is 
fielded in a timely manner and at the best price for the 
taxpayer. It will also examine the costs imposed on maritime 
users as part of the MDA program, and examine methods to reduce 
those costs.
    5. Coast Guard Prevention and Response Activities. This 
year marks the fifth anniversary of the DEEPWATER HORIZON oil 
spill and the tenth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The Coast 
Guard played major roles in response to both of these events. 
The Service was the Federal On Scene Coordinator for DEEPWATER 
HORIZON, and the National Incident Commander was a Coast Guard 
Admiral. The Service also plays a major role in the prevention 
of oil spills. The Service rescued more than 30,000 Louisiana 
residents from Katrina's flood waters. The environmental 
assessment and cleanup from DEEPWATER HORIZON continues and 
economic consequences of the spill are still being calculated.
    In the 114th Congress, the Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight on lessons learned in response to these crises, and 
on the capacity of the Coast Guard's prevention and response 
capabilities today. Oil spills, natural disasters, and mass 
migration events, all tax the Coast Guard prevention and 
response systems and capabilities. The Subcommittee will 
conduct oversight on Coast Guard prevention and response 
programs.
    6. Short Sea Shipping. Short sea shipping is the waterborne 
movement of commercial freight between two ports in the United 
States or between ports in the United States and Canada. At the 
present time, the most highly developed water freight 
transportation systems in the United States operate on the 
Mississippi River, the Great Lakes, and the St. Lawrence Seaway 
and often carry agricultural products and other raw materials. 
However, the Maritime Administration has found these routes are 
carrying only about 13% of total freight tonnage in the United 
States. By comparison, nearly 70% of the freight tonnage 
transported in the United States is moved by trucks travelling 
across our Nation's roadways.
    The revitalization of our marine highways has the potential 
to reduce congestion on our highways and create new maritime 
industry jobs for Americans. The Subcommittee will examine ways 
expand the use of short sea shipping in the 114th Congress.
    7. Ballast Water and Incidental Discharges. Due to a 2008 
Federal court decision, the discharge of ballast water and 
other ``discharges incidental to the normal operation of 
vessels'' such as bilge water, deck wash and air conditioning 
condensate are now regulated by the EPA under the Clean Water 
Act, as well as the Coast Guard under the National Invasive 
Species Act and an international convention. In addition, over 
25 states have put in place regulations to govern ballast water 
and other incidental discharges. The requirements of some of 
these states conflict with requirements in other states. This 
is severely complicating vessel operations and impeding the 
flow of commerce along our coast, Great Lakes, and inland 
rivers.
    The Subcommittee will work with the Water Resources and 
Environment Subcommittee to conduct oversight of this issue in 
the 114th Congress. The Subcommittee will work to set a single 
nationwide standard that ensures the efficient movement of 
maritime commerce, defends seafaring and port jobs, and 
protects the environment.
    8. FMC and MARAD Budget. The Subcommittee has jurisdiction 
over the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) and the non-defense 
related programs of the Maritime Administration (MARAD). The 
FMC is responsible for the economic regulation of waterborne 
foreign commerce and unfair shipping practices. MARAD oversees 
several programs related to defense readiness, as well as 
programs designed to promote and develop the domestic merchant 
marine industry
    The Subcommittee will continue to conduct oversight of the 
FMC and MARAD in the 114th Congress. The Subcommittee will 
explore ways to promote job growth in the domestic fleet while 
reducing costs at both agencies.
    9. National Maritime Strategy. Section 603 of the Howard 
Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 
directs the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with 
the Commandant of the Coast Guard, to develop and transmit to 
Congress a National Maritime Strategy no later than 60 days 
after the date of enactment. This comprehensive strategy is to 
include recommendations to increase the competitiveness and use 
of U.S.-flag vessels in the U.S. foreign trade, enhance 
shipbuilding, ensure Federal agency compliance with cargo 
preference requirements, and increase the use of short sea 
shipping in the U.S.
    The Subcommittee will conduct oversight of the Maritime 
Administration and the Coast Guard in the development and 
implementation of this strategy to promote the growth and 
expansion of economic opportunities for U.S.-flag carriers and 
related marine industries.

 SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, AND EMERGENCY 
                               MANAGEMENT

    1. Federal Courthouses. In June of 2010, GAO issued a 
report on the Federal courthouse program and found that of the 
33 courthouses built since 2000, there was 3.56 million square 
feet of extra space, costing the taxpayer $835 million plus $51 
million annually to operate and maintain. Since that time, the 
Judiciary developed a new review process to identify the need 
for new courthouses. In 2013, the Committee requested the 
Judiciary to apply the new process to the courthouses on its 5-
Year Courthouse Plan. The Judiciary completed the process in 
late 2014. The Subcommittee will continue its oversight of the 
authorization of new Federal courthouses, encourage the full 
implementation of courtroom sharing formulae, and place strict 
requirements on any proposed courthouses to minimize 
overbuilding and reduce costs. The Subcommittee will also 
closely oversee the progress made on courthouses already 
authorized to ensure they are constructed within the 
limitations placed upon them by the Committee and to ensure 
they stay below or within budget. The Subcommittee will also 
ensure that courthouse construction projects include credible 
judgeship projections; courtroom sharing in a robust and 
efficient fashion in accordance with the empirical courtroom 
use data collected by the Federal Judicial Center; and faithful 
adherence by the General Services Administration (GSA) to 
congressionally authorized square-footage limitations, as well 
as dollar limitations, when executing projects.
    2. Leasing. During the 113th Congress, the Subcommittee 
held hearings and roundtables identifying the large number of 
GSA leases expiring in the next five years and examining GSA's 
process for addressing them. GSA currently leases 195 million 
rentable square feet--more than half of the GSA's total space 
inventory. The cost of leasing space accounts for more than 
half of the GSA's Federal Buildings Fund (FBF) annual expenses, 
totaling more than $5.4 billion annually. Over the next five 
years, more than 50% of GSA's leased space will expire, 
creating an opportunity to significantly reduce leasing costs 
to the taxpayer.
    In addition, in the 112th and 113th Congresses, problems 
with independent leasing authorities of agencies outside of GSA 
were made apparent. In 2010, the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (SEC), which has its own independent leasing 
authority, signed a sole-source 10-year lease for a state of 
the art building it later determined it did not need, binding 
the taxpayer to more than $500 million. The Subcommittee 
conducted an investigation and held hearings that revealed 
serious questions about SEC's management of its space and its 
leasing authority. In previous years, the Committee has also 
found similar mismanagement by other agencies in which poor 
decisions on leases resulted in taxpayer dollars being wasted. 
And, more recently, questions about how the Department of 
Veterans Affairs (VA) has used its leasing authority has 
resulted in VA procurement of leases for its outpatient clinics 
and centers through GSA's leasing authorities. Because of these 
ongoing issues surrounding independent leasing authorities, the 
Subcommittee will continue its oversight of leases outside of 
GSA.
    3. Real Property Management. The management of Federal Real 
Property has been on the GAO's High Risk list since 2003 due to 
a number of mismanagement issues including the overreliance on 
costly leasing to meet long-term space needs and underused or 
vacant space. In addition, with nearly half of GSA's assets 
over 50 years old, GSA has faced challenges maintaining a 
balanced inventory, draining Federal resources and costing more 
to maintain old buildings that are often inefficient. While 
commercial leasing may be advisable in many cases, GSA is often 
driven to costly operating leases when ownership may be less 
costly to the taxpayer. Office of Management and Budget budget 
scorekeeping rules are key drivers on ``own vs. lease'' asset 
decision-making. Current budget scorekeeping rules generally 
leave GSA will only two options for meeting the Federal 
Government's general purpose space needs: direct appropriations 
for new construction or long-term leases. In addition, with the 
tight budget constraints and the lack of funds for new 
construction, GSA has begun exploring alternative arrangements 
for space acquisition and redevelopment.
    During the 113th Congress, the Subcommittee held 
roundtables on how Public-Private Partnerships could be used as 
alternative methods of financing space. In addition, the 
Committee established a Public Private Partnership Panel that 
explored the use of P3's across various types of 
infrastructure, including public buildings. The P3 Panel 
recommended, among other things: 1) Review and modify budgetary 
scoring rules for commercially-leased office space to enable 
operating lease treatment of long-term leases and fixed-priced, 
below market purchase options; and 2) Fully utilize existing 
lease authorities and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
budgetary scoring procedures to proceed with long-term ground 
lease/lease back arrangements where the Federal government 
retains ownership of leasehold improvements at the end of the 
ground-lease term.
    In 2013, OMB issued a directive to agencies called ``Freeze 
the Footprint.'' That directive requires agencies to reduce 
their amount of office and warehouse space to FY2012 levels. 
The Subcommittee will continue to conduct investigations and 
oversight of GSA's management of its real property portfolio 
and examine ways to ensure cost-effective choices are made. In 
addition, the Subcommittee will work to ensure GSA maximizes 
the utilization of existing space, renegotiates existing leases 
to reduce costs, and sells under-used or vacant properties 
which will generate revenue. Finally, the Subcommittee will 
work to ensure GSA fully utilizes its enhanced property 
management authority to make better use of space it retains, 
such as out-leasing empty Federal space to generate income for 
the Federal Buildings Fund and help offset costs. The 
Subcommittee will conduct close oversight of GSA's use of these 
authorities to ensure they are managed and used appropriately.
    4. Capital Investment and Leasing Program (CILP). As part 
of the Committee's annual work to review and authorize GSA's 
requests for authority to repair, alter, construct and lease 
property for use by Federal agencies, the Subcommittee will 
review each prospectus presented to the Committee and recommend 
approval only after the Subcommittee is satisfied that the 
requests are cost-effective and in the best interest of the 
government. The Subcommittee will work aggressively with GSA 
and tenant agencies to shrink the space footprint where 
appropriate.
    5. Federal Protective Service (FPS). As a part of the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002, the Federal Protective Service 
was transferred from the Public Buildings Service of GSA to the 
Department of Homeland Security. However, responsibility for 
the protection of Federal buildings, generally, remains with 
FPS within DHS. The Subcommittee will continue to monitor and 
review the policies, procedures and requirements of security at 
public buildings.
    6. Major Development Projects. The construction of the 
Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) headquarters is a 
multi-billion dollar Federal construction project that, when 
completed, will relocate much of DHS operations in the D.C. 
area into one campus located at the historic St. Elizabeths 
Hospital site in the Southeast quadrant of D.C. While the Coast 
Guard headquarters has been completed, additional work is 
planned. In addition, various DHS components remain in leased 
space until the phased construction is completed. The 
Subcommittee plans to continue close oversight of this major 
project and its associated leases to guard against waste, and 
ensure jobs are maintained and/or created accordingly 
throughout the project.
    In addition, there are a number of other proposed major 
construction and development projects that utilize alternative 
methods of acquiring space, such as GSA's exchange authority. 
This includes the proposed new FBI headquarters and the 
redevelopment of Federal Triangle South. In addition, the 
redevelopment of the Old Post Office is ongoing. The 
Subcommittee plans to conduct close review and oversight of 
these major development projects, particularly examining how 
GSA is utilizing its exchange authority in this context.
    7. Architect of the Capitol (AOC). The subcommittee will 
continue ongoing oversight of projects being undertaken by the 
Architect of the Capitol pursuant to the Master Plan for the 
Capitol Complex. Consistent oversight will ensure proper 
prioritization and cost savings.
    8. Smithsonian Institution Facilities. The Subcommittee 
will continue its oversight of projects undertaken by the 
Smithsonian Institution including the acquisition, construction 
and use of local and remote museums, research and storage 
facilities of the Institution. The Subcommittee will continue 
to ensure cost-effective solutions to the Smithsonian's space 
needs such as leveraging private dollars and disposal or 
effective reuse of underused assets. In addition, the 
Smithsonian is currently in the process of constructing the 
National Museum of African American History and Culture. 
Continued oversight of the construction is important to ensure 
the project stays within budget and on schedule.
    9. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. As a 
part of its ongoing oversight of the Kennedy Center's programs, 
the Subcommittee will regularly review the construction, 
alteration, and modernization activities of the Kennedy Center 
that are conducted using Federal funds to ensure appropriate 
management and cost savings.
    10. Emergency Management. The Subcommittee will continue to 
examine and evaluate the Nation's ability to prevent, prepare 
for, mitigate against, respond to, and recover from disasters 
and emergencies of all types including terrorism. In the 114th 
Congress, continued oversight will be needed as states continue 
to be impacted by and recover from prior disasters, such as 
Hurricane Sandy. In addition, the Subcommittee will continue 
its oversight of FEMA's implementation of reforms and 
additional authorities from the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act 
of 2013 and the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 
2006.
    The Subcommittee intends to initiate a comprehensive review 
and assessment of how Federal disaster assistance has evolved 
over the past several decades and its continued effectiveness. 
The purpose is to examine how and why disaster declarations and 
spending have increased, which agencies provide assistance and 
how that money is spent, what guidance or controls are in place 
for the effective use of assistance, and what the appropriate 
role for the Federal Government is.

                  SUBCOMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS AND TRANSIT

    1. MAP-21 Implementation. The Moving Ahead for Progress in 
the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) reauthorized Federal surface 
transportation programs for the first time since 2005. Enacted 
in July 2012, MAP-21 represents an investment in the Nation's 
transportation infrastructure that translates into safer 
travel, more efficient commerce, faster project approval and 
delivery, and the creation of thousands of jobs. To inform the 
Members' discussion regarding drafting the next surface 
transportation reauthorization bill, the Subcommittee's 
oversight activities in the 114th Congress will continue to 
focus on implementation of MAP-21, specifically in the 
following areas: streamlining project delivery, performance and 
accountability, transportation planning, new starts program, 
transit safety oversight, public transportation emergency 
relief program, and research and transportation technologies 
activities.
    2. Sustainability of Surface Transportation Programs. The 
Federal highway, highway safety, and public transportation 
programs are user-fee financed through Federal excise taxes 
levied on motor fuels and on various highway-related products 
such as tires and heavy trucks. Revenues from these user fees 
are deposited into the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) and may be used 
only for eligible transportation projects and activities. 
Current projections show that the cash balances in the HTF's 
Highway Account and Mass Transit Account will drop below 
prudent levels sometime in fiscal year 2015. The Subcommittee 
will monitor the status and solvency of the HTF, and its 
ability to fully fund the programs authorized under MAP-21 and 
to meet future surface transportation investment needs.
    3. Regulatory Oversight.
    a. Compliance, Safety, Accountability Program. On December 
13, 2010, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) 
launched its new Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) 
Program, which uses existing safety data collected by FMCSA and 
state agencies to better target enforcement activities at truck 
and bus companies based on crash risk, as measured by a history 
of safety violations. In February 2014, GAO issued a report 
identifying serious flaws with the methodology and data quality 
of the Safety Measurement System, a key component of the CSA 
program, and made recommendations to U.S. Department of 
Transportation. The Subcommittee will continue to monitor the 
development of the CSA program.
    b. Hours of Service. On December 27, 2011, FMCSA issued a 
final rule revising the hours of service (HOS) requirements for 
commercial truck drivers. The HOS rule limits a truck driver's 
work week to 70 hours, 11 hours of daily driving time, a 
maximum driving window of 14 consecutive hours, and stipulates 
that drivers cannot drive after working eight hours without 
first taking a break of at least 30 minutes. In addition, the 
rule requires truck drivers to take a ``34-hour restart'' in 
order to restart the clock on their work week. The ``34-hour 
restart'' provision must overlap during two periods between 
1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. The HOS rule became effective on July 
1, 2013. The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations 
Act, 2015 stayed the restart provisions of the HOS rule for one 
year, pending further study by FMCSA. The trucking industry has 
raised concerns that the changes are overly complex, and could 
potentially reduce productivity and safety. Law enforcement 
personnel have questioned whether the rule requires additional 
training for effective enforcement. In a March 31, 2014 letter 
to the Comptroller General of the United States, Chairman 
Shuster and Chairman Petri requested GAO to evaluate and report 
to the Committee on the validity of the key assumptions, data, 
and methodology used by the FMCSA in its Regulatory Impact 
Analysis (RIA), which was completed as part of the agency's HOS 
rulemaking. The Subcommittee will continue to monitor the 
effectiveness and impacts of the HOS rule.
    c. National Roadside Survey. The National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducts a national roadside 
survey to gather information and data about alcohol and drug 
impaired driving in the United States every ten years. The 2013 
study drew criticism from local law enforcement agencies and 
individual citizens among others. Specifically, concerns were 
raised about whether it was clear to the public that 
participation in the survey was voluntary, that law enforcement 
personnel on scene were off-duty, and whether participants were 
subject to arrest. The Subcommittee will continue to monitor 
the national roadside survey.
    4. Fiscal Year 2016 and 2017 Budget Requests. The 
Subcommittee will review and evaluate the Administration's 
fiscal year 2016 and fiscal year 2017 budget requests for the 
Office of the Secretary of Transportation, Federal Highway 
Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, FMCSA, and 
NHTSA.

     SUBCOMMITTEE ON RAILROADS, PIPELINES, AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

    1. DOT Fiscal Year 2016 and 2017 Budgets. The Subcommittee 
will review and evaluate the fiscal year 2016 and fiscal year 
2017 budget proposals for the Federal Railroad Administration 
(FRA), Amtrak, the Surface Transportation Board, the Railroad 
Retirement Board, the National Mediation Board, and the 
Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 
(PHMSA).
    2. Reauthorization of the Federal Railroad Administration's 
Rail Infrastructure Programs. The FRA administers several rail 
infrastructure programs, including the Railroad Rehabilitation 
and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan program, the High Speed 
and Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) grant program, and the 
Rail Line Relocation and Improvement Capital Grant (RLR) 
program. RRIF is a direct and guaranteed loan program for rail 
and rail-intermodal infrastructure projects with $35 billion in 
loan authority. The HSIPR program is a consolidation of two 
capital grant programs authorized in the Passenger Rail 
Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) (P.L. 110-432)--
the intercity passenger rail service grants to states, and the 
high-speed rail corridor development grants. These programs 
were appropriated a total of $10.1 billion and many of the 
projects are entering into the construction phase. The 
Subcommittee will conduct oversight of these rail 
infrastructure programs and the ongoing construction of 
projects throughout the country as grantees begin to build-out 
their projects.
    3. Reauthorization of Amtrak. The Amtrak Reform and 
Accountability Act of 1997 fundamentally altered the statutory 
status of Amtrak, a corporation, by freeing Amtrak from a 
variety of detailed statutory restrictions governing the 
company's route system, capital structure, labor relations, and 
corporate governance. In 2008, PRIIA established more reforms 
and operational improvements along with authorizing 
appropriations for Amtrak capital grants, operating grants, and 
the Amtrak Inspector General. In the 113th Congress, the 
Committee reported an Amtrak reauthorization bill, H.R. 5449, 
the ``Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2014'', and 
in the 114th Congress, the Subcommittee plans to reintroduce 
the reauthorization bill and move it through the legislative 
process. The Subcommittee will also continue to oversee 
Amtrak's performance and expenditure of its Federal funding to 
ensure taxpayers receive a return on their investment in the 
corporation.
    4. Pipeline Safety Programs. The Pipeline Safety, 
Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 reauthorized 
Federal pipeline safety programs through fiscal year 2015. It 
provides for enhanced safety and reliability in pipeline 
transportation and ensures regulatory certainty, which will 
help create a positive environment for job development. The 
legislation was enacted on January 3, 2012. The Subcommittee 
will conduct oversight of the Office of Pipeline Safety at 
PHMSA regarding implementation of the Act. The Act is due to 
expire in September 2015, and the Subcommittee plans to 
reauthorize the program.
    5. Hazardous Materials Safety Programs. The Moving Ahead 
for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) reauthorized 
PHMSA's hazardous materials safety programs. MAP-21 secured 
regulatory reforms, enhanced hazardous materials safety and 
enforcement, improved training, data collection, and research. 
As PHMSA's Office of Hazardous Materials Safety continues 
implementation of MAP-21, the Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight on that progress. As that program was extended with 
the rest of MAP-21 during the 113th Congress and is due to 
expire in the 114th Congress, the Subcommittee plans to 
reauthorize the hazardous materials safety program at PHMSA as 
part of the MAP-21 reauthorization.

            SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

    1. Clean Water Act and Water Infrastructure Programs. 
Continued improvement of water quality will likely require a 
combination of regulatory and nonregulatory approaches, as well 
as continued investment in the implementation of water quality-
related and water infrastructure programs. The Subcommittee's 
oversight will focus on issues related to these regulatory and 
nonregulatory approaches and water infrastructure investment.
    The Subcommittee will conduct oversight of the 
implementation of various regulatory and permitting programs 
under the Clean Water Act (CWA), including how the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of 
Engineers (Corps) implement these programs in conjunction with 
the states. This includes oversight of issues involving the 
establishment and implementation of water quality standards, 
total maximum daily loads, and effluent limitations, dealing 
with discharges of oil or hazardous substances, permitting of 
point source discharges of pollutants under the National 
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, 
and permitting of discharges of dredged or fill materials under 
the CWA section 404 permit program. Oversight also will include 
an examination of Federal and state policies and efforts to 
address the presence of nutrients in waters under the CWA and 
other Federal statutes, science and data quality issues, and 
continued efforts to improve the management of combined and 
sanitary sewer overflows, stormwater, and nonpoint source 
pollution.
    In addition, the Subcommittee will conduct oversight of 
wastewater treatment and water pollution control funding 
issues, including levels and sources of funding and management 
of grant and loan programs; wastewater security; and 
infrastructure needs.
    The Subcommittee also will pursue and examine finding 
innovative ways to finance new and replacement of old water 
infrastructure projects; providing states, counties, and towns 
with additional tools and flexibility to address local 
environmental challenges; and address local affordability 
concerns. As part of this, oversight may include a review of 
the effectiveness of watershed, market, and performance-based 
approaches to addressing local water pollution concerns.
    Further, the Subcommittee's oversight will include a review 
of the EPA's implementation of integrated approaches to 
municipal stormwater and wastewater management through EPA's 
integrated planning approach framework. The Subcommittee may 
investigate whether non-regulatory approaches, such as water 
quality trading and other market-based approaches, and other 
innovative approaches undertaken by state and local 
governments, could result in improvements to the environment.
    Moreover, the Subcommittee may review the implications of 
addressing, through traditional CWA permitting requirements, 
certain pollutant discharges, including discharges of 
pesticides, ballast water and incidental discharges from 
vessels, stormwater, and water transfers.
    2. Army Corps of Engineers Water Resources Program. The 
Subcommittee will review efforts to improve the efficiency and 
effectiveness of the organization, management, and mission of 
the civil works program of the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), 
including the selection, planning, and implementation of water 
resources projects; financing of harbor and inland waterways 
infrastructure, and utilization of large, medium, and small 
harbors; the backlog of uninitiated Corps construction 
projects, including prioritization of projects; asset 
management of projects in its operation and maintenance 
account, including existing and future levels of service; and 
efforts to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and 
consistent implementation of the Agency's regulatory programs, 
including those pertaining to wetlands (including the scope and 
procedural and substantive requirements of the permitting 
programs) and dredging activities. The Subcommittee will review 
the Corps' implementation of provisions of the Water Resources 
Reform and Development Act of 2014, including those that were 
intended to streamline the project planning and project 
delivery process.
    Continued investments in our Nation's infrastructure will 
create jobs and support a healthy economy. The Subcommittee 
will focus on getting projects for the Nation built more 
efficiently and cost effectively, thereby more quickly 
delivering project benefits to the public, while ensuring 
compliance with existing planning and environmental laws.
    The Subcommittee has initiated two studies to be carried 
out by GAO to review water storage pricing at U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers facilities, and cost recovery related to dam 
safety activities at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facilities.
    3. EPA--Superfund/Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act and Brownfields. The Superfund 
program under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) is aimed at cleaning 
up land in the United States that has been contaminated by 
hazardous waste and poses a risk to human health and/or the 
environment. The Brownfields program was authorized under the 
Brownfields Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act 
(which amended CERCLA). The Brownfields program is aimed at 
enhancing state, local, and private-sector cleanups of 
properties, the redevelopment or reuse of which may be 
complicated by the presence or potential presence of a 
contaminant. Unaddressed brownfields and Superfund sites drive 
down property values and tax revenues, pose potential human 
health concerns, and can deter reinvestment in cities and 
towns. The Brownfields program protects from Superfund 
liability many parties engaged in voluntary brownfields 
cleanups, and supports state and local brownfields assessment 
and cleanup activities and state voluntary cleanup programs. 
The Subcommittee's oversight will focus on issues related to 
implementation of the Superfund and Brownfields programs.
    The Subcommittee will review efforts to improve the 
efficiency and effectiveness of the contaminated site cleanup 
process and the process of assessing natural resources damages. 
In addition, the Subcommittee will review the liability, 
financing, and settlement mechanisms and procedures under the 
current Superfund program, including implementation of the 
Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization 
Act. This will include evaluating the need for additional 
liability protections for innocent parties.
    The Subcommittee also will review the role of the states in 
conducting and financing cleanups, and review the relationships 
among the states, EPA, and other Federal entities in 
implementing the Superfund and Brownfields programs. Further, 
the Subcommittee's oversight will include a review of ongoing 
Federal, state, and local efforts to revitalize brownfields, 
including through the implementation of the Small Business 
Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Finally, 
the Subcommittee will work to promote state, local, and private 
efforts to clean up and redevelop Superfund and brownfields 
sites.
    4. Tennessee Valley Authority. The Subcommittee will review 
the management of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and its 
programs, including its energy program and operations in the 
current marketplace and the impact of TVA debt on its long-term 
goals.
    Until mid-2006, the TVA had made significant payments on 
its long-term debt in an attempt to reduce its total financing 
obligations. Since 2006, however, TVA's debt has begun to 
steadily climb to levels that may place the taxpayer at risk. 
TVA's debt is statutorily capped at $30 billion and at the end 
of fiscal year 2012 carried just over $25 billion in total 
debt. The Subcommittee may initiate a review of TVA's 
commitment to long-term financial sustainability to lessen the 
risk posed to bondholders, ratepayers, and the taxpayer.
    The 114th Congress may be an appropriate time to revisit 
TVA's debt reduction activities and variables that impact their 
debt reduction strategies.
                     COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

    The Committee on Veterans' Affairs conducts its oversight 
with the help of four Subcommittees: Oversight and 
Investigations; Economic Opportunity; Disability Assistance and 
Memorial Affairs; and Health. It is expected that oversight of 
the issues outlined below will be a shared responsibility of 
both the full Committee and the appropriate subcommittees.

            Subcommittee on Disability and Memorial Affairs

     Appeals reform--The Board of Veterans Appeals 
(BVA) reviews benefits claims submitted by veterans who 
disagree with the decision made on their claim by a VA Regional 
Office. It currently takes over two years for BVA to reach a 
decision due to the backlog of claims. The process often 
involves a remand by BVA to the Regional Office for additional 
information which further lengthens the time to a final 
decision. The Committee will explore alternative processes and 
initiatives to the current system.
     VBA Training--The Veterans Benefits 
Administration's (VBA) overall training strategy continues to 
result in questionable outcomes. VBA recently spent about $10 
million to upgrade the skills of claims examiners. However, 
Committee staff attended several training sessions and spoke 
with participants to determine the quality of the training. 
Participants were nearly unanimous in their judgment that the 
training was of poor quality, hastily organized and inadequate 
in nearly all phases. The Committee will review VBA's training 
program beginning with initial skills training through advanced 
and recurrent training.
     Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims--The Court of 
Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) was established in 1988 and 
has exclusive jurisdiction over decisions made by the BVA. The 
Committee will conduct oversight over the operation of the 
Court, including the current, jurisdiction, and compensation 
and benefits of CAVC judges sitting on the Court compared to 
other Article III courts and the Federal judiciary. The 
Committee will make the comparison to determine whether CAVC 
judges are adequately compensated relative to their workloads 
and scope of work.
     VBMS and VBA IT Systems--The Committee will review 
the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS) and other VBA IT 
systems, to include inquiry into claims, future capabilities 
and efficiencies, prevention of government waste due to 
erroneous automatic payments or other system failures, and 
strategic planning for the paperless environment. VA has spent 
hundreds of millions of tax dollars to develop an information 
technology system to process disability benefit claims. To 
date, the Committee continues to receive information that the 
system is frequently inoperative thereby forcing claims 
processors to use inefficient systems designed decades ago.
     VBA Fiduciary Program--The Committee will review 
the performance of the VBA Fiduciary Program. The program is 
designed to provide financial security to veterans who have 
been determined unable to manage their VA benefit payments. 
Fiduciaries are designated by VA and can be a family member, a 
close friend, or a professional fiduciary. The review will 
include oversight of how fiduciaries are appointed, the 
Department's compliance with provisions in the Brady Handgun 
Violence Prevention Act (Public Law 103-159, 107 Stat. 1536) 
that can effectively deny veterans in the fiduciary program of 
the Second Amendment rights as well as fraud associated with 
the program.
     Discharge and Benefits Eligibility--The 
Subcommittee will review the treatment of character of 
discharge and subsequent effect on benefits and healthcare. The 
Committee is aware that many veterans receive types of 
discharges that deprive them of their VA benefits as well as 
affect their ability to hold many types of employment. These 
discharges are sometimes awarded due to a servicemember's 
performance under the stresses of PTSD and other mental health-
related issues.
     IDES Program--the Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight over the Integrated Disability Examination System 
(IDES) program collaboration of DoD and VA, to include outcomes 
and timeliness. IDES is intended to begin the disability claims 
process while a servicemember is on active duty. The goal is to 
completely reach a decision on the claim by the time the 
servicemember is discharged or shortly thereafter.
     National Cemeteries--The Subcommittee will 
continue oversight over National Cemetery Administration (NCA), 
Arlington National Cemetery (ANC), American Battle Monuments 
Commission (ABMC), to include each organization's mission and 
operation to include inquiry into matters of unclaimed remains, 
access, and the methodology for determining veteran 
satisfaction. Each of the above organizations provides a 
hallowed resting place for veterans. VA alone operates over 150 
National Cemeteries to provide an honorable resting place for 
veterans and certain dependents. The Committee will look into a 
number of issues including poor cemetery maintenance, 
destruction of and misplaced grave markers, and overall 
management issues.

                  Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity

     Effectiveness of the Transition Assistance Program 
(TAP)--The Committee continues to be concerned about the 
effectiveness of the TAP program which is intended to prepare 
servicemembers for their return to civilian life. The 
Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Labor jointly 
manage and provide content to the five-day course that focuses 
on skills needed to obtain gainful employment as well as an 
understanding of the benefits that are available to them from 
VA and DoL.
     Performance of the Veterans Employment and 
Training Service's State Grant program including performance of 
the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist/Local 
Veterans Employment Representative (DVOPS and LVERs) use of 
employment outcome measures--The DVOPS/LVER program funds state 
employment service staffs who are dedicated to placing veterans 
in good-paying jobs. There are significant issues surrounding 
the inconsistent performance of this program across the states 
and the outcome measures used to determine performance continue 
to be inadequate.
     Effectiveness and outcomes of Education and 
Training Programs for Returning Veterans with a focus in GI 
Bill processing, implementing the in-state and Frye scholarship 
provisions in the Choice Act, and the VetSuccess on Campus 
program--The Post-9/11 GI bill is the most generous education 
program for veterans since the original WWII GI Bill. Based on 
the length of service, the program funds up to full tuition and 
fees at public institutions of higher learning and about 
$19,000 per year at private institutions as well as a monthly 
living stipend based on the housing allowance paid to 
servicemembers at the rank of E-5 and the zip code of the 
institution. Recent changes to the program have expanded 
eligibility for surviving dependents and the Committee intends 
to determine how VA is implementing those changes as well as 
the performance and value of the success-on-Campus program that 
stations VA Vocational Rehabilitation staff on approximately 95 
campuses.
     Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) 
program--The VR&E program provides education and training 
benefits for disabled veterans with barriers to employment. The 
program will fund all costs related to long and short-term 
education and training as well as immediate job placement 
services. VRE also manages the Independent Living (IL) program 
designed to enable the most severely injured veterans to live 
as independently as possible. The Committee continues to be 
concerned about counselor caseloads and outcomes of VRE 
programs. The Committee will also conduct oversight over 
management and overall effectiveness of the VR&E program.
     Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE)--CVE is 
responsible for vetting the applications of veteran and 
service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses wanting to 
participate in the program designed to increase the amount of 
procurement dollars spent with veteran and disabled veteran-
owned small businesses. CVE's vetting program continues to 
approve companies that are not qualified for multiple reasons 
as well as disapprove qualified companies. The Committee will 
review CVE's performance and coordinate with the Small Business 
Committee to determine appropriate alternatives.
     Licensing and Credentialing Issues--The 
Subcommittee plans to look into efforts by states and other 
entities to provide appropriate licenses and credentials to 
qualified veterans whose military training make them eligible 
for such credentials or licenses. The Department of Defense 
spends billions of tax dollars to provide servicemembers with 
the skills needed to complete DoD's mission. The vast majority 
of those skills translate well to civilian jobs. Unfortunately, 
few states recognize and give credit for military training to 
qualify for state-licensed positions and therefore, the 
training provided by DoD is essentially wasted. The Committee 
will review states' progress toward awarding credit for 
military training.

                         Subcommittee on Health

     Implementation of Public Law 113-146, the Veteran 
Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014--The Committee 
will thoroughly examine the actions the Department of Veterans 
Affairs (VA) has taken to ensure that the law is implemented in 
accordance with statutorily required timelines and 
Congressional intent. Last year, Committee oversight and 
whistleblower revelations exposed systemic access to care 
delays, widespread data manipulation, and failures of 
accountability across the VA healthcare system. These issues 
left some veterans waiting weeks, months, or--in some cases--
years for needed VA medical appointments. As such, particular 
consideration will be given to the status of the Veterans 
Choice program created by section 101 of the law and other 
efforts undertaken by VA to ensure veterans receive timely and 
accessible medical care, whether at VA medical facilities or 
through non-VA providers. The Committee will begin looking at a 
longer term solution that fully incorporates non-VA care into 
the traditional VA care model, either through a restructured 
PC3 program or other vehicle. The Committee will also closely 
monitor VA's efforts to ensure that payments to non-VA 
providers are both accurate and timely and continue aggressive 
oversight of VA's efforts to ensure that all appropriate 
actions are taken to hold VA leaders and employees accountable 
for actions that cause harm to veteran patients.
     Mental Health Care Quality, Access, and Staffing--
The Committee will continue to conduct rigorous oversight of 
the provision of mental health care to veteran patients, 
particularly those at risk of suicide. On average, 22 veterans 
commit suicide each day--in spite of significant increases in 
VA's mental health and suicide prevention budget, staff, and 
programs over the last several years. In light of this seeming 
disconnect, the Committee will examine the effectiveness of 
VA's mental health and suicide prevention programs in reducing 
the prevalence of mental health issues and suicide among the 
veteran population. As part of this effort, the Committee will 
also examine the quality, availability, and efficacy of the 
readjustment counseling services provided through VA Vet 
Centers.
     Women Veterans--The Committee will evaluate 
actions needed to increase access and overcome barriers to care 
for women veterans. Women are the fastest growing segment of 
the veteran population yet research continues to indicate that 
VA struggles with providing women veterans with appropriate 
gender-specific and gender-sensitive care in a welcoming 
environment. In response, the Committee will examine VA's 
current practices and actions needed to improve the provision 
of care to women veterans.
     Medical Recruitment, Retention and Staffing--The 
Committee will closely examine VA's staffing, recruitment, and 
retention plans. VA has identified staffing shortages as a key 
issue impacting access to care for veteran patients. Recently, 
VA transmitted a plan to Congress detailing VA's intent to 
invest $2.2 billion to hire approximately 9,600 new permanent 
medical staff. The Committee will closely monitor the use of 
these funds and the impact staffing increases have on access to 
and quality of care for veteran patients. In light of the long-
history of VA Inspector General and Government Accountability 
Office reports regarding deficiencies in the productivity and 
staffing measures used by VA medical centers and clinics, the 
Committee will also assess VA's methodology to identify, 
prioritize, and correct staffing shortages.
     Caregiver Support--The Committee will continue to 
monitor the implementation of the caregiver assistance programs 
established in Public Law 111-163, the Caregivers and Veterans 
Omnibus Health Services Act. The Committee recognizes and 
respects the valuable services caregivers provide--often to the 
detriment of their own emotional, physical, and financial 
health--to veterans in need. As such, the Committee will also 
continue to examine the findings and recommendation made by the 
Government Accountability Office and the RAND Corporation, 
among others, regarding how to improve caregiver programs. 
Notably, the Committee will also evaluate the feasibility of 
the expansion of the Family Caregiver Program and the 
requirements VA must meet to responsibly expand it to family 
caregivers of pre-9/11 veterans. In addition to evaluating the 
feasibility of the expansion of the Family Caregiver Program to 
pre-9/11 veterans, the Committee will also examine the 
feasibility of including ``ill'' veterans' caregivers in the 
program.
     Management of Major Medical Facility Projects and 
Leases--The Committee will continue its aggressive oversight of 
VA's major medical facility construction projects and leases. 
The Committee will also evaluate actions needed to expedite 
VA's leasing projects in light of recent changes that require 
VA to work with the General Services Administration to execute 
major medical facility leases. Particular consideration will be 
given to the status of ongoing major medical facility 
construction projects in Orlando, Florida; New Orleans, 
Louisiana; and Denver, Colorado; and the twenty-seven major 
medical facility leases authorized in Public Law 113-146.
     Organizational and Management Structure--The 
Committee will closely examine the current Veterans Health 
Administration organizational and management structure. Last 
year, the Committee received testimony from the VA Inspector 
General that, ``. . . There are several organizational issues 
that impeded the efficient and effective operation of [the 
Veterans Health Administration] and place patients at-risk of 
unexpected outcomes.'' The Committee will thoroughly evaluate 
these organizational impediments to care and assess changes 
that may be needed to improve the provision of timely, quality 
care to veteran patients. VISN scope, function, and manpower 
requirements will be examined for possible restructuring. The 
Committee will also monitor VA's efforts to increase the 
efficiency of medical facility operations and, ultimately, 
access to care for veteran patients. In addition, the Committee 
will also evaluate best practices utilized by private sector 
health care systems and their applicability to--and inclusion 
in--the VA healthcare system.
     Medical and Prosthetic Research Program and 
Centers of Excellence--The Committee will closely examine VA's 
medical and prosthetic research program. VA's Office of 
Research and Development (ORD) conducts an extensive research 
program that is tasked with conducting research to advance the 
health care provided by VA and to the nation. Outside of ORD, 
VA also operates a number of Centers of Excellence across the 
country that conduct research on specific aspects of VA health 
care. The Committee will aggressively oversee the totality of 
VA's research programs and ensure that best practices are 
conducted and disseminated throughout the country.
     Prosthetic Care and Procurement--The Committee 
will continue to closely monitor and assess the provision of 
care to veterans requiring prosthetic devices. In 2012, VA 
undertook an initiative to reform prosthetics procurement 
practices. Under the new system, purchasing authority for 
prosthetics equipment above $3,000 was transferred from 
prosthetics purchasing agents to contracting specialists. The 
Committee remains concerned that these reforms have resulted in 
lengthy and unacceptable delays in care for veterans in need. 
As such, the Committee will also examine the continuing impacts 
of prosthetic procurement reform and actions needed to ensure 
veterans--particularly those requiring high-level prosthetic 
devices--receive timely and responsive prosthetic care.
     Pain Management--The Committee will examine the 
increasing use of prescription medications to treat veterans 
experiencing acute and chronic pain. Data suggests that 
veterans are a particularly high-risk population for 
prescription misuse, substance use disorder, accidental 
overdose, accidents, and/or self-inflicted injury. In 
particular, questions were raised in the 113th Congress 
regarding the need for VA to provide a ``higher consent'' form 
to veterans regarding medication side effects and offering them 
alternative therapies to medications in order to manage their 
pain. Accordingly, the Committee will examine actions needed to 
improve pain management across the VA health care system.
     VA Partnerships with Community Organizations--The 
Committee will continue to examine the role of non-profit, 
faith-based, and community providers in helping veterans 
transitioning from active duty to civilian life and/or 
struggling with health or other issues. Operating outside the 
constraints of a Federal bureaucracy, faith-based, non-profit, 
community, and other nongovernmental organizations are uniquely 
situated to assist VA in breaking down identified barriers to 
care for veterans in need. Indeed, these groups are already 
playing a pivotal role in caring for the veterans in 
communities across the country every day, providing a range of 
services including transportation, housing, mental health 
counseling, crisis intervention services, scholarships, 
financial assistance, and workforce reintegration programs. The 
Committee will focus on VA's relationship with these critical 
community partners and further actions needed to increase and 
improve meaningful and effective working relationships between 
them and VA.
     Homeless Veterans--The Committee will thoroughly 
examine the actions VA has taken to provide homeless and at-
risk veterans with appropriate housing, healthcare, and 
training and employment opportunities. In November 2009, then-
VA Secretary Shinseki announced a Five-Year Plan to End Veteran 
Homelessness. Since this Plan was implemented in 2010, veteran 
homelessness has decreased by 33 percent and VA's total medical 
care obligations for homeless veterans has increased to roughly 
$6 billion, more than ten percent of VA's entire medical care 
budget. In light of the pending conclusion of the Plan and the 
considerable investments that have been made in support of it, 
the Committee will closely assess the status and sustainability 
of the progress made to-date to eradicate veteran homelessness. 
Importantly, the Committee will also work to ensure that VA's 
efforts regarding homeless veterans are focused not just on 
housing but also on the elimination of the factors underlying 
homelessness.
     Toxic Exposures--The Committee will examine VA's 
efforts to improve the research and treatment available to 
veterans who may have been exposed to toxic chemicals during 
their military service. Negative health effects as a result of 
exposure to toxic chemicals can have lifelong and generational 
effects on veterans and their families. In recognition of this, 
the Committee will assess the actions VA has taken in response 
to verified or suspected toxic exposure incidents and evaluate 
actions still needed to improve services to veterans and family 
members.
     Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Long Term 
Rehabilitation--The Committee will continue to examine the 
treatment provided to veterans with TBI. Identifying and 
implementing innovative treatment techniques to aid these 
veterans in their recovery has been a long-standing Committee 
priority. Particular consideration will be provided to 
overseeing the ongoing community-based brain injury residential 
rehabilitative care pilot program. Anecdotal evidence seems to 
indicate that veterans involved in the pilot program are 
satisfied with it and appear to experience functional gains as 
a result of the services they receive. In support of these 
initial findings, the Committee will continue to oversee the 
pilot as well as assess actions needed to enhance 
rehabilitation, quality of life, and community integration for 
veterans with TBI.
     Complementary and Alternative Medicine--The 
Committee will assess the availability, use, and efficacy of 
complementary and alternative medicine to treat veterans in 
need. Anecdotal evidence from veterans in complementary and 
alternative medicine programs indicates positive health effects 
and, increasingly, veterans are advocating for a variety of 
treatment options in addition to traditional medicine. As such, 
the Committee will examine how VA is incorporating 
complementary and alternative medicine into VA medical 
facilities and monitoring the effectiveness of complementary 
and alternative treatments for veterans with physical and 
mental health issues.
     Veterans Courts--The Committee will assess VA's 
Veterans Justice Outreach programs and, in particular, the role 
of veterans courts. Veterans with mental health, substance use, 
and other needs that are left untreated can sometimes become 
involved with the criminal justice system. The Committee will 
evaluate the use and effectiveness of veterans courts in 
assisting veterans with mental health and other needs access 
treatment and avoid unnecessary criminalization and 
incarceration.
     Pharmacy Issues--The Committee will examine 
ongoing issues with VA's pharmacy practices and formulary. The 
Committee will also evaluate the process through veterans are 
prescribed non-formulary medications, as required, and the 
process through which new medications are vetted and, 
ultimately, provided to veteran patients. The Committee will 
also oversee the use and effectiveness of VA's consolidated 
mail outpatient pharmacy.
     Civilian Health and Medical Program of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA)--CHAMPVA provides 
health benefits to spouses and children of veterans who are 
disabled or who died from a service-connected disability. When 
the Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) was passed in 
2010, children of these veterans were left out of the 
provisions allowing dependents to stay on their parents' 
insurance until age 26. However, within the military health 
program TRICARE, dependents are allowed to stay until 26, 
creating a potential inequity for CHAMPVA dependents. The 
Committee will examine the feasibility and advisability of 
extending the CHAMPVA program to age 26 for those who are 
eligible.

              Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

     VA Procurement and Acquisition--the VA procurement 
and acquisition process has been a recurring problem area for 
the VA. The Committee will look into numerous allegations of 
inappropriate and inefficient procurement practices at the VA 
and work toward identifying concrete steps that VA can take to 
improve the procurement and acquisition process.
     VA Major Construction--The Committee will be 
undertaking a comprehensive investigation and review of VA's 
Major Construction program. VA's current practices may increase 
costs and delays in constructing facilities, as most recently 
evidenced at the Denver VA Medical Center project, a project 
where costs have skyrocketed and estimates regarding completion 
have stretched into the future.
     VA Claims Process--The Committee will be looking 
into the VA claims process to ensure that claims are handled 
quickly and fairly, including claims that are handled under an 
expedited process that may cut important due process corners.
     VA Health Care Quality and Timeliness--The 
Committee will continue oversight over VA health care quality 
concerns and issues involving delays and access. The Committee 
is especially concerned over staffing shortages and the effects 
such shortages have on health care access.
     VA Land Use Agreements--The Committee will review 
allegations of wasteful and improper VA land use lease 
agreements that may have an effect on health care quality and 
timeliness and waste taxpayer dollars.
     Whistleblower Retaliation--The Committee is 
concerned over continued allegations regarding VA retaliation 
against whistleblowers. The Committee will look closely into 
whistleblower retaliation and whether recent statements 
regarding zero tolerance for retaliation are being effectively 
followed throughout the VA system.
     VA Mental Health Care--The Committee will be 
reviewing the effectiveness and adequacy of VA's mental health 
efforts, including its management of psychiatric medications 
and suicide prevention efforts that may not provide appropriate 
access to care to veterans seeking mental health care. The 
Committee will also review the use and misuse of opioids in the 
treatment of mental health issues involving PTSD, TBI, and 
substance use addictions.
     VA Information Technology--The Committee will 
continue its vigorous oversight over the VA's information 
technology program, including the effectiveness of VA's 
cybersecurity efforts. The Committee will also look into VA's 
efforts to replace the scheduling software currently used by 
the Veterans Health Administration as well as efforts by VA and 
the Department of Defense to put into place interoperable and 
integrated electronic health records.
                      COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS,

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                  Washington, DC, January 27, 2015.
Hon. Jason Chaffetz,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Chairman Chaffetz: Pursuant to clause 2(d) of House 
rule X, I am submitting the oversight plan of the Committee on 
Ways and Means for the 114th Congress. The oversight plan was 
adopted during our Committee's organizational meeting on 
January 21, 2015.
            Sincerely,
                                                 Paul Ryan,
                                                          Chairman.

                       Committee on Ways and Means,
                                  House of Representatives,
                                  Washington, DC, January 21, 2015.
Hon. Jason Chaffetz,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight & Government Reform,
Rayburn House Office Bldg., Washington, DC.
Hon. Candice S. Miller,
Chairman, Committee on House Administration,
Longworth House Office Bldg., Washington, DC.
    Dear Chairman Chaffetz and Chairman Miller: In accordance 
with the requirements of clause 2 of rule X of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the following is a list of oversight 
hearings and oversight-related activities that the Committee on 
Ways and Means and its Subcommittees plan to conduct during the 
114th Congress.
Matters Under the Committee's Federal Budget Jurisdiction:
     Economic and Budget Outlook. Oversight hearings 
with various Administration officials to discuss current 
economic and budget conditions, including the long-term 
outlook, the state of the economy, prospects for short- and 
long-term growth, our economic competitiveness, private sector 
job creation, and limits on the public debt.
Matters Under the Committee's Tax Jurisdiction:
     Tax Reform. Hearings and other activities related 
to tax reform.
     Priorities of the Department of the Treasury. 
Hearings with the Treasury Secretary and other Administration 
officials to receive information regarding the Administration's 
tax-related priorities for the 114th Congress. Specifically, 
discuss and consider legislative and administrative proposals 
contained in the President's fiscal year 2015-2017 budgets.
     Appropriate Tax Relief for Individuals, Families, 
and Employers. Hearings and other activities regarding 
appropriate tax relief measures for individual taxpayers, 
families, and employers of all sizes.
     Highway Trust Fund (HTF). Oversight of the HTF and 
its financial condition, as well as the revenue streams that 
finance expenditures out of the HTF.
     Tax Provisions Contained in the ``Affordable Care 
Act'' (ACA). Hearings and other activities regarding various 
tax provisions contained in the Patient Protection and 
Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) and the Health Care and 
Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152), known 
collectively as the ACA. Continued oversight and other 
activities related to ACA tax provisions, including especially 
those scheduled for implementation in 2013 or 2014, such as the 
individual mandate, the employer mandate, the Exchange 
subsidies, the medical device tax, and the 3.8 percent surtax 
on capital gains, dividends, and other investment income.
     Internal Revenue Service Operations/Administration 
of Tax Laws. Oversight of the major Internal Revenue Service 
programs, including enforcement, collection, taxpayer services, 
returns processing, and information systems. Continue 
enforcement of major operating areas of the agency to ensure 
the nation's tax laws are being administered in a fair and 
impartial manner. Consider analyses and reports provided to the 
Congress by the IRS National Taxpayer Advocate, Treasury 
Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), and the GAO. 
Oversight of IRS funding and staffing levels needed to provide 
taxpayer assistance and enforce the tax law effectively and 
efficiently. Evaluate tax return filing seasons, including 
electronic filing, and improper payments levels and fraud 
prevention efforts. Discuss proposed funding and staffing 
levels for the IRS, and legislative proposals and 
administrative proposals contained in the President's fiscal 
year 2016 and 2017 budgets. Continue investigation related to 
the TIGTA audit report, ``Inappropriate Criteria Were Used to 
Identify Tax-Exempt Applications for Review.''
     IRS Audit Selection Procedures. Oversight of the 
processes the IRS uses to select individuals and groups for 
audit. Continue coordination with GAO regarding ongoing audit 
work assessing IRS audit selection procedures and safeguards 
across all IRS business units.
     Tax-Exempt Organizations. Oversight of Federal tax 
laws, regulations, and filing requirements that affect tax-
exempt organizations, particularly charities and foundations. 
Evaluate overall IRS efforts to monitor tax-exempt 
organizations, identify areas of non-compliance, prevent abuse, 
and ensure timely disclosure to the public about tax-exempt 
organization activities and finances. Review IRS tax-exempt 
application process and agency oversight of new exempt 
organizations.
     Tax Code and Tax Form Simplification. Oversight of 
tax code and tax form complexity, particularly for individuals, 
with the goal of simplification. Review areas where taxpayers 
and professional return preparers have difficulty, including 
areas where they make the most errors, and consider solutions. 
Evaluate simplification of information returns to assist 
taxpayers in determining taxable income. Examine proposals to 
close the ``tax gap'' by simplifying compliance with our tax 
laws.
     Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Oversight of the 
refundable federal income tax credit designed to assist low to 
moderate income working individuals and families. Evaluate the 
participation and improper payment rates within the program, 
and IRS efforts to eliminate EITC abuse.
     Tax Scams and Improper Payments. Oversight of the 
latest tax scams and tax fraud activities with a goal of 
protecting taxpayers and preventing identity theft. Examine IRS 
initiatives and efforts to curb tax fraud and the abuse of tax 
credits, specifically improper payments in the administration 
of tax credits. Review IRS processes designed to identify and 
remedy identity theft.
     Federal Excise Taxes. Oversight review of Federal 
excise taxes, credits, and refunds, including the trust funds 
financed by these taxes.
     Pensions and Retirement Security. Oversight review 
of the financial condition, operations, and governance of the 
Pension Benefit Corporation (``PBGC''), including financial 
exposure of the PBGC.
Matters Under the Committee's Health Jurisdiction:
     Priorities of the Department of Health and Human 
Services. Oversight hearing with the Health and Human Services 
Secretary to discuss priorities for the 114th Congress and 
concerns related to the delivery of health services and 
reimbursement under Medicare. Specifically, discuss and 
consider legislative and administrative proposals contained in 
the President's fiscal year 2016 and 2017 budgets.
     Health Provisions Contained in the ``Affordable 
Care Act'' (ACA). Hearings and other activities regarding 
various health provisions contained in the Patient Protection 
and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) and the Health Care and 
Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152), known 
collectively as the ACA. Continued oversight and other 
activities related to ACA health provisions, including its 
changes to the annual updates to Medicare Fee-For-Service's 
payment rates, changes to Medicare Advantage's payment rates, 
benefit changes to fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage, and 
creation of the Independent Payment Advisory Board.
     Medicare Part A and Part B (Fee-for-Service 
Providers). Oversight of the major Medicare programs to ensure 
efficient use of resources, quality of care, and access to 
providers for Medicare beneficiaries. Specific topics include: 
adequacy and appropriateness of provider reimbursements, 
including incentive payments and reforming physician payment 
systems; program benefits; cost sharing; workforce supply; the 
doctor-patient relationship; treatment of specific populations 
such as people with disabilities and low-income beneficiaries; 
quality improvement efforts; and waste, fraud, and abuse 
activities
     Medicare Advantage. Oversight of Medicare health 
plans, including: enrollment; reimbursements; benefit packages; 
quality; beneficiary choice; and recent statutory and 
regulatory changes affecting Medicare health plans and their 
enrollees.
     Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Plans). 
Oversight of the Medicare prescription drug program, including: 
drug pricing; benefits; beneficiary premiums and cost-sharing; 
beneficiary choice; impacts of recently enacted legislation and 
regulations and their impact on the Part D program; and access 
to retiree prescription drug coverage.
     Medicare Entitlement. Oversight of program changes 
on the Medicare Trust Funds; premium and copay levels; provider 
payments; and benefit design, and improving the program's long-
term sustainability.
     CMS Administration. Oversight of CMS, including 
issuance of regulations and their impact on Medicare 
beneficiaries and providers; the adequacy and use of CMS' 
budget and staff; contracting activities; communications with 
beneficiaries; adherence to the Administrative Procedures Act; 
and general agency accountability.
     Private Health Insurance Coverage. Oversight and 
review of private health coverage, including: cost, access, 
subsidies to purchase insurance, benefit design, coverage 
options, pooling mechanisms, and employer-sponsored benefits; 
COBRA; HCTC; health savings accounts and flexible spending 
arrangements; options to reduce the cost of health coverage, 
expand coverage, and address the rate of increase in health 
care costs; the impact of the ACA and related regulations on 
those with private insurance, the uninsured, employers, the 
economy, and state budgets; and adherence to the Administrative 
Procedures Act.
Matters Under the Committee's Human Resources Jurisdiction:
     Welfare Reform. Review proposals designed to 
better assist low-income families in increasing their work and 
earnings so they can escape poverty, including by developing 
innovative efforts to improve cooperation between and the 
performance of TANF, child care, social services and multiple 
other benefit programs. As part of this process, ensure that 
programs are rigorously evaluated and held accountable for 
achieving measurable performance goals, including substantive 
work and activity requirements for adult recipients, such as 
the TANF program has applied since 1996 reforms. Also review 
opportunities to prevent duplication, overlap, and 
fragmentation, in order to improve the overall effectiveness of 
efforts to serve low-income individuals. Examine associated 
barriers to increasing self-sufficiency among low-income 
families with children, and how changes may better address the 
needs of adult beneficiaries who face barriers to employment.
     Unemployment Compensation. Provide oversight of 
the nation's unemployment compensation benefits and employment 
security systems, especially those designed to accelerate 
returns to work, prevent inappropriate benefit payments, and 
improve overpayment recovery.
     Child Welfare. Provide oversight of the nation's 
child welfare programs, including foster care, adoption 
assistance, and child and family service programs under Titles 
IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act. Review State efforts 
to promote adoption, strengthen family connections, and 
successfully address the health and educational needs of foster 
children, including through the implementation of the 
Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act of 
2014.
     Low-Income Disabled and Aged Individuals. Provide 
oversight of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program to 
examine trends in the program, agency program integrity 
efforts, the implementation of the ABLE Act of 2014, and 
options to improve recipient outcomes and reduce administrative 
complexities in order to target program resources to those most 
in need. Review SSI interactions with the Social Security 
Disability Insurance program, as reforms required to restore 
the solvency of that program are considered.
Matters Under the Committee's Social Security Jurisdiction:
     Securing the Future of Social Security. Examine 
the role of Social Security benefits in ensuring retirement 
security for today's and future retirees, financing challenges 
facing Social Security, the cost to taxpayers and beneficiaries 
of delay in addressing those challenges, and options to 
strengthen Social Security, including how the program is 
meeting the needs of today's and tomorrow's beneficiaries.
     Strengthening the Disability Insurance (DI) 
program. Examine the effectiveness of DI benefits in meeting 
the needs of individuals with disabilities today and the 
process for both determining eligibility for benefits and 
appealing denied applications, along with options to strengthen 
the program and examine how best to improve work incentives in 
the DI program. Additionally, examine the interactions between 
the DI program and the Supplemental Security Income and 
Medicare programs.
     Stewardship of Social Security programs. Provide 
oversight of the management, performance, and long-range 
strategic planning related to Social Security programs.
     Deployment of Resources. Oversight of the SSA's 
deployment of tight resources to serve the public and 
taxpayers, including evolving service delivery approaches, 
policy administration and program implementation impacts, and 
the SSA's role in supporting other Federal programs through 
interagency and data sharing agreements.
Matters Under the Committee's Trade Jurisdiction:
     Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). Consideration of 
legislation to renew Trade Promotion Authority, strengthening 
the role of Congress in trade negotiations by specifying 
Congressional negotiating objectives and directions for the 
Administration, establishing requirements for consultation with 
Congress, mandating transparency, and providing a clear 
framework for Congressional consideration and implementation of 
trade agreements.
     Role of Trade in U.S. Job Creation. Oversight of 
the role of trade in creating U.S. jobs and how to create new 
market access for U.S. manufactured goods, agriculture, and 
services.
     Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Negotiations. 
Continued consultation with the Administration and U.S. 
Stakeholders concerning the negotiations and specify Member 
views on U.S. negotiating positions, with the goal of 
concluding a comprehensive and high-ambition agreement
     Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership 
(TTIP) Negotiations. Continued consultation with the 
Administration and U.S. stakeholders concerning the 
negotiations and specifying Member views on U.S. negotiating 
positions, with the goal of concluding a comprehensive and 
high-ambition agreement.
     Other Bilateral, Regional, and Plurilateral 
Negotiations. Continued consultation with the Administration 
and U.S. stakeholders concerning the Trade in Services 
Agreement (TiSA) negotiations, bilateral investment treaty 
negotiations, and other potential negotiations.
     World Trade Organization (WTO). Oversight of 
implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), 
expansion of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA), and 
negotiations for the Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA). 
Oversight of U.S. goals in the WTO, dispute settlement, and WTO 
accessions.
     Preference Programs. Oversight and renewal of 
major U.S. trade preference programs, including the Generalized 
System of Preferences (expired July 2013) and the African 
Growth and Opportunity Act (expiring September 30, 2015).
     Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB). Consideration of 
legislation concerning noncontroversial bills to eliminate or 
reduce duties on products not made in the United States, in 
accordance with bipartisan transparency guidelines and House 
Rules.
     Enforcement. Oversight of enforcement of U.S. 
rights and rights under trade agreements, including the WTO 
Agreements and bilateral and regional free trade agreements, to 
hold U.S. trading partners accountable. Particular oversight of 
continuing barriers imposed by China and India. Oversight of 
administration of U.S. trade remedy laws, including border 
enforcement. Oversight of whether the United States is in 
compliance with its obligations, particularly where the United 
States is facing retaliation.
     Trade Sanctions. Oversight concerning import 
sanctions with, among others, Iran, Russia, Cuba, North Korea, 
Syria, and Burma.
     Trade Sanctions. Oversight concerning import 
sanctions with, among others, Iran, Russia, Cuba, North Korea, 
Syria, and Burma.
     Implemented Trade Agreements. Oversight of 
implemented agreements with Colombia; Panama; Korea; Peru; 
Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, and 
Honduras (CAFTA-DR); Oman; Bahrain; Singapore; Chile; 
Australia; Morocco; Jordan; Canada and Mexico (NAFTA); and 
Israel.
     Trade Adjustment Assistance. Oversight concerning 
the Trade Adjustment Assistance programs for workers, firms, 
communities, and farmers.
     Priorities of the Office of the United States 
Trade Representative (USTR). Oversight over USTR to evaluate 
priorities for the 114th Congress and the trade agenda.
     Priorities of the United States International 
Trade Commission. Oversight over the Commission concerning 
overall priorities and operations.
    This list is not intended to be exclusive. The Committee 
anticipates that additional oversight hearings and activities 
will be scheduled as issues arise and as time permits. Also, 
the Committee's oversight priorities and particular concerns 
may change as the 114th Congress progresses over the coming two 
years.
            Sincerely,
                                                 Paul Ryan,
                                                          Chairman.

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