Daily Digest

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Daily Digest

HIGHLIGHTS

Senate agreed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 644, Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act.

Senate

Chamber Action

Routine Proceedings, pages S833–S884

Measures Introduced:
Eighteen bills were introduced, as follows: S. 2540–2557.

Pages S874–75 

Measures Reported:

Special Report entitled ``Fighting Fraud: U.S. Senate Aging Committee Identifies Top 10 Scams Targeting our Nation's Seniors''. (S. Rept. No. 114–208)

S. 483, to improve enforcement efforts related to prescription drug diversion and abuse, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.

Page S874 

Measures Passed:

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma:
Senate passed H.R. 487, to allow the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma to lease or transfer certain lands.

Page S881 

Robert Levinson:
Senate agreed to S. Res. 99, calling on the Government of Iran to follow through on repeated promises of assistance in the case of Robert Levinson, the longest held United States civilian in our Nation's history, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, and the committee amendment to the title.

Pages S881–82 

Connecticut's Submarine Century:
Committee on Armed Services was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 298, recognizing Connecticut's Submarine Century, the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Naval Submarine Base New London, and Connecticut's historic role in supporting the undersea capabilities of the United States, and the resolution was then agreed to, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:

Pages S882–83 

McConnell (for Blumenthal) Amendment No. 3306, to make technical corrections in the preamble.

Pages S882–83 

Conference Reports:


Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act:
By 75 yeas to 20 nays (Vote No. 22), Senate agreed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 644, to reauthorize trade facilitation and trade enforcement functions and activities.

Pages S836–46 

During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the following action:

By 73 yeas to 22 nays (Vote No. 21), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the conference report to accompany the bill.

Page S840 

Califf Nomination--Cloture:
Senate began consideration of the nomination of Robert McKinnon Califf, of South Carolina, to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Department of Health and Human Services.

Pages S869–70 

A motion was entered to close further debate on the nomination, and, in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, and pursuant to the unanimous-consent agreement of Thursday, February 11, 2016, a vote on cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, February 22, 2016.

Pages S869–70 

Nominations Confirmed:
Senate confirmed the following nominations:

By a unanimous vote of 93 yeas (Vote No. EX. 23), Leonard Terry Strand, of South Dakota, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Iowa.

Pages S848–50, S884 

Morton H. Halperin, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation for a term of two years.

Michael O. Johanns, of Nebraska, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation for a term of three years.

Pages S881, S884 
[Page:D133] 

Routine lists in the Foreign Service.

Pages S881, S884 

Nominations Received:
Senate received the following nominations:

Abdul K. Kallon, of Alabama, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit.

John B. King, of New York, to be Secretary of Education.

Page S884 

Messages from the House:

Page S874 

Measures Referred:

Page S874 

Additional Cosponsors:

Pages S875–76 

Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:

Pages S876–80 

Additional Statements:

Pages S871–74 

Amendments Submitted:

Page S880 

Authorities for Committees to Meet:

Pages S880–81 

Privileges of the Floor:

Page S881 

Record Votes:
Three record votes were taken today. (Total--23)

Pages S840, S846, S850 

Adjournment:
Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 6:21 p.m., until 10 a.m. on Friday, February 12, 2016. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S883.)

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

ZIKA SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST

Committee on Appropriations:
Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine emerging health threats and the Zika supplemental request, after receiving testimony from Tom Frieden, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Anthony S. Fauci, Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, both of the Department of Health and Human Services.

DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION REQUEST AND FUTURE YEARS DEFENSE PROGRAM

Committee on Armed Services:
Committee concluded a hearing to examine the National Commission on the Future of the United States Army in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2017 and the Future Years Defense Program, after receiving testimony from General Carter F. Ham, USA (Ret.), Chairman, Thomas R. Lamont, Vice Chairman, and General James D. Thurman, USA (Ret.), and Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III, USA (Ret.), both a Commissioner, all of the National Commission on the Future of the Army, all of the Department of Defense.

SEMIANNUAL MONETARY POLICY REPORT TO THE CONGRESS

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs:
Committee concluded a hearing to examine the semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress, including H.R. 2209, to require the appropriate Federal banking agencies to treat certain municipal obligations as level 2A liquid assets, after receiving testimony from Janet L. Yellen, Chair, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

BUDGET

Committee on Finance:
Committee concluded a hearing to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2017, after receiving testimony from Sylvia M. Burwell, Secretary of Health and Human Services.

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Foreign Relations:
Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Karen Brevard Stewart, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Robert Annan Riley III, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia, and Matthew John Matthews, of Oregon, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Senior Official for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum, all of the Department of State, Swati A. Dandekar, of Iowa, to be United States Director of the Asian Development Bank, who was introduced by Senator Grassley, and Marcela Escobari, of Massachusetts, to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf.

SETTING AND ENFORCING REGULATORY FINES AND PENALTIES

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs:
Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management concluded a hearing to examine agency discretion in setting and enforcing regulatory fines and penalties, after receiving testimony from Jordan Barab, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration; and Susan Shinkman, Director, Office of Civil Enforcement, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Environmental Protection Agency.

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on the Judiciary:
Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items:

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S. 483, to improve enforcement efforts related to prescription drug diversion and abuse, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and

S. 524, to authorize the Attorney General to award grants to address the national epidemics of prescription opioid abuse and heroin use, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.

INTELLIGENCE

Select Committee on Intelligence:
Committee held closed hearings on intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the intelligence community.

Committee recessed subject to the call.

House of Representatives

Chamber Action

Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced:
19 public bills, H.R. 4532–4550; and 4 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 115 and H. Res. 612–614 were introduced.

Pages H773–74 

Additional Cosponsors:

Pages H775–76 

Reports Filed:
There were no reports filed today.

Speaker:
Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Loudermilk to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

Page H713 

Recess:
The House recessed at 10:48 a.m. and reconvened at 12 noon.

Page H718 

Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies--Appointment:
Pursuant to S. Con. Res. 28, 114th Congress, and the order of the House of January 6, 2015, the Chair announced the Speaker's appointment of the following Members on the part of the House to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies: Representatives Ryan (WI), McCarthy, and Pelosi.

Page H721

Consideration of Suspension:
Agreed by unanimous consent that the Speaker be authorized to entertain motions to suspend the rules as though under clause 1 of rule 15 relating to H.R. 757, to improve the enforcement of sanctions against the Government of North Korea, any time through the legislative day of Friday, February 12, 2016.

Page H721

Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act--Rule for consideration:
The House agreed to H. Res. 611, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2017) to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to improve and clarify certain disclosure requirements for restaurants and similar retail food establishments, and to amend the authority to bring proceedings under section 403A, and providing for proceedings during the period from February 15, 2016, through February 22, 2016, by a recorded vote of 237 ayes to 174 noes, Roll No. 78, after the previous question was ordered by a yea-and-nay vote of 237 yeas to 178 nays, Roll No. 77.

Pages H722–28, H749–50

Debt Management and Fiscal Responsibility Act:
The House passed H.R. 3442, to provide further means of accountability of the United States debt and promote fiscal responsibility, by a recorded vote of 267 ayes to 151 noes, Roll No. 76.

Pages H728–49

Rejected the Doggett motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Ways and Means with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with amendments, by a recorded vote of 179 ayes to 238 noes, Roll No. 75.

Pages H747–48

Agreed to:

Grijalva amendment (No. 1 printed part A of H. Rept. 114–420) that requires the Secretary of the Treasury's report to also include historical levels of federal revenue, including corporate and individual federal income taxes as a percent of gross domestic product;

Page H736

Huelskamp amendment (No. 2 printed part A of H. Rept. 114–420) that requires the Secretary of the Treasury to provide weekly reporting of extraordinary measures and projected exhaustion date upon notification the debt limit has been reached;

Pages H737–38

Newhouse amendment (No. 3 printed part A of H. Rept. 114–420) that directs the Secretary of the Treasury to include in the debt report to Congress whether the President recommends that Congress adopt a balanced budget amendment to control the accumulation of future debt;

Pages H738–39

Messer amendment (No. 6 printed part A of H. Rept. 114–420) that requires the Secretary to report on extraordinary measures the Treasury Department intends to use if the debt limit is not lifted, project how long such measures will fund the federal government, and project the administrative costs to the Treasury Department associated with taking such actions; and

Pages H741–42

Duffy amendment (No. 5 printed part A of H. Rept. 114–420) that requires the Secretary of the Treasury to notify Congress whether it is able to pay only principal and interest on the national debt, as opposed to other obligations, in the event that the debt limit is reached (by a recorded vote of 240 ayes to 176 noes, Roll No. 72).

Pages H740–41, H744–45 

Rejected:

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Kelly (IL) amendment (No. 4 printed part A of H. Rept. 114–420) that sought to require the Secretary of the Treasury's report to also include an economic forecast of the negative consequences of failing to raise the debt limit, including costs associated with public health and safety (by a recorded vote of 184 ayes to 234 noes, Roll No. 71);

Pages H739–40, H744

Grijalva amendment (No. 7 printed part A of H. Rept. 114–420) that sought to require the Secretary of the Treasury's report to also include individual salary and wage information, as well as projections of consumer spending and the impact of spending cuts on gross domestic product (by a recorded vote of 171 ayes to 245 noes, Roll No. 73); and

Pages H742–43, H745–46

Takano amendment (No. 8 printed part A of H. Rept. 114–420) that sought to require the report to include the impact the threat of default would have on the economy, including, but not limited to, the impact on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), interest rates, employment, household wealth, and retirement assets (by a recorded vote of 190 ayes to 227 noes, Roll No. 74).

Pages H743–44, H746

Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes to reflect the actions of the House.

Page H750 

H. Res. 609, the rule providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 3442) and (H.R. 3293) was agreed to yesterday, February 10th.

Senate Message:
Message received from the Senate today appears on page H728.

Quorum Calls--Votes:
One yea-and-nay vote and seven recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H744, H745, H745–46, H746, H748, H748–49, H749 and H750. There were no quorum calls.

Adjournment:
The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:02 p.m.

Committee Meetings

IMPACTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S ACTIONS ON THE RURAL ECONOMY

Committee on Agriculture:
Full Committee held a hearing to consider the impacts of the Environmental Protection Agency's actions on the rural economy. Testimony was heard from Gina McCarthy, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency.

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE: ARE WE PREPARED?

Committee on Agriculture:
Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture held a hearing entitled ``Foot and Mouth Disease: Are We Prepared?''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

APPROPRIATIONS--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

Committee on Appropriations:
Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government held a budget hearing on the Internal Revenue Service. Testimony was heard from John A. Koskinen, Commissioner, Internal Revenue Service.

U.S. ENGAGEMENT IN CENTRAL AMERICA

Committee on Appropriations:
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs held an oversight hearing entitled ``U.S. Engagement in Central America''. Testimony was heard from William Brownfield, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs; Elizabeth Hogan, Acting Assistant Administrator, Latin America and Caribbean Bureau, U.S. Agency for International Development; and Francisco Palmieri, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Central American and Caribbean, Bureau of Western Hemisphere.

APPROPRIATIONS--OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Committee on Appropriations:
Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a budget hearing on Office of the Secretary, Department of Agriculture. Testimony was heard from the following Department of Agriculture officials: Thomas Vilsack, Secretary; Robert Johansson, Chief Economist; and Michael Young, Budget Officer.

APPROPRIATIONS--BUREAU OF RECLAMATION

Committee on Appropriations:
Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development held a budget hearing on Bureau of Reclamation. Testimony was heard from Estevan R. Lopez, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation.

FISCAL YEAR 2017 BUDGET REQUEST FOR ATOMIC ENERGY DEFENSE ACTIVITIES

Committee on Armed Services:
Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a hearing entitled ``Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Request for Atomic Energy Defense Activities''. Testimony was heard from Frank Klotz, Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration; Monica Regalbuto, Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, Department of Energy; and Joyce Connery, Chairwoman, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.

[Page:D136]

CARRIER AIR WING AND THE FUTURE OF NAVAL AVIATION

Committee on Armed Services:
Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces held a hearing entitled ``Carrier Air Wing and the Future of Naval Aviation''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Energy and Commerce:
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology concluded a markup on H.R. 2666, the ``No Rate Regulation of Broadband Internet Access Act''; H.R. 1301, the ``Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015''; and the ``Small Business Broadband Deployment Act''. H.R. 2666, H.R. 1301, and the ``Small Business Broadband Deployment Act'' were forwarded to the full committee, without amendment.

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Energy and Commerce:
Subcommittee on Energy and Power concluded a markup on H.R. 3021, the ``AIR Survey Act of 2015''; H.R. 3797, the ``Satisfying Energy Needs and Saving the Environment (SENSE) Act''; the ``Blocking Regulatory Interference from Closing Kilns (BRICK) Act''; H.R. 4444, the ``EPS Improvement Act''; H.R. 2984, the ``Fair RATES Act''; H.R. 4427, to amend section 203 of the Federal Power Act; H.R. 4238, to amend the Department of Energy Organization Act and the Local Public Works Capital Development and Investment Act of 1976 to modernize terms relating to minorities; H.R. 2080, to reinstate and extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project involving Clark Canyon Dam; H.R. 2081, to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project involving the Gibson Dam; H.R. 3447, to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project involving the W. Kerr Scott Dam; H.R. 4416, to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project involving the Jennings Randolph Dam; and H.R. 4434, to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project involving the Cannonsville Dam. H.R. 3021, H.R. 3797, the ``Blocking Regulatory Interference from Closing Kilns (BRICK) Act'', H.R. 4444, H.R. 2984, H.R. 4427, H.R. 4238, H.R. 2080, H.R. 2081, H.R. 3447, H.R. 4416, and H.R. 4434 were forwarded to the full committee, without amendment.

THE FUTURE OF HOUSING IN AMERICA: EXAMINING THE HEALTH OF THE FEDERAL HOUSING ADMINISTRATION

Committee on Financial Services:
Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance held a hearing entitled ``The Future of Housing in America: Examining the Health of the Federal Housing Administration''. Testimony was heard from Edward L. Golding, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development.

SHORT-TERM, SMALL DOLLAR LENDING: THE CFPB'S ASSAULT ON ACCESS TO CREDIT AND TRAMPLING OF STATE AND TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY

Committee on Financial Services:
Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit held a hearing entitled ``Short-term, Small Dollar Lending: The CFPB's Assault on Access to Credit and Trampling of State and Tribal Sovereignty''. Testimony was heard from Greg Zoeller, Attorney General, State of Indiana; David Silberman, Acting Deputy Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection; and public witnesses.

IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL OVERSIGHT: IMPLEMENTATION AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

Committee on Foreign Affairs:
Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``Iran Nuclear Deal Oversight: Implementation and Its Consequences''. Testimony was heard from Stephen D. Mull, Lead Coordinator for Iran Nuclear Implementation, Department of State; and John Smith, Acting Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department of the Treasury.

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE; JORDAN: A KEY U.S. PARTNER

Committee on Foreign Affairs:
Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa held a markup on H. Res. 148, calling on the government of Iran to fulfill their promises of assistance in this case of Robert Levinson, the longest held United States civilian in our Nation's history; hearing entitled ``Jordan: A Key U.S. Partner''. H. Res. 148 was forwarded to the full committee, as amended. Testimony was heard from Gerald M. Feierstein, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Department of State; Paige Alexander, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for the Middle East, U.S. Agency for International Development; and Fatema Z. Sumar, Regional Deputy Vice President, Europe, Asia, the Pacific and Latin America, Department of Compact Operations, Millennium Challenge Corporation.

[Page:D137]

THE FUTURE OF U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS

Committee on Foreign Affairs:
Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific held a hearing entitled ``The Future of U.S.-Taiwan Relations''. Testimony was heard from Susan A. Thornton, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State; and public witnesses.

THE FUTURE OF IRANIAN TERROR AND ITS THREAT TO THE US HOMELAND

Committee on Homeland Security:
Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence held a hearing entitled ``The Future of Iranian Terror and Its Threat to the US Homeland''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

IMPROVING THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY'S BIOLOGICAL DETECTION AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMS

Committee on Homeland Security:
Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications held a hearing entitled ``Improving the Department of Homeland Security's Biological Detection and Surveillance Programs''. Testimony was heard from Kathryn Brinsfield, Assistant Secretary, Office of Health Affairs, Department of Homeland Security; Reginald Brothers, Under Secretary for Science and Technology, Department of Homeland Security; and Chris P. Currie, Director, Emergency Management, National Preparedness and Critical Infrastructure Protection, Homeland Security and Justice Team, Government Accountability Office.

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on the Judiciary:
Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 759, the ``Recidivism Risk Reduction Act''; and H.R. 2947, the ``Financial Institution Bankruptcy Act of 2015''. H.R. 759 and H.R. 2947 were ordered reported, as amended.

IS THE INVESTOR VISA PROGRAM AN UNDERPERFORMING ASSET?

Committee on the Judiciary:
Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``Is the Investor Visa Program an Underperforming Asset?''. Testimony was heard from Nicholas Colucci, Chief, Immigration Investor Program, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; Rebecca Gambler, Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues, Government Accountability Office; and public witnesses.

RESOLVING ISSUES WITH CONFISCATED PROPERTY IN CUBA, HAVANA CLUB RUM AND OTHER PROPERTY

Committee on the Judiciary:
Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet held a hearing entitled ``Resolving Issues with Confiscated Property in Cuba, Havana Club Rum and Other Property''. Testimony was heard from Kurt Tong, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, Department of State; Mary Denison, Commissioner for Trademarks, Patent and Trademark Office; and public witnesses.

LEGISLATIVE MEASURES

Committee on Natural Resources:
Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a hearing on H.R. 87, the ``Shiloh National Military Park Boundary Adjustment and Parker's Crossroads Battlefield Designation Act''; H.R. 295, to reauthorize the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Historic Preservation program; H.R. 1621, to modify the boundary of Petersburg National Battlefield in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and for other purposes; and H.R. 2817, the ``National Historic Preservation Amendments Act of 2015''. Testimony was heard from Representatives Blackburn; Clyburn; and Turner; Stephanie Toothman, Associate Director, Cultural Resources, Partnerships and Science, National Park Service; and public witnesses.

IRS: REVIEWING ITS LEGAL OBLIGATIONS, DOCUMENT PRESERVATION, AND DATA SECURITY

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform:
Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``IRS: Reviewing Its Legal Obligations, Document Preservation, and Data Security''. Testimony was heard from the following Internal Revenue Service officials: Terry Milholland, Chief Technology Officer; Jeff Tribiano, Deputy Commissioner, Operations; and Ed Killen, Director of Privacy, Governmental Liaison, and Disclosure.

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE

Committee on Science, Space, and Technology:
Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 4489, the ``FAA Leadership In Groundbreaking High-Tech Research and Development Act''. H.R. 4489 was ordered reported, as amended.

EXPORT CONTROL REFORM: CHALLENGES FOR SMALL BUSINESS? PART II

Committee on Small Business:
Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``Export Control Reform: Challenges for Small Business? (Part II)''. Testimony was heard from Kevin J. Wolf, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration, Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce; and Brian Nilsson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Defense Trade Controls, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Department of State.

[Page:D138]

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure:
Full Committee held a markup on Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Views and Estimates of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and H.R. 4441, the ``Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act''. The Fiscal year 2017 Budget Views and Estimates were adopted. H.R. 4441 was ordered reported, as amended.

CHOICE CONSOLIDATION: IMPROVING VA COMMUNITY CARE BILLING AND REIMBURSEMENT

Committee on Veterans' Affairs:
Subcommittee on Health held a hearing entitled ``Choice Consolidation: Improving VA Community Care Billing and Reimbursement''. Testimony was heard from Randall B. Williamson, Director, Health Care, Government Accountability Office; Gary K. Abe, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audits and Evaluations, Office of Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs; Baligh Yehia, M.D., Assistant Deputy Undersecretary for Health for Community Care, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; and public witnesses.

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S BUDGET PROPOSALS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017

Committee on Ways and Means:
Full Committee held a hearing on President Obama's budget proposals for fiscal year 2017. Testimony was heard from Jacob J. Lew, Secretary, Department of the Treasury.

Joint Meetings

ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe:
Commission concluded a hearing to examine an update on the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, focusing on religious freedom, anti-Semitism, and rule of law, after receiving testimony from Michael Georg Link, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Vienna, Austria.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY,

FEBRUARY 12, 2016

(Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)

Senate

No meetings/hearings scheduled.

House

Committee on Appropriations
, Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, budget hearing on Office of the Inspector General, 9:30 a.m., 2362–A Rayburn.

Committee on Armed Services
, Subcommittee on Readiness, hearing entitled ``Department of the Air Force 2017 Budget Request and Readiness'', 8 a.m., 2118 Rayburn.

Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing entitled ``Assessing the Development of Afghanistan National Security Forces'', 10:30 a.m., 2118 Rayburn.

Committee on Energy and Commerce
, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing entitled ``Outbreaks, Attacks, and Accidents: Combatting Biological Threats'', 9 a.m., 2123 Rayburn.

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Next Meeting of the
SENATE

10 a.m., Friday, February 12

Senate Chamber

Program for Friday:
Senate will be in a period of morning business.

Next Meeting of the
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

9 a.m., Friday, February 12

House Chamber

Program for Friday:
Consideration of H.R. 2017--Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act (Subject to a Rule). Consideration of the following measure under suspension of the rules: Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 757--North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016.

Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue

HOUSE



Blumenauer, Earl, Ore., E163

Boustany, Charles W., Jr., La., E168

Carter, Earl L. ``Buddy'', Ga., E170

Coffman, Mike, Colo., E170

Conyers, John, Jr., Mich., E165

Courtney, Joe, Conn., E166, E169

Dingell, Debbie, Mich., E171

Fitzpatrick, Michael G., Pa., E170

Frelinghuysen, Rodney P., N.J., E169

Goodlatte, Bob, Va., E163

Grayson, Alan, Fla., E163

Green, Gene, Tex., E164

Guinta, Frank C., N.H., E166, E166

Higgins, Brian, N.Y., E167, E167

Himes, James A., Conn., E165

Hudson, Richard, N.C., E167

Hurd, Will, Tex., E169, E170

Jackson Lee, Sheila, Tex., E167

Kelly, Mike, Pa., E169

Lowey, Nita M., N.Y., E167

Norton, Eleanor Holmes, The District of Columbia, E166

Olson, Pete, Tex., E165, E166, E169, E170, E170, E171

Roskam, Peter J., Ill., E165

Ryan, Tim, Ohio, E163, E164, E165

Shuster, Bill, Pa., E165

Slaughter, Louise McIntosh, N.Y., E171

Smith, Christopher H., N.J., E168

Veasey, Marc A., Tex., E164

Welch, Peter, Vt., E170

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