The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“Senate Committee Meetings” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the Daily Digest section on pages D447-D448 on April 25, 2018.
The Department oversees more than 500 million acres of land. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the department has contributed to a growing water crisis and holds many lands which could be better managed.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS: NRC
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2019 for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, after receiving testimony from Kristine Svinicki, Chairman, and Jeff Baran, and Stephen G. Burns, both a Commissioner, all of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
APPROPRIATIONS: DOJ
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2019 for the Department of Justice, after receiving testimony from Jeff Sessions, Attorney General, Department of Justice.
APPROPRIATIONS: GAO AND CBO
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2019 for the Government Accountability Office and Congressional Budget Office, after receiving testimony from Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General, Government Accountability Office; and Keith Hall, Director, Congressional Budget Office.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items:
S. 2717, to reauthorize provisions relating to the Maritime Administration, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 2369, to authorize aboriginal subsistence whaling pursuant to the regulations of the International Whaling Commission;
S. 2511, to require the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to carry out a program on coordinating the assessment and acquisition by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of unmanned maritime systems, to make available to the public data collected by the Administration using such systems, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 2343, to require the Federal Communications Commission to establish a task force for meeting the connectivity and technology needs of precision agriculture in the United States, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and
The nominations of Vice Admiral Karl L. Schultz, to be Admiral and to be Commandant, and Vice Admiral Charles W. Ray, to be Vice Commandant, both of the Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, Patrick Fuchs, of Wisconsin, and Michelle A. Schultz, of Pennsylvania, both to be a Member of the Surface Transportation Board, Department of Transportation, Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, of Maryland, to be a Federal Trade Commissioner, Rubydee Calvert, of Wyoming, and Laura Gore Ross, of New York, both to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and Alan E. Cobb, of Kansas, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard concluded a hearing to examine enhancing the Marine Mammal Protection Act, after receiving testimony from Chris Oliver, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce; Michael Miller, Indigenous Peoples Council on Marine Mammals, Anchorage, Alaska; Guy R. Norman, Northwest Power and Conservation Council, Portland, Oregon; Rae Stone, Dolphin Quest, Middleburg, Virginia, on behalf of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums; and Jane P. Davenport, Defenders of Wildlife, Washington, D.C.
NOMINATION
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nomination of Christopher Krebs, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary for National Protection and Programs, Department of Homeland Security, after the nominee testified and answered questions in his own behalf.
INDIAN AFFAIRS LEGISLATION
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine H.R. 597, to take lands in Sonoma County, California, into trust as part of the reservation of the Lytton Rancheria of California, and H.R. 1491, to reaffirm the action of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for the benefit of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians, after receiving testimony from Darryl LaCounte, Acting Deputy Bureau Director, Trust Services, Department of the Interior; Vice-mayor Mike Healy, Petaluma, California; Kenneth Kahn, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Santa Ynez, California; Margie Mejia, Lytton Rancheria, Santa Rosa, California; and Bill Krauch, Santa Ynez Valley Coalition, Los Olivos, California.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Andrew S. Oldham, of Texas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, Alan D. Albright, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas, Thomas S. Kleeh, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of West Virginia, who was introduced by Senators Manchin and Capito, Peter J. Phipps, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania, who was introduced by Senators Casey and Toomey, and Michael J. Truncale, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee ordered favorably reported S. Res. 355, improving procedures for the consideration of nominations in the Senate, with amendments.
CYBERSECURITY
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship: Committee concluded a hearing to examine preparing small businesses for cybersecurity success, including S. 2735, to amend the Small Business Act to provide for the establishment of an enhanced cybersecurity assistance and protections for small businesses, S. 2020, to establish a voluntary program to identify and promote Internet-connected products that meet industry-leading cybersecurity and data security standards, guidelines, best practices, methodologies, procedures, and processes, S. 1428, to amend section 21 of the Small Business Act to require cyber certification for small business development center counselors, and S. 770, to require the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to disseminate resources to help reduce small business cybersecurity risks, after receiving testimony from Daniel Castro, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, and Russell Schrader, National Cyber Security Alliance, both of Washington, D.C.; Ben Toews, Bullet Tools, Hayden, Idaho; and Gina Abate, Edwards Performance Solutions, Elkridge, Maryland.
