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 D350-D351 on March 28, 2017.
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)
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Committee received a closed briefing on Department of Defense worldwide policy and strategy and the Fiscal Year 2017 Defense Supplemental Budget Request from James N. Mattis, Secretary, and General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., USMC, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, both of the Department of Defense.
FOSTERING ECONOMIC GROWTH
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine fostering economic growth, focusing on the role of financial companies, after receiving testimony from Robert Heller, former Governor, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Belvedere, California; Donald Powell, former Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Amarillo, Texas; William E. Spriggs, AFL-CIO, Great Falls, Virginia; Deyanira Del Rio, New Economy Project, New York, New York; and Thomas C. Deas, Jr., National Association of Corporate Treasurers, Haverford, Pennsylvania.
MINERALS
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the United States' increasing dependence on foreign sources of minerals and opportunities to rebuild and improve the supply chain in the United States, after receiving testimony from Murray Hitzman, Associate Director, Energy and Minerals, Geological Survey, Department of the Interior; Alf Barrios, Rio Tinto Aluminum, Montreal, Canada; Chris Hinde, S&P Global Market Intelligence, London, United Kingdom; Randy MacGillivray, Ucore Rare Metals, Inc., Vernon, Canada; Kevin J. Cosgriff, National Electrical Manufacturers Association, Arlington, Virginia; and Roderick G. Eggert, Colorado School of Mines, Golden.
CYBERSECURITY THREATS
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy concluded a hearing to examine the cybersecurity threats to the United States electric grid and technology advancements to minimize such threats, including S. 79, to provide for the establishment of a pilot program to identify security vulnerabilities of certain entities in the energy sector, after receiving testimony from Michael A. Bardee, Director, Office of Electric Reliability, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Thomas Zacharia, Deputy Director for Science and Technology, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Department of Energy; John Di Stasio, Large Public Power Council, Washington, D.C.; and Benjamin G. S. Fowke III, Xcel Energy Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota.
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE LEGISLATION
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife concluded a hearing to examine S. 518, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide for technical assistance for small treatment works, S. 692, to provide for integrated plan permits, to establish an Office of the Municipal Ombudsman, to promote green infrastructure, and to require the revision of financial capability guidance, and S. 675, to amend and reauthorize certain provisions relating to Long Island Sound restoration and stewardship, after receiving testimony from Mayor J. Richard Gray, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on behalf of the United States Conference of Mayors; Erin M. Crotty, Audubon New York, Troy, on behalf of National Audubon Society; and Dennis Sternberg, Arkansas Rural Water Association, Lonoke, on behalf of the National Rural Water Association.
U.S. POLICY ON IRAN
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the view from Congress, focusing on United States policy on Iran, after receiving testimony from Michael Singh, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and Martin Indyk, The Brookings Institution, both of Washington, D.C.
PROTECTING YOUNG ATHLETES
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine protecting young athletes from sexual abuse, including S. 534, to prevent the sexual abuse of minors and amateur athletes by requiring the prompt reporting of sexual abuse to law enforcement authorities, after receiving testimony from Rick Adams, United States Olympic Committee, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Eric L. Olsen, Stafford County Commonwealth's Attorney, Stafford, Virginia; Jamie Dantzscher, San Dimas, California; Jessica Howard, Jacksonville, Florida; and Dominique Moceanu, Cleveland, Ohio.
INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence community.
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.
BUSINESS MEETING
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee ordered favorably reported its Biennial Report for the 114th Congress.
