Advanced search    Help

Clear all search criteria

Only 2/3! You are seeing results from the Public Collection, not the complete Full Collection. Sign in to search everything (see eligibility).

• Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Hearing Before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, Second Session to Receive Testimony from the Administration on Issues Related to Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Including the Accident Involving the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico, May 18, 2010

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the opening statement of Jeff Bingaman: "This is the second hearing on the continuing disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. The purpose of this and future hearings is to understand the cascade of failures that caused the catastrophic blowout of the oil well that was being drilled by the Deepwater Horizon rig, and to determine what Congress needs to do to ensure that it never happens again. Last week, we heard from 2 distinguished technical experts, and also from the heads of the 3 industrial firms responsible for the disaster, on what some of those failures might have been. Next week, we will have a hearing on the issue of liability for damages. But, today we have a chance to hear from the Secretary of Interior Salazar and his senior team in charge of responding to this catastrophic failure. I'd like to focus the hearing on the role of regulatory failure in causing the catastrophe, along with the failure of technological systems and the failure by people who were operating those systems. Regulatory failure is one of the 3 key interlocking failures that I believe are at the heart of this problem." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jeff Bingaman, Lisa Murkowski, Ken Salazar, David Hayes, Wilma Lewis, and Liz Birnbaum.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2010
• Oversight of Federal Efforts to Clean Up Asbestos in Lincoln County, MT, Hearing Before the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate, One Hundred Tenth Congress, First Session, April 5, 2007--Libby, MT

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the opening statement of Max Baucus: "At today's hearing, coming as a long winter gives away to a new season, it is time to speak up about Libby's challenges and put your cleanup back on track. It has been 7 years since news reports first exposed the extent of asbestos contamination in Libby {Montana]. [...] EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] has completed 794 emergency-response level cleanups of homes and businesses. Despite this progress, much remains to be done. In August 2006, I asked the inspector general to review EPA's work in Libby because we heard reports that not all that was being done that should be done. What that report found was truly outrageous. After 7 years, the EPA has failed to complete the necessary toxicity studies to determine the safe level of human exposure to Libby asbestos. That means that, after 7 years and hundreds of millions of dollars, EPA still cannot say how clean they need to make the homes and businesses to protect the families in Libby. In a subsequent letter, EPA promised me that they would begin the toxicity studies within 45 days. This hearing is an opportunity for the community to see what remains to be done and how--and to hold EPA's feet to the fire to make sure that they do it. I understand there was a hearing in March where some of this was laid out, and I want to nail that down more completely." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Max Baucus, Arlen Specter, Susan Parker Bodine, Marianne B. Roose, Brad Black, Leroy Thom, Lloyd Douglas Williamson, Gayla Benefield, Gordon Sullivan, Clinton Maynard, Kevin Flynn, Bill Caldwell, Eileen Carney, Tom Wood, Alice Priest, Mel Parker, and DC Orr.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2007
• Keynote Address at the Asia Society Policy Institute Launch

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the conclusion: "I know many people voice concerns about whether -- given political pressures at home and competing demands abroad -- we will be able to maintain our commitment to the Asia-Pacific. It reminds me of a question Orville Schell posed to Dr. Kissinger at the Asia Society a few years ago. When asked whether he was optimistic about the future of Sino-American relations, Dr. Kissinger answered: 'I'm determined.' When asked whether he was optimistic about the future of Sino-American relations, Dr. Kissinger answered: 'I'm determined.' We're determined too. We're determined not only to build a cooperative relationship with China that delivers results, but also to strengthen our alliances, deepen our partnerships, open markets, and reinforce regional institutions. And we are determined to steadily widen the arc of nations working in common cause to promote security, economic growth, and human dignity across the Asia-Pacific. Future generations will look back at this moment of testing and judge us by whether we had the foresight and courage to make the most of our interdependence, or whether we succumbed to the familiar traps of mistrust, zero-sum politics, and conflict. That is the great challenge of our time. And that is the great test for American diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific across the rest of the Obama Administration, and for many Administrations to come. No challenge, and no test, will matter more to the United States in the new century unfolding before us."

  United States. Department of State

  Burns, William J.

  2014-04-08
• Impacts of Climate Change on the Intermountain West, Hearing Before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session to Examine the Current and Future Impacts of Climate Change on the Intermountain West, Focusing on Drought, Wildfire Frequency and Severity, and Ecosystems, Santa Fe, NM, August 17, 2012

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the opening statement of Jeff Bingaman: "Wildfires have always been part of life in this region. But this year's fires have been exceptional in their intensity. The work of the Nation's top scientists tells us that some of the conditions contributing to the severity of this year's fire season, including drought, accompanied by above average temperatures, are now more commonly--are common because of human induced climate change. The National Research Council has examined historical wildfire data as part of its America's Climate Choices report. They found that quote, 'Over the past 30 years large and long duration forest fires in the American West have increased fourfold. The length of the fire season has expanded by two and a half months. The size of wildfires has increased several fold.' The study further attributed the increase of wildfire activity to climate change stating that climate change has likely contributed to a significant increase in big forest fires in the West. They did a separate report, the same National Research Council, in 2011 and projected an increase in median annual area burn in parts of New Mexico and in the Sierras of over 300 percent for a global increase in temperature of just one degree Celsius. That level of warming is all but certain to be reached and exceeded in coming years. The intent of this hearing is to receive testimony that puts these recent fires into a greater historical context to unravel the factors that contributed to their severity and to understand how climate change has and is expected to continue to change the landscape and ecosystems of the Intermountain West." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Craig D. Allen, Jeff Bingaman, Walter Dasheno, William deBuys, Denise D. Fort, Nathan McDowell, and Kelly T. Redmond.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2012
• Excessive Speculation and Compliance with the Dodd-Frank Act, Hearing Before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session, November 3, 2011

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the opening statement of Carl Levin: "For years now, commodity markets have taken the American people on an expensive and damaging roller coaster ride with rapidly changing prices for crude oil, gasoline, natural gas, heating oil, airline fuel, wheat, copper, and many other commodities. Commodity prices have whipsawed American families, farms, and businesses, run roughshod over supply and demand factors, and made our economic recovery that much harder and more chaotic. Unstable commodity prices are a key reason why Congress enacted, as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, new statutory requirements to put a lid on excessive speculation and price manipulation. Congress enacted the new law not only to protect consumers and businesses from unreasonable prices--prices disconnected from the usual supply and demand discipline of the marketplace--but also to protect the commodity markets themselves from losing investor confidence and looking more like a casino or rigged game than a marketplace where supply and demand determine prices. Commodities markets are not stock markets. Stock markets are intended to attract investors to provide new capital for U.S. businesses to invest and to grow. Commodity markets are supposed to serve a different function. Their purpose is not to attract investors, but to enable producers and users of physical commodities to arrive at market-driven prices for those goods and to hedge their price risks over time. […] Speculators, who by definition do not plan to use the commodities that they trade but profit from the changing prices, are needed only insofar as they supply the liquidity needed for producers and users to hedge their risks." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Carl Levin, Tom Coburn, Paul N. Cicio, Gary Gensler, Tyson T. Slocum, and Wallace C. Turbeville.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2012
• State of the FDIC: Deposit Insurance, Consumer Protection, and Financial Stability, Hearing Before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session on Examining the State of the FDIC, June 30, 2011

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the opening statement of Tim Johnson: "Today we welcome back Sheila Bair, Chairman of the FDIC [Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation], to the Committee for the last time in her current position. Chairman Bair's time at the FDIC has been historic. Our Nation experienced a financial crisis of a magnitude not seen since the Great Depression, and Chairman Bair played a critical part in helping us navigate out of the crisis. Chairman Bair, you succeeded in maintaining public confidence in bank deposits, overseeing the resolution of over 300 failed banks with over $600 billion in assets, monitoring banks' liquidity needs, developing programs to stabilize the banking sector, and unfreezing credit markets. I applaud you for your astute management of these tasks. Also, not only were you and your staff instrumental in the passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, you have skillfully guided the FDIC as it assumes new, significant responsibilities. The FDIC is now a voting member of the Financial Stability Oversight Council, is in charge of the resolution of large, systemically important financial institutions, and insures each bank account of Americans up to $250,000. During your tenure the American people were fortunate to have a strong consumer advocate leading the way at the FDIC. You sounded the alarm about the threat of foreclosures and the need for loan modifications before the crisis hit, targeted high-risk mortgage products before other regulators, and led the way to find innovative solutions to include the unbanked and underbanked in the traditional banking system. And to give more emphasis to consumer protection, you pushed for the creation of the Division of Depositor and Consumer Protection within the FDIC." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Tim Johnson, Richard C. Shelby, Kay Hagan, Patrick J. Toomey, Wayne A. Abernathy, and William B. Grant.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2012
• Department of Defense Authorization for Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2015 and the Future Years Defense Program, Hearing Before the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session on S. 2410 to Authorize Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2015 for Military Activities of the Department of Defense, for Military Construction, and for Defense Activities of the Department of Energy, to Prescribe Military Personnel Strengths for Such Fiscal Year, and for Other Purposes, Part 1, U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Cyber Command, Military Posture, U.S. Central Command and U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Forces Korea, Navy Posture, Army Posture, Army Active and Reserve Force Mix, Air Force Posture, Recommendations of the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force, Reform of the Defense Acquisition System, February 27; March 5, 6, 13, 25, 27; and April 3, 8, 10, 29, 30, 2014

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This is a February 27; March 5, 6, 13, 25, 27; and April 3, 8, 10, 29, 30, 2014 10, 2015 hearing on "Department of Defense Authorization for Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2015 and the Future Years Defense Program" held before the Committee on Armed Services. From the opening statement of Senator Carl Levin: "Today, we begin our annual posture hearings with the combatant commands by receiving testimony from the U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) and the U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM), a sub-unified command of STRATCOM. [...]This hearing comes at a time of reduced budgets across the U.S. Government, including the Department of Defense (DOD). Even though this hearing comes in advance of the 2015 budget request, we'll want to hear from our witnesses about the impact of the overall budget situation and the expected 2015 budget submission, the impact that is likely to be the result of both that overall situation and the budget submission on the programs and operations under their oversight and direction."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2015
• Closing the Language Gap: Improving the Federal Government's Foreign Language Capabilities Hearing Before the Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia Subcommittee of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, Second Session, July 29, 2010

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the opening statement of Daniel K. Akaka: "Today's hearing will examine the Federal Government's foreign language capabilities and needs, particularly at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Defense (DOD). We will examine these Departments' language efforts and explore how best to help meet the challenges of strengthening foreign language skills. Foreign language skills are necessary to provide vital services to people with limited English abilities. Because of the rich cultural and linguistic diversity in my home State of Hawaii, I understand well the need to communicate about disaster relief, social services, and other government programs in a variety of languages. Understanding foreign languages is also vital to our economic security as Americans compete in the global marketplace. According to the Committee for Economic Development, American companies can lose an estimated $2 billion each year due to inadequate cross-cultural skills. Moreover, foreign language proficiency and cultural understanding are essential to protecting our national security. Threats to our national security are becoming more complex, interconnected, and unconventional. These evolving threats have increased Federal agencies' needs for employees proficient in foreign languages." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Daniel K. Akaka, David C. Maurer, Jeffrey R. Neal, Nancy Weaver, David S. Chu, Richard D. Brecht, Dan E. Davidson, Colleen M. Kelley, and Phil McKnight.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2011
• Economic Statecraft: Embracing Africa's Market Potential: Hearing Before the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Subcommittee on African Affairs, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session, June 28, 2012

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This testimony compilation is from the June 28, 2012 hearing, "Economic Statecraft: Embracing Africa's Market Potential," before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Subcommittee on African Affairs. From the opening statement of Johnnie Carson: "The U.S. government is committed to expanding trade and investment in sub-Saharan Africa and the numbers show our commitment. U.S. trade to and from Africa has grown significantly in the past ten years. U.S. exports to sub-Saharan Africa tripled from just under $7 billion U.S. dollars in 2001 to over $21 billion dollars in 2011. It is my firm belief that Africa represents the next global economic frontier. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to weather the global economic crisis more successfully than other regions, and is home to six -- and soon to be seven -- of the ten fastest growing economies in the world. A recent McKinsey study documented that Africa offers the highest rate of return on foreign investment of any developing region and has for some years now. Consumer spending continues to rise, and 43 percent of Africans currently have discretionary income or could be considered middle class consumers. And a growing middle class is a market for American products -- from ipads to Pampers to Caterpillar tractors which increase crop yields to GE turbines which create additional hours of on-grid electricity to Boeing airliners which facilitate African countries' growing links with each other and with other continents. However, we can do more." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Johnnie Carson, Christopher A. Coons, Earl Gast, and Florizelle Liser.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Foreign Relations

  2012-06-28
• Security Issues Relating to Iraq, Hearing Before the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session, November 15, 2011

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the opening statement of Carl Levin: "Today the committee receives testimony from two panels of witnesses on security issues relating to Iraq, including the withdrawal of U.S. troops and the long-term U.S.-Iraq relationship. […] Last month, the President announced that all U.S. military forces would be coming home from Iraq by the end of this December as required under the 2008 U.S.-Iraq Security Agreement which had been agreed to by President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Maliki. […] U.S. Forces Iraq under General Lloyd Austin is on track to meet the December legal deadline for the withdrawal of the remaining U.S. military forces and equipment. As of today, there are around 30,000 U.S. military personnel in Iraq, down from a peak of 160,000 during the surge in 2007. […] We arrive at this point after 81⁄2 years of conflict and great sacrifice by our service men and women, their families, and the American people. […] The administration had sought to reach an agreement with the Iraqi Government for military trainers to remain in Iraq after December 31. However, those negotiations reached an impasse on the issue of legal immunity for our troops, that is, protections from prosecution in Iraqi courts. Once it became clear that the Government of Iraq was not prepared to grant our service men and women the same legal protections that they had had under the 2008 Security Agreement and the same legal protections that the U.S. military has under agreements with other countries in the region, President Obama decided that all U.S. military forces would be withdrawn as provided for under the 2008 agreement. […] It is time to complete the transition of responsibility for Iraq's security now to the Iraq Government." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Carl Levin; Leon E. Panetta; Martin E. Dempsey; Douglas A. Ollivant; and Kenneth M. Pollack.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2012
• U.S. Policy in Syria, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs of the Committee on Foreign Relations United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session, November 9, 2011

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the opening statement of Robert P. Casey, Jr.: "We know that Syrian men, women, and children have courageously--and that is an understatement--engaged in demonstrations for more than 6 months in their country. They seek basic democratic reforms and protection for human rights, but the Assad regime in Syria has responded with terrible, unspeakable violence. The United Nations estimates that more than 3,500 people have been killed since the unrest began in March of this year. […] [W]e must continue to take specific and visible actions to support democratic reform. First, we need to make it clear to the regime's supporters that their behavior will not be tolerated and they will be held accountable just as the regime will be held accountable. [...] This week, I will send a letter to the Treasury Department to urge the administration to expand the list of individuals to be sanctioned by the United States. The administration can do this by Executive order and should do so as soon as possible. […] Second, the United States must play a constructive role in isolating or, I should say, continuing to isolate the Assad regime. In October, I called for the establishment of a Friends of the Syrian People contact group. This contact group can serve as a main point of international engagement for the democratic opposition and the Syrian people. The Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and others could form the core of such a group, which would send a clear message of international solidarity and support of democratic change in Syria. […] Third, the courageous Syrian political opposition must work to communicate a unified vision for the future of Syria." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Luke A. Bronin, Robert P. Casey, Jr., Jeffrey D. Feltman, Richard J. Durbin, James E. Risch, Mark Dubowitz, Andrew J. Tabler, and Maria McFarland.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2012
• Challenges and Opportunities for U.S.-China Cooperation on Climate Change, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, First Session, June 4, 2009

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the opening statement of John F. Kerry: "The reality is that a robust American partnership with China will do more than anything else to ensure a successful global response to the urgent threat of climate change. America is the world's largest historical emitter of greenhouse gases that cause climate change. And China recently passed us to become the world's No. 1 current emitter. So, together we are, today, responsible for nearly half of all global climate greenhouse gas emissions. [...].Most importantly, we need to inspire the 1.6 billion Americans and Chinese to take ownership of this challenge and prove to the world that we can rise and meet it together. Now, make no mistake, bilateral cooperation with China is not an alternative to the global treaty process. On the contrary, it is an essential component of the larger effort. Our two countries, representing more than 40 percent of the emissions globally, have stood aside from this effort for too long, and now it falls to us to take the helm. And if we lead, if we prove our ability to be able to reach agreement on many of these issues in these next few weeks, that will have a profound impact on the negotiating positions and the capacity to move much more easily in Copenhagen." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: William Chandler, Elizabeth Economy, John F. Kerry, Kenneth Lieberthal, Richard Lugar, and Barbara Boxer.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2009
• Economic Espionage and Trade Secret Theft: Are Our Laws Adequate for Today's Threats? Hearing Before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, May 13, 2014

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This testimony compilation is from the May 13, 2014 hearing, "Economic Espionage and Trade Secret Theft: Are Our Laws Adequate for Today's Threats?" before the Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Patrick Leahy: "Today, American businesses face increasing threats both domestically and abroad from competitors that seek an advantage not through hard work, but through theft and deception. The theft of trade secrets has also been linked to foreign governments in recent years, with countries seeking to undermine our national security and economy through theft of critical commercial information. While on a recent trip to China, I met with government officials to emphasize the need for strong global protection of trade secrets. I also met with Americans doing business in China and they stressed that theft of their trade secrets was a real threat to their livelihoods. As we continue to explore opportunities to work with other nations, we must emphasize this issue as a priority for American businesses and an area of ongoing focus for the United States." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Patrick Leahy, Sheldon Whitehouse, Randall C. Coleman, Peter L. Hoffman, Pamela Passman, Drew Greenblatt, and Douglas K. Norman.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2014-05-13
• U.S. Economic Relations with China: Strategies and Options on Exchange Rates and Market Access, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Security and International Trade and Finance of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Tenth Congress, First Session on Information About Strategies and Options on Exchange Rates and Market Access, Wednesday, May 23, 2007

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From Christopher Dodd's opening statement: "The issues of exchange rates and market access represent two significant hurdles in the U.S.China economic relationship. China is a source of tremendous opportunity for the United States, but also a source of new challenges that must be overcome in order to reach the full potential of our economic relationship. Foremost among these challenges is the need to level the playing field for American firms doing business in China and for American workers and companies producing goods for sale at home and abroad. Currently, the trade of goods and services is tilted to advantage Chinese firms because of ongoing Chinese government intervention to keep the yuan undervalued and China's discriminatory treatment of American and other non Chinese financial services firms." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Christopher J. Dodd, Evan Bayh, Sherrod Brown, C. Fred Bergsten, David A. Hartquist, Rob Nichols, Patrick A. Mulloy, Jim Bunning, Robert P. Casey, Goldstein Morris, and John Nolan.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2009
• Reauthorization of the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act, Hearing Before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Ninth Congress, Second Session on Reauthorization of the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act in Relation to the Security of the Middle East Region, June 22, 2006

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From Richard C. Shelby's opening statement: "One of this country's most pressing and potentially dangerous foreign policy challenges involves Iran's development of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery. A nuclear-capable Iran would fundamentally alter the situation in the Middle East. Furthermore, Iran's support for some of the most dangerous terrorist organizations in the world and its exploitation of those organizations to undermine efforts at peace and stability in the Middle East make it imperative that we continue to examine the role of economic sanctions in limiting the scope of its conduct." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Paul Sarbanes, Wayne Allard, Jack Reed, Chuck Hagel, Robert Menendez, Charles E. Schumer, Nicholas Burns, Patrick O'brien, Thomas Carper, Rick Santorum, and Richard C. Shelby.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2009
• Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2015, Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session on H.R. 5171 An Act Making Appropriations for the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2015, and for Other Purposes

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This is a hearing titled "Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2015" held on March 26, 2014 before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations. From the opening statement of Senator Jack Reed: "This is our first budget hearing of the year. It is a hearing to discuss the fiscal year 2015 budget of the Department of the Interior. [...] Turning to the Department's budget request, the discretionary total funded by the subcommittee increases by about 1 percent over fiscal year 2014, for a total of $10.6 billion. It is a relatively flat budget. Including the administration's new disaster cap proposal for firefighting, however, the total budget increases by almost 4 percent for a total of $10.8 billion. I am hopeful that providing a new framework for firefighting funding will prevent the Department from running out of funds before the end of the fiscal year and having to borrow from other programs. I am also hopeful that it will prevent the subcommittee from being forced to make difficult cuts to other priorities to pay for emergency firefighting. It is worth noting that in fiscal year 2014, we provided $3.9 billion for firefighting, including $600 million to pay for fire expenses from the prior year. We acted similarly in the fiscal year 2013 continuing resolution, where we provided more than $400 million for the fire expenses from the previous year. The following governmental departments were present during the hearing: the Department of Agriculture, Interior, and Environmental Protection Agency. For a comprehensive list of witnesses, communications and prepared statements please see page "i" in the Back Matter.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2015
• Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2015, Hearing Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session on H.R. 4660/S. 2437, An Act Making Appropriations for the Department of Commerce and Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies for the Fiscal Year Ending September 20, 2015, and for Other Purposes

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This is a hearing titled "Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations" held on March 27, 2014 before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations. From the opening statement of Senator Barbara A. Mikulski: Good morning, everybody. The Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science will come to order. This is our first hearing on the fiscal year 2015 budget. We are starting with the esteemed and much valued Federal Bureau of Investigation. We will have a two-part hearing. This will be an open session, with all Senators free to participate and ask their questions. When this concludes, we will adjourn for a classified hearing on the Bureau's needs, particularly in the global war against terrorism and cyber security and some of those that are more sensitive in terms of the need for global protection and global cooperation. We want to welcome Director Comey here for his very important appearance and we look forward to hearing his testimony in terms of the needs of the FBI. Last year we concluded I think with a vote on January 20 in which we were able to pass an omnibus bill for fiscal year 2014. Thanks to the work, bipartisan and bicameral, Senator Murray and Congressman Ryan were able to give us a budget and a top line cancelling the sequester, which had a draconian impact on both the function of core agencies like the FBI and on the morale." The following governmental departments were present during the hearing: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice: Office of the Attorney General, Department of Commerce: Office of the Secretary, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. For a comprehensive list of witnesses, communications and prepared statements please see page 421 in the Back Matter.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2015
• Review of Resources, Priorities and Programs in the Fiscal Year 2016 State Department Budget Request, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, February 24, 2015

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This is the February 24, 2015 hearing "Review of Resources, Priorities and Programs in the Fiscal Year 2016 State Department Budget Request" held before the Full Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. From the opening statement of Chairman Bob Corker: "As you know, the purpose of this hearing is to learn more about the State Department's fiscal year 2016 budget request. I know that these hearings also become a time, in many cases, to talk about public policy issues. I think you know there may be some questions about the AUMF [Authorization for the Use of Military Force] and other issues that you are dealing with at this time. So we appreciate you answering all of those. One of our top priorities is to complete a State Department authorization that helps the Department become more efficient and effective within a sustainable budget. [...] And I think all of us want to make sure, as we are dealing with the many crises around the world, that the State Department is set up in a way to leverage our efforts and to ensure that we are doing on a daily basis everything we can to continue to pursue our national interests. And that is the purpose of doing the authorization. Obviously, the President has sent forth a budget that increases spending $74 billion, and I think all of us understand that is not where we are going to be. I know you are here today to talk about your component of that, but we all know that that is not where the budget is going to end up. It is going to be at a greatly reduced number. So we know we have some challenges in front of us, and we appreciate again you being here for us to be able to talk with you about those." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John F. Kerry

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2015
• Safeguarding Our Nation's Secrets: Examining the National Security Workforce, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Federal Programs and the Federal Workforce of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, November 20, 2014

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This is from the November 20, 2014 hearing on "Safeguarding Our Nation's Secrets: Examining the National Security Workforce," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. From the opening statement of Jon Tester: "From the significant disclosures of classified information to the tragedy at the Washington Naval Yard, it is abundantly clear to the American people that the Federal Government is failing to properly vet the individuals who are granted access to our Nation's most sensitive information and secure facilities. And as we all see, there are real life consequences of these failures. In looking at the lessons learned, it is obvious that there is no single quick fix to such a broken system. It is about incomplete, falsified, and ultimately, background investigations and re-investigations. It is about agencies improperly adjudicating which employees and contractors should be granted a clearance, and it is about pure volume. Today there are nearly five million individuals with a security clearance. You heard me right. Five million. And there are no indications that number will decrease any time soon. But it only takes one individual to slip through the cracks, one individual who could do untold damage to our national security by exposing sensitive information about government actions and programs. One individual who, with no motive, with no warning, could kill 12 men and women in a secure government facility on a random Monday morning. Now, we have to get this right because there literally is no margin for error. This hearing will focus on the designation of positions in the Federal Government as sensitive to the national security, as well as the requirement for government personnel to have access to classified information." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Colleen M. Kelly.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014
• Worldwide Threats, Hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, February 26, 2015

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This is the testimony compilation from the hearing, "Worldwide Threats," before the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services. From the opening statement of Chairman McCain: "The Committee meets today to receive testimony on the nature and scope of the global threats faced by the United States and our allies. I want to welcome James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence, and General Vincent Stewart, the newly confirmed Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Thank you for being with us today. This Committee recently conducted several hearings with some of our most respected national security leaders to explore the need for strategic thinking to address the threats we face. In the course of those hearings, these military and foreign policy leaders all agreed that the current international environment is more complex and dangerous than at any time in recent memory." Topics covered include terrorism, intelligence, and international relations. Statements, letters and materials for the record include those of the following: John McCain, Jack Reed, Vincent Stewart, and James Clapper.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Armed Services

  2015-02-26
• Examining the FY 2016 Budget Requests for the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Hearing Before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, March 3, 2015

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This testimony compilation is from the March 3, 2015 hearing, "Examining the FY 2016 Budget Requests for the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Transportation," before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation. Taken from the summary of the press release: "Two Cabinet-level officials, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Transportation, will testify about the President's FY 2016 budget request for their respective agencies. The budget request seeks $9.8 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Commerce and a total of $94.7 billion in discretionary and mandatory funding for the Department of Transportation." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Penny Pritzker and Anthony Foxx.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

  2015-03-03
• CBO's Long Term Fiscal Outlook for the Nation and Analysis of Federal Government's Deepening Fiscal Challenges, Hearing Before the Committee on the Budget, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, June 17, 2015

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This is a testimony compilation of the June 17, 2015 hearing "CBO's [Congressional Budget Office] Long Term Fiscal Outlook for the Nation and Analysis of Federal Government's Deepening Fiscal Challenges" held before the Senate Committee on the Budget. From the testimony of Dr. Keith Hall: "The long-term outlook for the federal budget has worsened dramatically over the past several years, in the wake of the 2007--2009 recession and slow recovery. Between 2008 and 2012, financial turmoil and a severe drop in economic activity, combined with various policies implemented in response to those conditions, sharply reduced federal revenues and increased spending. As a result, budget deficits rose: They totaled $5.6 trillion in those five years, and in four of the five years, they were larger relative to the size of the economy than they had been in any year since 1946. Because of the large deficits, federal debt held by the public soared, nearly doubling during the period. It is now equivalent to about 74 percent of the economy's annual output, or gross domestic product (GDP)--a higher percentage than at any point in U.S. history except a seven-year period around World War II. If current law remained generally unchanged in the future, federal debt held by the public would decline slightly relative to GDP over the next few years, CBO projects. After that, however, growing budget deficits-- caused mainly by the aging of the population and rising health care costs--would push debt back to, and then above, its current high level. The deficit would grow from less than 3 percent of GDP this year to more than 6 percent in 2040. At that point, 25 years from now, federal debt held by the public would exceed 100 percent of GDP." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Keith Hall.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on the Budget

  2015-06-17
• Examining Lessons Learned from Operation Dakota Peacekeeper. Field Hearing Before the Committee on Indian Affairs. United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, First Session, July 1, 2009

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the opening statement of Byron L. Dorgan: "We were here last August to talk about what was happening with respect to Operation Peacekeeper, the Dakota Peacekeeper operation, here in this area. We had violent crime rates of six and eight times the national average on this reservation, violent crime rates of double and triple on the other reservations in North and South Dakota. We have worked with the Bureau of Indian Affairs where they had somewhere around 25 to 30 officers coming and leaving, back and forth, so that we had a larger force of law enforcement officers here on this reservation during that period. Our understanding from that is that we had a substantial amount of progress in reducing violent crime on this reservation. It was significant. That is not surprising, because if you have nine or ten or twelve law enforcement officers to parol [sic] 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on an Indian reservation the size of the State of Connecticut, it is impsosible [sic] to do. We have, Senator Thune, myself and our coleagues, have heard stories of people calling for emergency help because a crime is being committed, but law enforcement would show up six hours later or the next day, because they simply can't deal with that amount of space spread out over an area the size of the State of Connecticut, on this reservation. And it is true of many reservations. " Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John Thune, Byron L. Dorgan, Ron His Horse Is Thunder, Richard Marcellais, Mervin Packineau, Myra Pearson, David M. Gipp, Valerie Hill, Michael Jandreau, Arnold Schott, Danielle Yonon, William Zuger, Randy Shields, Sr., Thomas Thompson, Sr., Norman Thompson, Gerald A. Medrud, and Theresa Two Bulls.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2010
• Drug and Veterans' Treatment Courts: Seeking Cost-Effective Solutions for Protecting Public Safety and Reducing Recidivism, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundredth Twelfth Congress, First Session, July 10, 2011

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This is the July 19, 2011 hearing on "Drug and Veterans Treatment Courts: Seeking Cost-Effective Solutions for Protecting Public Safety and Reducing Recidivism" before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism. From the opening statement of Chairman Whitehouse: "This morning's hearing will consider an important and growing component of our Nation's criminal justice system. There are over 2,500 drug courts in our country operating in every State and territory. Many jurisdictions, including my home State of Rhode Island, also are developing veterans' treatment courts. Today's hearing will closely examine these intervention and treatment courts and the role they can play as cost-effective solutions for protecting public safety and reducing recidivism." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Daniel N. Abrahamson, Jeanne E. LaFazia, John L. Holahan, Douglas B. Marlowe, David B. Muhlhausen, Denise E. O'Donnell, Martin Sheen and Benjamin Tucker.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2012
• Protecting Those Who Protect Us: The Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session, February 15, 2012

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the opening statement of Patrick J. Leahy: "We are going to hear testimony about the Bulletproof Vest Partnership grant program and other key programs that provide Federal support for the men and women who serve in law enforcement. When I worked to introduce and pass the original bulletproof vest program in 1998, I joined with then-Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a Republican from Colorado--I was the Democrat from Vermont. But we both had served in law enforcement, and we wanted to join together and make it a nonpartisan issue, and we passed it because we wanted to do all we could to protect the men and women in law enforcement as they are the people who protect all of us. Just as we should have the best equipped armed forces in the world and the best equipped National Guard units, I believe that our State and local law enforcement officers need the best and most modern equipment to fulfill their mission and protect us in our communities, whether they are large ones or small ones, across the country." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Patrick J. Leahy, Chuck Grassley, Chuck Canterbury, David C. Maurer, Michael E. Shirling, Jeff G. Fackler, Paul H. Fitzgerald, William J. Johnson, and Ron McBride.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2012
• Counternarcotics Enforcement: Coordination at the Federal, State, and Local Level, Hearing Before the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, First Session, April 21, 2009

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the opening statement of Mark Pryor: "Today's hearing is entitled 'Counternarcotics Enforcement: Coordination at the Federal, State, and Local Level.' We have three witnesses representing three levels of government. Each of them play an important role in our Nation's counternarcotics enforcement efforts. I want to thank you all for being here today, and I am going to introduce you in just a few moments. The purpose of this hearing is to provide an overview of the role and mission of DHS' [Department of Homeland Security] Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement (CNE). I hope that we will hear today about the level of coordination with other counter-drug programs within DHS and the Federal Government, as well as coordination with State and local partners. The link between the Federal Government, State, and local partners is crucial, in my opinion." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mark Pryor, John Ensign, Michael F. Bennet, John Leech, Frances Flener, and Douglas C. Gillespie.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2009
• Threats to Federal Law Enforcement Officers, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice Oversight of the Commitee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Second Session, May 16, 2000

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the opening statement of Strom Thurmond: "Only a few blocks from here, a solemn annual ceremony is taking place this week. Local, State and Federal law enforcement officials are gathering at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial to pay tribute to 280 individuals who lost their lives in the line of duty since last year's ceremony. In total, there are more than 14,000 names on the memorial, a sad reminder of just how dangerous the law enforcement profession is. I think it is safe to say that most people associated violence against law enforcement officials as attacks on uniformed personnel of police departments, sheriffs' offices, State police departments, and highway patrols. Unfortunately, I believe that there is a commonly held belief that the risks Federal enforcement personnel face is minimal. This is simply not correct. To begin with, few realize that the U.S. Government has a significant number of uniformed officers that serve with agencies including the Border Patrol, Park Police, Bureau of Prisons, and Customs Service. These men and women expose themselves to risk day in and day out as they conduct their duties. […]Given that this is Police Week, this hearing on threats against Federal law enforcement officials is especially timely. The men and women who serve in Federal law enforcement have chosen an unsung career path, and it is important that we let the public know the sacrifices and dangers being borne by these dedicated and selfless individuals. Furthermore, I hope that through actions such as this hearing, those who do serve in federal law enforcement recognize that they have friends and supporters in Congress. Finally, as a matter of oversight, this subcommittee must ensure that agencies are doing all they can to train their personnel in officer safety tactics, as well as to protect these men and women when they are serving in the field." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Patrick Leahy, Jeff Sessions, Strom Thurmond, William E. Ledwith, David A. Saleeba, Andreas Stephens, John C. Varrone, Mark T. Calloway and Robert Raben.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2001
• New Border War: Corruption of U.S. Officials by Drug Cartels, Hearing Before the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration, Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, Second Session, March 11, 2010

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the opening statement of Mark L. Pryor: "The Mexican cartels dominate drug trafficking into the U.S. They are sophisticated, ruthless, and well-funded. They operate widely in Mexico through bribery and corruption, paramilitary force, murder, and intimidation. In 2009 drug violence in Mexico resulted in over 6,500 murders. The cartels used to operate differently in the U.S., relying mostly on stealth and a U.S. distribution network that the National Drug Intelligence Center says includes operations in an estimated 230 American cities, including three cities in my state. But heightened U.S. border defenses have put a squeeze on cartels. They have tried to regain an advantage by exporting to the U.S. their experience and success in bribing and corrupting government officials who can facilitate their business. This hearing is about the disturbing scope and nature of the cartel's campaign to infiltrate U.S. law enforcement. We will explore cartel strategies, put numbers to the problem, learn what we are doing to fight it, and what more can be done." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mark L. Pryor, Senator, Arkansas; Kevin L. Perkins, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice; Thomas Frost, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; and James F. Tomsheck, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Internal Affairs, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2010
• Oversight of Federal Programs for Equipping State and Local Law Enforcement, Hearing Before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, September 9, 2014

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This testimony compilation is from the September 9, 2014 hearing "Oversight of Federal Programs for Equipping State and Local Law Enforcement," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. From the opening statement of Thomas R. Carper: "One month ago today, an unarmed young man named Michael Brown, was shot and killed by a local policeman in the town of Ferguson, Missouri. It has been stated that the officer was acting in self-defense. While the incident remains under investigation, this much is known. It has caused very real pain for Mr. Brown's family, as well as for many residents of Ferguson and for others across the country. The events that unfolded in Ferguson have sparked a much needed national discussion on a range of issues, including police strategy, law enforcement response to civil protest and unrest, and race relations. The purpose of today's hearing, though, is not to explore what happened in Ferguson on that fateful day or to assign blame. That is the responsibility of our judicial system. Rather, the purpose of today's hearing is to examine the effectiveness of federal programs that provide State and local police with surplus military equipment and grant funding for equipment, exercises, planning, and training. The issues we will be discussing today are not just about Ferguson. They affect communities across our nation. As we take a deep dive into the federal programs that help equip state and local law enforcement agencies, we want to explore the value of these programs to police, the communities they serve, and the taxpayers." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Thomas R. Carper, Tom Coburn, Claire McCaskill, Alan F. Estevez, Brian E. Kamoie, Karol Mason, Jim Bueermann, Peter B. Kraska, Mark Lomax, Wiley Price, and Hilary O. Shelton.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

  2014-09-09
• Conflicts Between State and Federal Marijuana Laws, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, September 10, 2013

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This is the September 10, 2013 hearing on "Marijuana Laws" before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Patrick Leahy: "Last November, the people of Colorado and Washington voted to legalize the possession and use of small amounts of marijuana, and to regulate how marijuana is produced and distributed in their states. These new laws are just the latest examples of the growing tension between Federal and state marijuana laws, and they underscore the persistent uncertainty about how such conflicts will be resolved. Should the Federal government arrest and prosecute marijuana users in states where they might be in full compliance with state law? Or should the Federal government take a completely hands-off approach and let drug laws and policy develop on a state-by-state basis? Or is there some middle ground approach that considers both the national interests and the fundamental principles of federalism, including the rights of voters to decide what is best for their own individual state? Today this Committee holds the first congressional hearing on these issues since the new laws passed in Colorado and Washington, and it presents an important opportunity to hear from some of the people who are directly involved in grappling with these complex questions. Although much of the focus of today's hearing will be on what is happening in Colorado and Washington, the questions and issues we discuss today have implications for the rest of the country." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Patrick Leahy, Chuck Grassley, James Cole, John Urquhart, Jack Finlaw, and Kevin A. Sabet.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2015