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Firstnet Oversight: An Update on the Status of the Public Safety Broadband Network, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, June 21, 2016
This is the June 21, 2016 hearing on "Firstnet Oversight: An Update on the Status of the Public Safety Broadband Network," held before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. From the opening statement of the Honorable Roger Wicker, Chairman of the Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator from Mississippi, "[The focus of this hearing is] the progress FirstNet has made and the challenges that lie ahead in deploying a nationwide public safety network. The First Responder Network Authority, also known as FirstNet, was established under the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. It is intended to address communication failures that slowed recovery efforts during major national emergencies, including the 9/11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina. [...] Tasked with building and operating a Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network, the 2012 Act allocated $7 billion from spectrum auction proceeds to launch FirstNet. [...] Although FirstNet has made commendable progress in the first year, questions linger about the future viability of the network. [...] Last year's oversight hearing examined the progress that had been made and FirstNet's plan for outreach to stakeholders in each State and territory. [This hearing will address] FirstNet's accomplishment in the past year, what benchmarks have been met, and what work still needs to be done." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Michael Poth, Jeffrey S. McLeod, Arthur J. Logan, and Andrew Katsaros.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Securing America's Future: Realizing the Potential of the Department of Energy National Laboratories, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development of the Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, October 28, 2015
This is the October 28, 2015 hearing titled, "Securing America's Future: Realizing the Potential of the Department of Energy National Laboratories," held before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development of the Committee on Appropriations. From the opening statement of Lamar Alexander, U.S. Senator from Tennessee: "We have 17 [national] laboratories. Ten included are Office of Science laboratories. Three are weapons labs managed by the National Nuclear Security Administration, and four applied energy laboratories--one each that does work for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Office of Environmental Management, the Office of Fossil Energy, the Office of Nuclear Energy. All that is under the Department of Energy. The national laboratories employ about 55,000 people. They received approximately $11.7 billion in new funding from the Department of Energy in fiscal year 2014. Our national laboratory system is critical to our Nation's competitiveness, national security and way of life. They are the engines that help create new cutting-edge technologies that can transform our economy. [...] Supporting governmental sponsored basic research is one of the most important things our country can do to encourage innovation, help the free enterprise system create good jobs, and make America competitive in a global economy. I look forward to discussing the commission's recommendations on how to maximize the potential of our 17 national laboratories." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: TJ Glauthier and Jared Cohon.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Oversight Hearing on Scientific Advisory Panels and Processes at the Environmental Protection Agency and Legislative Hearing on S. 543, the Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2015, Hearing Before the Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight, U.S. Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, May 20, 2015
This is the May 20, 2015 hearing "Oversight Hearing on Scientific Advisory Panels and Processes at the Environmental Protection Agency and Legislative Hearing on S. 543, the Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2015," held before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. From the opening statement of Mike Rounds: "The Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight is meeting today to conduct an oversight hearing on Scientific Advisory Panels and Processes at the Environmental Protection Agency and Legislative Hearing on S. 543, the Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2015. The Environmental Protection Agency is tasked with developing environmental regulations that impact every American in every State across the entire Country. These regulations affect the water we drink, the air we breathe and the land we use. The EPA has affirmed science is to be ''the backbone of EPA decision making.'' The Science Advisory Board and the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, which are made up of scientific experts, are to supply the EPA with independent scientific and technical advice on a wide range of topics, from hydraulic fracturing, to ozone emissions, to stream and wetland connectivity. The EPA is to rely on this advice to assist them in crafting and issuing appropriate environmental regulations. Unfortunately, in recent years EPA regulations have been driven not by science but by politics. The EPA has not submitted critical agency science or technical information to the Science Advisory Board for review prior to implementing major regulations such as greenhouse gas rules for cars and trucks, new source performance standards for coal-fired power plants, and ozone regulations, despite statutory authority to do so." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Roger O. McClellan, Ted Hadzi-Antich, Alfredo Gomez, Terry Yosie, and Scott Faber.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Wireless Broadband and the Future of Spectrum Policy, Hearing Before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, July 29, 2015
This is the July 29, 2015 hearing, "Wireless Broadband and the Future of Spectrum Policy," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation. From the opening statement of Chairman John Thune: "We convene today to discuss what Congress and the Federal Government should be doing to ensure that the United States remains at the forefront of the mobile revolution. Today's hearing will be the first in a series to examine the policies related to spectrum and wireless broadband. The Senate has a real opportunity over the next several months to pass meaningful wireless broadband and spectrum reform legislation, and it is my hope that the Committee will use these hearings to inform our work on developing such a bill. By now, everyone is familiar with the immense power of wireless technologies. From keeping us connected while on the go, to powering the growing Internet of Things, wireless devices and services have become commonplace in the everyday lives of most Americans. Here in the United States, we also have the benefit of being the global leader in wireless innovation and investment, particularly in 4G mobile broadband. But this committee and Congress as a whole cannot take these developments for granted. Europe and Asia look at our 4G success with envy and are working hard to leapfrog the United States and take the lead in the next generation of wireless, known as 5G. And while the last two decades of wireless policy have largely been a success, we cannot be complacent and think that yesterday's laws are a perfect fit for the future." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jessica Rosenworcel, Meredith Attwell Baker, Blair Levin, J. Pierre de Vries, and Thomas M. Lenard.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Impacts of the Proposed 'Waters of the United States' Rule on State and Local Governments,, Joint Hearing Before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives, and the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, February 4, 2015
This is the February 4, 2015 joint hearing on the "Impacts of the Proposed 'Waters of the United States' Rule on State and Local Governments" held before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Environment and Public Works. The purpose of this joint hearing is to determine the potential impacts on state and local governments given the "Waters of the United States" rule is implemented which gives the EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] jurisdiction over waterways and wetlands in the United States. The cited impacts may include limited authority via states to participate in imposing regulation over waterways and wetlands in their region, restriction on private land owned by citizens, as well as negatively affect the middle class. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Gina McCarthy, Jo-Ellen Darcy, E. Scott Pruitt, Adam H. Putnam, Sallie Clark, Timothy Mauck, and Lemuel M. Srolovic.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Examination of the Safety and Security of Drinking Water Supplies Following the Central West Virginia Drinking Water Crisis, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, February 4, 2014
This is the February 4, 2014 hearing "Examination of the Safety and Security of Drinking Water Supplies Following the Central West Virginia Drinking Water Crisis" held before the Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife of the Committee on Environment and Public Works. From the opening statement of the Honorable Benjamin Cardin: "Americans have a right to expect that when they turn on their tap, the water they get is safe and is safe to drink. It is our responsibility to make sure that expectation is, in fact, carried out, both at the Federal, State and local government levels. It is a primary responsibility of government to protect the public safety of the people of our community." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Benjamin Cardin, David Vitter, Barbara Boxer, Thomas Udall, Jay Rockefeller, Joe Manchin, Nick Rahall, Shelley Capito, Natalie Tennant, Randy Huffman, Erik Olson, Brent Fewell, Michael McNulty, Richard Faulk, and R.Peter Weaver.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency's Progress in Implementing Inspector General and Government Accountability Office Recommendations, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, June 14, 2016
This is the June 14, 2016 hearing on "Oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency's Progress in Implementing Inspector General and Government Accountability Office [GAO] Recommendations" held before U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Federal Oversight of the Committee on Environment and Public Works. The purpose of this hearing was to establish the progress of the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] in terms of its implementation of recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office as well as the Office of the Inspector General who both have regulatory oversight of the EPA. This oversight is the attempt by federal government to ensure the functionality of the EPA as well as avoid allowing excessive regulations to be set forth that hurt tax payers rather than protect them. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Alan Larsen and Alfredo Gomez.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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How the Internet of Things Can Bring U.S. Transportation and Infrastructure into the 21st Century, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, June 28, 2016
This is the June 28, 2016 hearing on "How the Internet of Things Can Bring U.S. Transportation and Infrastructure into the 21st Century" held before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The purpose of this hearing was to establish greater infrastructure of ground travel in the United States. As technological advances make way for innovation and simplification of civilian life, U.S. transportation infrastructure stands to benefit from these advances particularly those made within the sphere of the internet. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Carlos Monje, Seleta Reynolds, Doug Davis, Robert Edelstein, and Jordan Kass.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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State of the U.S. Maritime Industry: Stakeholder Perspectives, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security, of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, April 20, 2016
This is the April 20, 2016 hearing on, 'The State of the U.S. Maritime Industry: Stakeholder Perspectives,' held before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security, of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. From the opening statement of Deb Fischer, U.S. Senator from Nebraska, 'this is the second in a series of hearings examining the maritime industry as [...] legislation [is prepared] to reauthorize the Maritime Administration at the Department of Transportation. America's maritime transportation system plays a crucial role in [the] economy. [...] Productive shipping is key to reducing costs for manufacturers, consumers, workers, and businesses of all sizes. As a global leader, the United States needs an efficient and reliable intermodal freight transportation network to help [the] economy grow and create new jobs. As freight flows continue to increase, the United States maritime fleet and ports are critical to keeping America competitive in this global market. [...] A knowledgeable panel of witnesses with diverse and informative views on the state of the maritime industry [are present at the hearing, and the] hearing will focus on the current trends, opportunities, and challenges [...] [in order to] understand how Federal policy can enhance the performance of [the] maritime transportation system.' Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mark McAndrews, Perry M. Bourne, Michael G. Roberts, and Klaus Luhta.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Keeping Goods Moving, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, February 10, 2015
This is a February 10, 2015 hearing "Keeping Goods Moving" held before the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. From the opening statement of Deb Fischer: "To grow the economy and create new jobs, we need an efficient and reliable intermodal transportation network. Today's hearing allows us to explore this issue with a particular focus on infrastructure and maintaining operations at our Nation's ports. America's intermodal transportation network is the foundation upon which U.S. businesses along all segments of the supply chain produce goods and get them to market. At our last hearing, Cabela's outlined how disruptions or inefficiencies along our Nation's just-in-time shipping network cost companies through lost sales, increased costs, and poor customer service. Deepwater ports represent a key element of the U.S. transportation network, and are vital to our economic growth. In fact, America's seaports often serve as the key connection point for all modes of transportation. Our West Coast ports alone move 12.5 percent of U.S. GDP [Gross Domestic Product] per year. A shutdown of America's West Coast ports even for a short period of time would have devastating economic consequences. According to a recent report by the National Retail Federation and the National Association of Manufacturers, in the most severe case, a 20 day West Coast ports' closure would disrupt 405,000 jobs, reduce U.S. GDP by almost $50 billion, and cost the U.S. economy $2.5 billion per day." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Norman Bessac, Katie Farmer, Walter Kemmsies, and John E. Greuling.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Intermodal and Interdependent: The Fast Act, the Economy, and Our Nation's Transportation System, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security, of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, July 12, 2016
This is the July 12, 2016 hearing entitled, "Intermodal and Interdependent: the Fast Act, the Economy, and Our Nation's Transportation System," held before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security, of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. From the opening statement of the Honorable Deb Fischer, U.S. Senator from Nebraska: "This hearing will explore diverse stakeholder perspectives on the implementation of the FAST [Fixing America's Surface Transportation] Act and its role in improving our Nation's infrastructure, increasing safety, and enhancing economic growth. We also plan to cover emerging economic and policy opportunities and challenges for freight and passenger transportation providers, shippers, and transportation safety officials. Transportation is critical to our Nation's economy. Safe and reliable infrastructure facilitates commerce across the United States and with our global trading partners. [...] Efficient supply chains are key to reducing costs for both businesses and consumers. America's economy relies on our vast multi-modal transportation network consisting of railroads, highways, ports, maritime vessels, automobiles, and airplanes. [...] The overall success of the transportation sector is often considered a key indicator for activity in the financial markets. [...] Unfortunately, the transportation sector currently faces economic challenges. [...] [This hearing explores the] FAST Act and the impact it will have on our transportation system and the economic growth of the United States." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Patrick J. Ottensmeyer, David Eggermann, Jay Thompson, and Stephen J. Gardner.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Measuring the Systemic Importance of U.S. Bank Holding Companies, Hearing Before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session on Examining the Appropriate Criteria That the Federal Reserve and Other Regulators Could Use to Determine Whether an Institution Poses a Systemic Risk to the Financial System, July 23, 2015
This is the July 23, 2015 hearing on "Measuring the Systemic Importance of U.S. Bank Holding Companies," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. From the opening statement of Richard C. Shelby: "Today, we will hear from experts on the best criteria and methods to determine the systemic importance of U.S. banks. For nonbanks, Dodd-Frank set up a process governed by a council of Federal regulators to determine if an institution is systemically important. As imperfect as this process is, there is no such process for banks. Instead, Dodd-Frank deems a bank systemically risky if it has $50 billion or more in total assets. Moreover, once a bank reaches this arbitrary threshold, it is automatically designated as systemically important. Under this automatic framework, where there is no clear exit from the designation, a bank has little incentive to reduce its level of systemic risk." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Robert DeYoung, Deborah Lucas, Jonathan R. Macey, and Michael S. Barr.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization, Hearing Before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, April 14, 2015
This is the April 14, 2015 hearing, "Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization," before the Full Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. From the opening statement of Chairman John Thune: "So I look forward to discussing options for reform this morning. No matter who is in charge of the operation of the air traffic control system, airports are an integral part of our aviation system. Whatever path we take this year, we are sure to debate options for airport funding and how to maintain equitable access to funding for airports of all sizes. Ours is truly a National Airspace System, a system of airports and air traffic control infrastructure that ties communities, big and small, together, not to mention the vast users, from private pilots, commercial jetliners, military users, and even space tourism. As important as the safety standards and procedures for operating in the Nation's airspace are, so, too, are the standards and certification processes that ensure safety of aircraft in the system. If the United States is to remain at the forefront of aerospace manufacturing and innovation, the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] must be able to review and approve new aircraft in a timely and effective manner. Cutting edge technologies, from fly-by-wire airliners to unmanned aircraft systems, need to get to market quickly with FAA's gold standard safety certification." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Michael P. Huerta.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Review of the Can-Spam Act and New Anti-Spam Initiatives, Hearing Before the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Second Session, May 20, 2004
This is the May 20, 2004 hearing on the "Review of the Can-Spam Act and New Anti-Spam Initiatives" held before the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. From the opening statement of John McCain: "Today, the Committee will examine the effectiveness of the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 aimed at curtailing the proliferation of spam in America. Since our review of this issue last May, the volume of spam received by American consumers has risen unabatedly. Spam now accounts for anywhere from 64 percent to 83 percent of all e-mail traffic on the Internet. Just a year ago, spam constituted only 45 percent of e-mail traffic. Additionally, a Pew survey on 'Internet & American Life' released this past March found that 77 percent of e-mail users are receiving the same amount or more spam since the law was passed. As a result, 30 percent of those surveyed have reduced their use of e-mail, up from 25 percent last year who did the same. The rising tide of spam is driving nearly a third of consumers away from using e-mail, a result that could well impact Internet usage and, consequently, the future financial health of our telecommunications online retail and information technology industries." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Shinya Akamine, Hans Peter Brondmo, James Guest, Ted Leonsis, Janna D. Monroe, Timothy Muris, and Ronald Scelson.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Understanding the Role of Sanctions Under the Iran Deal, Hearing Before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, On Examining the Nature of the Sanctions Relief That is Being Provided to Iran, Including the Recent Focus on the Potential for Giving Iran Additional Access to the U.S. Financial Market in Return for Its Previously Negotiated Temporary Nuclear-Related Commitments Set Forth in the 'Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action,' May 24, 2016
This is the May 24, 2016 hearing titled, "Understanding the Role of Sanctions Under the Iran Deal," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. From the opening statement of Richard C. Shelby, U.S. Senator from Alabama and Chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: "Today the Committee will receive testimony on the repercussions of lifting economic sanctions from the world's leading State sponsor of terrorism--Iran. In particular, it is important for this Committee to understand the effects of implementing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or more simply, the 'Iran deal' [...] As U.S. and global sanctions evaporate, Iran continues, and in some cases appears to expand, its dangerous behavior [...] We are now more than 4 months into the implementation of the Iran deal in which Iran promised to refrain from building a nuclear weapon in exchange for significant sanctions relief. [...] For example, the deal gave Iran prompt access to approximately $100 billion in previously frozen overseas assets. The deal also suspended virtually all European Union and United Nations sanctions imposed since 2010, including those on Iran's valuable energy sector. In addition, it lifted most U.S. secondary sanctions on foreign entities and countries that transact business with Iran, including in the energy and banking sectors." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Juan C. Zarate, Mark Dubowitz, Michael Elleman, and Elizabeth Rosenberg.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Understanding the Role of Sanctions Under the Iran Deal: Administration Perspectives, Hearing Before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, On Examining the Nature of the Sanctions Relief That is Being Provided to Iran, Including the Recent Focus on the Potential for Giving Iran Additional Access to the U.S. Financial Market in Return for Its Previously Negotiated Temporary Nuclear-Related Commitments Set Forth in the 'Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action,' May 25, 2016
This is the May 25, 2016 hearing titled, "Understanding the Role of Sanctions Under the Iran Deal: Administration Perspectives" held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. From the opening statement of Richard C. Shelby, U.S. Senator from Alabama and Chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: "Yesterday here in this Committee, we received testimony from a panel of experts on the challenges and the consequences of suspending economic sanctions on Iran as agreed to in the 'Iran deal.' They discussed, among other things, several issues in implementing the deal and the risks posed by granting Iran additional concessions in light of its demand for more economic relief. And while the Administration has been campaigning for Iran's rapid reintegration into the world economy, there is nothing preventing Iran from using funds made available under the deal to further destabilize the region. […] Given [the] serious threat, […] the Administration must have the ability and the will to reimpose swift punitive measures should Iran not uphold its end of the agreement. And I believe Congress must ensure that the statutory authority is in place to reapply strong economic sanctions against Iran if need be. I look forward to hearing our witnesses' testimony today on how the Iran deal is being implemented and, in particular, the actions the Administration is taking to further facilitate Iran's access to the global financial system." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Adam J. Szubin and Steven D. Mull.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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S. 883, The American Mineral Security Act of 2015, Hearing Before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, May 12, 2015
This is the May 12, 2015 hearing "S. 883, The American Mineral Security Act of 2015" held before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. From the opening statement of Chairman Lisa Murkowski: "We are here to hear testimony on S. 883, the American Mineral Security Act of 2015. It is nice to be able to welcome everyone to the Committee here this morning. This is an important topic, the mineral security of our nation which directly affects everything from our economic competitiveness to our national security. This is the third Congress now that I have introduced legislation on this subject. I think this is the best version yet, but I also believe that passage of this legislation is probably more important now than ever. I said it before and I will say it again, I think we have a real problem on our hands as a result of our nation's borderline insidious reliance on mineral imports. And it is not just the rare earth elements. 60 Minutes had a feature on this some weeks ago. The reality is the United States now depends on many other nations for a vast array of minerals, metals, and materials, and we have got the numbers to back it up. In 1978 the USGS [United States Geological Survey] reported that the United States was importing at least 50 percent of our supply of 25 minerals and 100 percent of seven of them. According to the latest figures, that dependence is now far deeper. In 2014 we imported at least 50 percent of 43 different minerals, including 100 percent of 19 of them. Electric vehicles, solar cells, advanced defense systems, you can almost name the technology, almost anything you can find in modern society, and then you can go look up who we import at least some of the raw materials from." Statements, letters, and other materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Suzette Kimball, Ed Fogels, Kevin J. Cosgriff, Harry Conger, and Richard Silberglitt.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act: Renewing the Commitment to Victims of Human Trafficking, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session, September 14, 2011
This is the September 14, 2011 hearing on "The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act: Renewing the Commitment to Victims of Human Trafficking," held before the Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Patrick J. Leahy: "The Committee will today consider the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2011 and how best to continue and improve our efforts to end once and for all human trafficking at home and abroad. Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery. You cannot call it anything else. It is a modern-day form of slavery in which victims are forced into labor or sexual exploitation. Traffickers prey on the most vulnerable members of society, and no country is immune. It happens here, even here in our own backyard. Earlier this summer, the Justice Department secured convictions against traffickers who compelled undocumented immigrant women hired to be waitresses to engage in commercial sex acts using violence, fraud, coercion, and threats of deportation. Unfortunately, we hear these kinds of stories every day. Thanks to the tools provided by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, we have made progress in combating this major human rights abuse. But there is more work to be done." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Luis CdeBaca, Mary Lou Leary, and Kelly Ryan.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Implications of Sanctions Relief Under the Iran Agreement, Hearing Before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, On Assessing the Nature, Implications, and Potential Consequences of Iran Sanctions Relief that are Proposed to be Provided to Iran in Return for the Nuclear-Related Commitments Set Forth in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, August 5, 2015
This is the August 5, 2015 hearing titled, "The Implications of Sanctions Relief Under the Iran Agreement" held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. From the opening statement of Richard C. Shelby, U.S. Senator from Alabama and Chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: "Many serious concerns have been raised regarding [the Iran] deal, including, first and foremost, whether it would actually prevent Iran from continuing on its dangerous path to a nuclear weapon. And although a new deal has been reached, fundamental problems remain with Iran, the country upon whose assurances the deal rests. Iran remains the world's leading state sponsor of terror. It remains a serious risk to the national security interests of the United States. It remains a constant threat to the survival of Israel. And despite these grave concerns, it will remain a country with the capability to enrich uranium. Under these circumstances, I believe it is critical that Congress conduct a thorough review of the agreement as required by the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act. As part of this review, the Banking Committee will focus specifically on analyzing the sanctions relief provided in the nuclear agreement and the implications of taking such actions." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Wendy Sherman, Adam J. Szubin, Juan C. Zarate, Mark Dubowitz, Matthew Levitt, and Nicholas Burns.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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NRC's Implementation of the Fukushima near-Term Task Force Recommendations and Other Actions to Enhance and Maintain Nuclear Safety, Hearing Before the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, June 4, 2014
This is the June 4, 2014 hearing on "NRC's Implementation of the Fukushima near-Term Task Force Recommendations and Other Actions to Enhance and Maintain Nuclear Safety," held before the Committee on Environment and Public Works. From the opening statement of Barbara Boxer: "It has been more than 3 years since the Fukushima disaster and Japan is still struggling to clean up the site. The massive underground ice wall intended to prevent radioactive water from flowing into the sea will take a year to finish and cost more than $300 million. We must learn from the tragic events in Fukushima and take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of nuclear facilities in the United States. Today, I am going to continue to focus on whether the NRC has done that." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Allison M. Macfarlane, Kristine L. Svinicki, George Apostolakis, William D. Magwood, and William C. Ostendorff.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Aviation Security Challenges: Is TSA Ready for the Threats of Today? Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, July 29, 2015
This is the July 29, 2015 hearing on "Aviation Security Challenges: Is TSA Ready for the Threats of Today?" held before the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Michael T. McCaul: "Two weeks ago, a terrorist struck in America's heartland-inspired by a hateful ideology-and killed 5 American soldiers on U.S. soil. Fourteen years after 9/11, not only are we still under threat from Islamist terrorists, but they have gone on the offensive globally and expanded their footprint. Radicalism is on the rise, and the war is being brought to our doorsteps at terrifying speed. We have long known that our aviation sector is the crown jewel of terrorist targets, so as we stare down these real and growing threats, Congress and the American people need confidence in our defenses. In the past few months, TSA has given us concern rather than confidence. Terrorists have to be right only once, and we have to be right 100% of the time. As millions of travelers from all over the world pass through our Nation's airports, the American people must know and trust that the procedures and policies put in place make us safer. In June, we learned through leaked reports from the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General, that TSA's passenger screening was wrong 96% of the time, and that 73 aviation workers had potential ties to terrorism. These findings shatter public confidence. A reported 96% failure rate to detect explosives is completely unacceptable." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Peter V. Neffenger.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Examining Critical Security Measures, Communications, and Response at Our Nation's Airports, Field Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Transportation Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, October 26, 2015
This is the October 26, 2015 hearing on "Examining Critical Security Measures, Communications, and Response at Our Nation's Airports," held before the House of Representatives subcommittee on Transportation Security of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement pf John Katko: "The subcommittee is meeting today to hear testimony on the security measures, communications, and response at our Nation's airports, and I will now recognize myself for an opening statement. If security at our Nation's airports was flawless, there would be no need for today's hearing. But the fact of the matter is that our Nation's airports are far from flawless as far as security goes. The subcommittee is convening this field hearing today to assess the state of security preparedness among our Nation's airports. Today, we will hear the critically-important perspective of the individuals who face security challenges on the front line each and every day in New York State and elsewhere throughout our country. The American people expect the best from the entities entrusted with their safety. It is this subcommittee's intention to continue working tirelessly to ensure the security of the traveling public. I am humbled and honored to have the opportunity both to represent the people of central New York and to chair this critically-important subcommittee." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jeremy P. Martelle and Marisa Maola
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Transforming America's Air Travel, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Space, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, June 11, 2015
This is the June 11, 2015 hearing "Transforming America's Air Travel," held before the Subcommittee on Space of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. From the opening statement of subcommittee chairman Brian Babin: "This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, also known as NACA. Founded in 1915 to supervise and direct the scientific study of the problems of flight with a view to their practical solution, NACA was ultimately incorporated into NASA when Congress passed the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958. That same year, Congress also established the Federal Aviation Administration's predecessor, the Federal Aviation Agency. NACA's legacy of civilian aeronautics and aviation research and development is now carried out by NASA and FAA. The aeronautics research carried out by these agencies is vital to our nation's prosperity. Aviation accounts for $1.5 trillion in economic activity and a $78.3 billion positive trade balance. Civil and general aviation is responsible for 11.8 million jobs in the U.S. and generates 5.4 percent of our gross domestic product. Put simply, aviation is one of the pillars of our economy. And while we currently enjoy the benefits of our nation's early investments in aeronautics R&D [research and development], other nations are now attempting to challenge our leadership. This is particularly troubling when the largest growth sector is not here in the United States but in Asia. In order to maintain our leadership, we must strategically prioritize our government investments, provide a competitive environment for industry, and coordinate and clearly define public and private sector efforts to maximize efficiencies and minimize duplication that may crowd out investment." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jaiwon Shin, Dennis Filler, William Leber, R. John Hansman, and Greg Hyslop.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Transportation Security Administration's Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Request, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Transportation Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, March 2, 2016
This is the March 2, 2016 hearing on "Transportation Security Administration's Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Request," held before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Transportation Security of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of John Katko: "The Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Transportation Security, will come to order. The subcommittee is meeting today to determine and examine the fiscal year 2017 budget of the Transportation Security Administration. I now recognize myself for an opening statement. Terrorists remain committed to attacking the West, and every day these groups are recruiting new soldiers to their cause. As 9/11 fades from the memory of many Americans, it is incumbent upon Congress to look at tragic recent events and recognize just how committed our adversaries remain to attacking us. The harsh reality is that there are formidable new threats to the safety and security of the traveling public, and it is incumbent upon this committee to ensure that the Transportation Security Administration has the resources it needs to protect the American people against
those threats and that it spends those resources in an appropriate manner. At the very beginning of my tenure at Chairman last year, we witnessed a marked increase in the public visibility of access control and employee vetting gaps at airports across the country with the revelation that aviation workers were involved in weapons and
drug smuggling, and abusing their access to secure and sterile areas of airports. Then, in June, we learned of disturbing covert testing results from the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general on the effectiveness of passenger screening checkpoints. Further, we saw tragedy with the downing of a Metrojet flight over the Sinai Peninsula which by most accounts was caused by a bomb likely planted by ISIS." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Peter V. Neffenger.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Examining TSA's Global Efforts to Protect the Homeland from Aviation Threats and Enhance Security at Last-Point-of-Departure Airports, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Transportation Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, December 8, 2015
This is the December 8, 2015 hearing on "Examining TSA's Global Efforts to Protect the Homeland from Aviation Threats and Enhance Security at Last-Point-of-Departure Airports," held before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Transportation Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, From the opening statement of John Katko: "The subcommittee is meeting today to have its 10th hearing, I believe it is, our 10th hearing of the season to examine TSA's global efforts to protect the homeland from aviation threats and enhance security at last-point-of-departure airports. Now, according to media reports, our allies in the United Kingdom believe that the Metrojet flight-I am sorry-I now recognize myself for an opening statement. The recent Metrojet crash over the Sinai peninsula is tragically reminiscent of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, which took down PanAm Flight 103, killing all aboard, including 35 Syracuse University students traveling home for the holidays. It also claimed the lives of one of my best friend's sisters who went to Oswego State University. Now, according to the media reports, our allies in the United Kingdom believe that the Metrojet flight was brought down by the very same type of device used in the Lockerbie bombing. It is deeply disturbing to me that innocent people from my district in Syracuse, as well as all of the traveling public, may still be threatened today by the same type of bomb used over 27 years ago. Even though this most recent attack was not targeted at American citizens or an American aircraft, we cannot and should not hesitate to learn from this tragedy and identify ways in which we can mitigate such threats from becoming successful again in the future. The international aviation system represents our modern globalized world. However, with interconnected transportation systems come interconnected risk. Much like the Lockerbie bombing affected my community in Syracuse all those years ago, the Metrojet tragedy affects our security as well. We cannot afford to ignore potential security lessons from this incident. Today, the Subcommittee on Transportation Security is holding this hearing to better understand the size and scope of TSA's global programs aimed at securing international aviation, as well as recent efforts to enhance security at overseas airports with direct flights to the United States. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Joseph P. Terrell.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Examining the Safety and Service of D.C. Metro, Joint Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Transportation and Public Assets and the Subcommittee on Government Operations of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, April 13, 2016
This is the April 13, 2016 joint hearing on "Examining the Safety and Service of D.C. Metro" held before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Transportation and Public Assets and the Subcommittee on Government Operations of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The purpose of this hearing was to establish a plan of action fo the D.C. metro system after failures in previous years have left riders vulnerable to harm or disrupted schedules. Given the unique position of the D.C. metro system as federally subsidized as well as locally managed, this committee will establish a route for a more efficiently run metro system. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jack Evans, Paul Wiedefeld, Christopher Hart, and Carolyn Flowers.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Internet of Cars, Joint Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Transportation and Public Assets and the Subcommittee on Information Technology of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, November 18, 2015
This is the November 18, 2015 hearing on "The Internet of Cars," held before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Transportation and Public Assets and the Subcommittee on Information Technology of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. From the opening statement of John L. Mica: "But we today are going to address the issues relating to, again, what we call the Internet of Cars and look at some of the implications of that technology. And I think some of this was highlighted just some time ago when, I guess it was a Jeep vehicle was hacked. And fortunately it wasn't folks who chose to do harm, but it did demonstrate that vehicles with certain types of electronic capability can, in fact, be hacked, and it does pose some questions. We've called together today leaders of industry and some others. We have NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). But I particularly want to thank the private sector partners. Several weeks ago we had a roundtable and an open and frank discussion of kind of where we are and where we're going and what the industry's doing to deal with some of these issues. And I think they've been most cooperative and I appreciate that. And we learned a lot from that particular informal meeting." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Nat Beuse, Harry M. Lightsey, Sandy Lobenstein, Diarmuid O'Connell, Dean C. Garfield, and Khaliah Barnes.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Egypt Two Years After Morsi (Part 2), Hearing Before the Subcommittee on The Middle East and North Africa of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, December 16, 2015
This is from the December 16, 2015 hearing "Egypt Two Years After Morsi (Part 2)," held before the House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on The Middle East and North Africa. From the statement of Ilean Ros-Lehtinen: "Egypt has always been of central importance to the Middle East and the region's stability. It has also been a strategic interest for the United States, our policy objectives in the region, and our national security. The Suez Canal remains an all-important waterway that serves as a strategic asset for global trade and, just as importantly, the avenue which U.S. warships can easily traverse between the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. Over the past 4 years, we have certainly seen Egypt undergo drastic changes. As policymakers, we face one of the more difficult challenges in Egypt, and today's hearing is entitled Egypt: Two Years After Morsi, to examine the ever-changing dynamics on the ground of that country. Since the 2011 revolution, the change we had hoped to see for Egypt has been slow to come, to say the least. For many of us, myself included, we believe that human rights is a top priority that must be taken into account as we formulate our foreign policy objective. We want to see people living in free democratic and open societies where everyone can practice, without fear, their religion and where everyone is treated equally and fairly." Statements, Letters, and other materials submitted for the record include the following: David Schenker, Eric Bjornlund, and Steven A. Cook.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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U.S. Policy Toward Putin's Russia, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, June 14, 2016
This is the June 14, 2016 hearing on "U.S. Policy Toward Putin's Russia," held before the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the opening statement of Edward Royce: "Winston Churchill famously described Russia as ''a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma,'' but I think for many of us, less well-known is what he said next, because he commented about unlocking that riddle. He said, 'But perhaps there is a key. And that key is Russian national interest.' The problem is that we are not dealing with the interests of the Russian people. We could be if we were broadcasting into Russia the way we did during the Reagan administration when we had that message about political pluralism and tolerance and that message of educating people effectively on what was going on inside Russia and around the world. But we don't." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Michael McFaul, Jack Matlock, and Leon Aron.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Energy and Water Development Appropriations for 2017, Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, 2016
This is the 2016 hearing on "Energy and Water Development Appropriations for 2017" held before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development of the Committee on Appropriations. The purpose of this hearing is to establish a budget appropriate for the needs and concerns of the Department of Energy. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Ernest Moniz.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
