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2015 Congressional Testimonies

February 11, 2015

Topic: One Year Anniversary of the Farm Bill (PDF, 341 KB)
Witness(es): U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack
Committee: House Committee on Agriculture

February 24, 2015

Topic: One Year Anniversary of Farm Bill (PDF, 227 KB)
Witness(es): U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack
Committee: Senate Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry

February 25, 2015

Topic: Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Request (PDF, 60.0 KB)
Witness(es): U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack
Committee: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies

February 26, 2015

Topic: Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Request for the Food Safety and Inspection Service (PDF, 207 KB)
Witness(es): Deputy Undersecretary, Al Almanza
Committee: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies

February 26, 2015

Topic: Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Request for the Forest Service (PDF, 55.3 KB)
Witness: Chief, Tom Tidwell
Committee: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

February 27, 2015

Topic: Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Request for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (PDF, 64.7 KB)
Witness(es): Chief, Jason Weller
Director of the Office of Budget and Program Analysis, Michael Young
Committee: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies

March 3, 2015

Topic: FY2016 Forest Service Budget Request (PDF, 55.3 KB)
Witness Chief, Tom Tidwell
Committee: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.

March 3, 2015

Topic: Fiscal Year 2016 Marketing and Regulatory Programs Budget Request
Witness: Undersecretary Ed Avalos (PDF, 69.1 KB)
Administrator Kevin Shea (PDF, 75.6 KB)
Administrator Ann Alonzo (PDF, 59.2 KB)
Administrator Larry Mitchell (PDF, 38.9 KB)
Committee: House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies

March 17, 2015

Topic: Fiscal Year 2016 Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Budget Request
Witness: Under Secretary Kevin Concannon (PDF, 60.9 KB)
Administrator Audrey Rowe (PDF, 57.7 KB)
Director Angela Tagtow (PDF, 194 KB)
Committee: House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies

March 17, 2015

Topic: Fiscal Year 2016 U.S. Forest Service Budget (PDF, 175 KB)
Witness: Chief Tidwell
Committee: Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

March 17, 2015

Topic: Fiscal Year 2016 U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Budget (PDF, 59.7 KB)
Witness: Secretary Tom Vilsack
Committee: Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies

March 18, 2015

Topic: Fiscal Year 2016 Rural Development Budget Request
Witness: Under Secretary Lisa Mensah (PDF, 52.1 KB)
Acting Administrator Jasper Schneider (PDF, 36.5 KB)
Administrator Lillian Salerno (PDF, 62.1 KB)
Administrator Tony Hernandez (PDF, 65.0 KB)
Committee: House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies

March 18, 2015

Topic: Fiscal Year 2016 Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services Budget Request
Witness: Under Secretary Michael Scuse (PDF, 186 KB)
Administrator Brandon Willis (PDF, 114 KB)
Administrator Val Dolcini (PDF, 121 KB)
Administrator Phil Karsting (PDF, 195 KB)
Committee: House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies

March 24, 2015

Topic: Examining the Spending Priorities and Missions of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management in the President's FY 2016 Budget Proposals (PDF, 118 KB)
Witness: U.S. Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell
Bureau of Land Management Director Neil Kornze
Committee: House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands

March 24, 2015

Topic: Improving Forest Health & Socioeconomic Opportunities on the Nation¹s Forest System (PDF, 78.3 KB)
Witness: Under Secretary Robert Bonnie
Alcan Forest Products President Brian Brown
U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities CEO Carlton Owen
District No. One, Libby, MT County Commissioner Mark Peck
Vaagan Brothers Lumber President Duane Vaagen
Committee: Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee

March 26, 2015

Topic: Effect of the President¹s FY 2016 Budget and Legislative Proposals for the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service¹s Energy and Minerals Programs on Private Sector Job Creation, Domestic Energy and Minerals Production and Deficit Reduction (PDF, 176 KB)
Witness: U.S. Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell
Bureau of Land Management Director Neil Kornze
Committee: House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources

March 26, 2015

Topic: Farm Bill Implementation
Witness: Risk Management Agency Administrator Brandon Willis (PDF, 101 KB)
Farm Service Agency Administrator Val Dolcini (PDF, 114 KB)
Committee: House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management

April 14, 2015

Topic: A Presentation by National 4-H Conference Participants Concerning the Future of Agriculture in the United States (PDF, 43.2 KB)
Witness: Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden
Committee: House Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research

April 14, 2015

Topic: Proposed Federal Water Grabs and Their Potential Impacts on States, Water and Power Users, and Landowners (PDF, 52.4 KB)
Witness: Forest Service Deputy Chief Leslie Weldon
Committee: House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans

April 22, 2015

Topic: Expanding American Trade with Accountability and Transparency (PDF, 47.6 KB)
Witness: Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
Committee: House Committee on Ways and Means

April 29, 2015

Topic: The National Forest System and Active Forest Management (PDF, 84.7 KB)
Witness: Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell
Committee: House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry

May 13, 2015

Topic: Federal Coordination and Response Regarding Pollinator Health (PDF, 189 KB)
Witness: Acting Chief Economist Rob Johansson
Committee: House Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research

May 19, 2015

Topic: The Future of Housing in America: Oversight of the Rural Housing Service (PDF, 72.2 KB)
Witness: Rural Housing Service Administrator Tony Hernandez
Committee: House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance

May 20, 2015

Topic: Protect and Enhance Opportunities for Recreational Hunting, Fishing, and Shooting, and for Other Purposes (PDF, 52.0 KB)
Witness: Forest Service Deputy Chief Leslie Weldon
Committee: House Natural Resources Subcommittees on Federal Lands and Water, Power, and Oceans (Joint Hearing)

May 20, 2015

Topic: Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act (PDF, 110 KB)
Witness: Forest Service Lands and Realty Management Director Greg Smith
Committee: House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Power, and Oceans

May 21, 2015

Topic: S.160, S.365, S.472, S.583, S.814, S.815, S.1240 (PDF, 75.6 KB)
Witness: Forest Service Deputy Chief Leslie Weldon
Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining

June 3, 2015

Topic: Returning Resilience to Our Overgrown, Fire-Prone National Forests Act of 2015> (PDF, 44.9 KB)
Witness: Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell
Committee: House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands

June 11, 2015

Topic: Implementing the Agriculture Act of 2014: Conservation Programs
Witness: Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Jason Weller (PDF, 54.7 KB)
FSA Administrator Val Dolcini (PDF, 24.8 KB)
Committee: House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry

June 16, 2015

Topic: Child Nutrition Assistance: Are Federal Rules and Regulations Serving the Best Interests of Schools and Families? (PDF, 71.0 KB)
Committee: House Committee on Education and the Workforce- Full Committee

June 16, 2015

Topic: H.R.482, H.R.496, H.R.959, H.R.1138, H.R.1554, and H.R.2223 (PDF, 44.8 KB)
Witness: Forest Service Deputy Chief Leslie Weldon
Committee: House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands

June 19, 2015

Topic: Operation Something Bruin (PDF, 29.0 KB)
Witness: Regional Forester Tony Tooke
Committee: House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

June 24, 2015

Topic: U.S. International Food Aid Programs (PDF, 35.9 KB)
Witness: Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Phil Karsting
Committee: House Committee on Agriculture

June 25, 2015

Topic: USDA Marketing Programs (PDF, 52.6 KB)
Witness: AMS Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program Deputy Administrator Craig Morris
Committee: House Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research

July 7, 2015

Topic: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza: The Impact on the U.S. Poultry Sector and Protecting U.S. Poultry Flocks
Witness: APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) Deputy Administrator Dr. John Clifford (PDF, 185 KB)
ARS Laboratory Director/Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer Dr. David Swayne (PDF, 94.1 KB)
Committee: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

July 8, 2015

Topic: Stopping an Avian Influenza Threat to Animal and Public Health (PDF, 48.0 KB)
Witness: APHIS VS Deputy Administrator Dr. John Clifford
Committee: Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs

July 14, 2015

Topic: H.R. 2270 and Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2015 (PDF, 259 KB)
Witness: Forest Service Deputy Chief Leslie Weldon
Committee: House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands

July 16, 2015

Topic: Pending Forest Service and Forestry Related Bills (PDF, 285 KB)
Witness: Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie
Committee: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

July 16, 2015

Topic: S.132, S.326, S.1691 (PDF, 592 KB)
Witness: Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell
Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining

July 22, 2015

Topic: Oversight of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (PDF, 174 KB)
Witness: Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
Committee: House Committee on Agriculture

July 30, 2015

Topic: Federal and State Response to Avian Influenza
Witness: APHIS Vet Deputy Administrator Dr. John Clifford (PDF, 181 KB)
ARS Lab Director/Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer Dr. David Swayne (PDF, 92.8 KB)
Committee: House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture

September 9, 2015

Topic: Agricultural Trade with Cuba (PDF, 180 KB)
Witness: Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Phil Karsting
Committee: House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade

September 15, 2015

Topic: USDA Organization and Program Administration
Witnesses: Under Secretaries Robert Bonnie (NRE) (PDF, 191 KB) and Dr. Catherine Woteki (REE) (PDF, 136 KB)
Deputy Under Secretary Alexis Taylor (PDF, 289 KB) (FFAS) Administrators Phil Karsting (FAS), Val Dolcini (FSA), Brandon Williams RMA), Chavonda Jacobs-Young (ARS), Mary Bohman (ERS), and Joe Reilly (NASS) Chiefs Thomas Tidwell (Forest Service) and Jason Weller (NRCS) Director Sonny Ramaswamy (NIFA)
Committee: House Committee on Agriculture

September 16, 2015

Topic: USDA Organization and Program Administration
Witnesses: Under Secretaries Lisa Mensah (RD) (PDF, 192 KB), Edward Avalos (MRP) (PDF, 218 KB), Al Almanza (FSIS) (PDF, 187 KB), and Kevin Concannon (FNCS) (PDF, 62.0 KB) Administrators Lilian Salerno (RBS), Tony Hernandez (RHS), Brandon McBride (RUS), Anne Alonzo (AMS), Kevin Shea (APHIS), Larry Mitchell (GIPSA), Angie Tagtow (CNPP), and Audrey Rowe (FNS)
Committee: House Committee on Agriculture

September 17, 2015

Topic: Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (PDF, 135 KB)
Witness: Forest Service Associate Chief Mary Wagner
Committee: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

September 30, 2015

Topic: The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: A Review of the Progress and Challenges in Restoring the Great Lakes (PDF, 244 KB)
Witness: NRCS Acting Regional Conservationist Tony Kramer
Committee: House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment

October 7, 2015

Topic: To Review the Development of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (PDF, 171 KB)
Witness: Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
Committee: House Committee on Agriculture

October 8, 2015

Topic: To Review the 2015 Fire Season and Long-term Trends (PDF, 269 KB)
Witness: Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell
Committee: House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry

October 8, 2015

Topic: S.414, S.872, S.1295, S.1448, S.1592, S.1941, S.1942, S.1955, S.1971, S.2069 (PDF, 477 KB)
Witness: Forest Service Associate Deputy Chief Glenn Casamassa
Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests and Mining

October 21, 2015

Topic: Agriculture Biotechnology: A Look at Federal Regulation and Stakeholder Perspectives (PDF, 175 KB)
Witness: APHIS Associate Administrator Michael Gregoire
Committee: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry

October 21, 2015

Topic: Review of Rural Development in 21st Century America (PDF, 264 KB)
Witness: Under Secretary for Rural Development Lisa Mensah Rural Housing Service Administrator Tony Hernandez Rural Business-Cooperative Service Acting Administrator Sam Rikkers Rural Utilities Service Administrator Brandon McBride
Committee: Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies

October 28, 2015

Topic: Discussion Draft of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Modernization Act (PDF, 46.1 KB)
Witness: Forest Service Deputy Chief Leslie Weldon
Committee: House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands

November 4, 2015

Topic: Legislative Hearing on H.R. 2009, H.R. 2719, H.R. 3079 (PDF, 64.3 KB)
Witness: Forest Service Associate Deputy Chief Glenn Casamassa
Committee: House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs

December 2, 2015

Topic: Agriculture’s Role in Combating Global Hunger (PDF, 206 KB)
Witness: Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden
Committee: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

December 4, 2015

Topic: Strategies for Rebuilding: An Examination of Small Business Recovery Efforts in South Carolina (PDF, 226 KB)
Witness: Farm Service Agency South Carolina Acting State Executive Director W. Jack Nettles
Committee: Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship

December 9, 2015

Topic: Census of Agriculture (PDF, 170 KB)
Witness: National Agriculture Statistics Service Administrator Joseph Reilly
Committee: House Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research