February 11, 2016
Topic: 2017 Budget Hearing, Office of the Secretary, Department of Agriculture
Witnesses: Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, USDA Chief Economist Robert Johansson, USDA Budget Officer Michael Young
Committee: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Testimony: Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, February 11 (PDF, 224 KB)
February 12, 2016
Topic: Budget Hearing - Office of the Inspector General
Witness: Inspector General Phyllis K. Fong
Committee: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Testimony: Inspector General Phyllis K. Fong, February 12 (PDF, 95.2 KB)
February 24, 2016
Topic: State of the Rural Economy
Witness: Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
Committee: House Committee on Agriculture
Testimony: Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, February 24 (PDF, 286 KB)
February 24, 2016
Topic: Budget Hearing - Food Safety and Inspection Service
Witness: Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety Al Almanza and OBPA Director Michael Young
Committee: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Testimony: Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety Al Almanza, February 24 (PDF, 61.7 KB)
February 24, 2016
Topic: Budget Hearing - Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services
Witness: Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon, Food and Nutrition Service Administrator Audrey Rowe, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion Executive Director Angela Tagtow and OBPA Director Michael Young
Committee: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Testimony: Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon, February 24 (PDF, 199 KB)
February 24, 2016
Topic: The Imposition of New Regulations Through the President's Memorandum on Mitigation
Witness: Forest Service Associate Deputy Chief Brian Ferebee
Committee: House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Testimony: Forest Service Associate Deputy Chief Brian Ferebee, February 24 (PDF, 67.7 KB)
February 24, 2016
Topic: Budget Hearing - Forest Service
Witness: Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell and Forest Service Budget Director Tony Dixon
Committee: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Testimony: Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, February 24 (PDF, 86.4 KB)
February 25, 2016
Topic: Legislative Hearing on H.R. 2316, H.R. 3650, H.R. 3826, H.R. 4510, H.R. 4579
Witness: Forest Service Associate Deputy Chief Glenn Casamassa
Committee: House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands
Testimony: Forest Service Associate Deputy Chief Glenn Casamassa, February 25 (PDF, 53.9 KB)
February 26, 2016
Topic: Budget Hearing - Natural Resources Conservation Service
Witness: Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Jason Weller and OBPA Director Michael Young
Committee: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Testimony: Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Jason Weller, February 26 (PDF, 76.5 KB)
March 1, 2016
Topic: Voluntary Conservation: Utilizing Innovation and Technology
Witness: Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Jason Weller
Committee: House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry
Testimony: None
March 3, 2016
Topic: Budget Hearing - Marketing and Regulatory Programs
Witness: Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Edward Avalos, APHIS Administrator Kevin Shea, AMS Acting Administrator Elanor Starmer, GIPSA Administrator Larry Mitchell and OBPA Director Michael Young
Committee: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Testimony: Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Edward Avalos, March 3 (PDF, 72.6 KB)
March 8, 2016
Topic: U.S. Forest Service's Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2017
Witness: Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell and Forest Service Budget Director Tony Dixon
Committee: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Testimony: Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, March 8 (PDF, 85.2 KB)
March 9, 2016
Topic: FY17 Budget Request for the USDA
Witness: Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, OBPA Director Michael Young and Chief Economist Robert Johansson
Committee: Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Testimony: Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, March 9 (PDF, 105 KB)
March 15, 2016
Topic: Defending American Agriculture Against Foreign Pests and Diseases
Witness: APHIS Administrator Kevin Shea
Committee: JOINT - House Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research / House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture
Testimony: APHIS Administrator Kevin Shea, March 15 (PDF, 70.5 KB)
March 15, 2016
Topic: Budget Hearing - Rural Development
Witness: Under Secretary for Rural Development Lisa Mensah, RBS Administrator Sam Rikkers, RHS Administrator Tony Hernandez, RUS Administrator Brandon McBride and OBPA Director Michael Young
Committee: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Testimony: Under Secretary for Rural Development Lisa Mensah, March 15 (PDF, 256 KB)
March 15, 2016
Topic: Presidential Memorandum on Mitigation
Witness: Forest Service Associate Deputy Chief Brian Ferebee
Committee: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Testimony: Forest Service Associate Deputy Chief Brian Ferebee, March 15 (PDF, 66.7 KB)
March 16, 2016
Topic: Budget Hearing - Research, Education, and Economics
Witness: Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics Dr. Catherine Woteki, ARS Administrator Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, NIFA Director Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy, ERS Administrator Dr. Mary Bohman, NASS Administrator Joseph Reilly, OBPA Director Michael Young
Committee: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Testimony: Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics Dr. Catherine Woteki, March 16 (PDF, 106 KB)
March 17, 2016
Topic: Examining USDA Organization and Program Administration - Part I
Witness: Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon, Under Secretary for Rural Development Lisa Mensah and Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety Al Almanza
Committee: House Committee on Agriculture
Testimony: Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon, March 17 (PDF, 195 KB)
March 17, 2016
Topic: Budget Hearing - Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services
Witness: Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Alexis Taylor, FSA Administrator Val Dolcini, RMA Administrator Brandon Willis, FAS Associate Administrator Suzanne Palmieri and OBPA Director Michael Young
Committee: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Testimony: Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Alexis Taylor, March 17 (PDF, 79.5 KB)
March 18, 2016
Topic: Examining USDA Organization and Program Administration - Part II
Witness: Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie, Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics Dr. Catherine Woteki, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Edward Avalos and Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Alexis Taylor
Committee: House Committee on Agriculture
Testimony: Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie, March 18 (PDF, 208 KB)
March 22, 2016
Topic: Spending Priorities and Missions of the Forest Service in the President's Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Proposal
Witness: Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell
Committee: House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands
Testimony: Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, March 22 (PDF, 58.9 KB)
April 6, 2016
Topic: Hearing to Review Opportunities and Benefits for Military Veterans in Agriculture
Witness: Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Lanon Baccam
Committee: Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Testimony: Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Lanon Baccam, April 6 (PDF, 245 KB)
April 6, 2016
Topic: USDA Rural Development Programs and Their Economic Impact Across America
Witness: Under Secretary for Rural Development Lisa Mensah
Committee: Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy
Testimony: Under Secretary for Rural Development Lisa Mensah, April 6 (PDF, 271 KB)
April 6, 2016
Topic: Hearing on the FY17 U.S. Forest Service Budget Request
Witness: Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell
Committee: Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Testimony: Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, April 6 (PDF, 231 KB)
April 14, 2016
Topic: The Federal Perspective on the State of Our Nation's Biodefense
Witness: APHIS Administrator Kevin Shea
Committee: Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Testimony: APHIS Administrator Kevin Shea, April 14 (PDF, 347 KB)
April 14, 2016
Topic: Focus on the Farm Economy: Growing Farm Financial Pressure
Witness: USDA Chief Economist Rob Johansson
Committee: House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management
Testimony: USDA Chief Economist Rob Johansson, April 14 (PDF, 1021 KB)
April 19, 2016
Topic: Legislative Hearing on H.R. 3881
Witness: Forest Service Associate Deputy Chief Glenn Casamassa
Committee: House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
Testimony: Forest Service Associate Deputy Chief Glenn Casamassa, April 19 (PDF, 56.0 KB)
April 21, 2016
Topic: Legislative Hearing on S. 1423, S. 1777, S. 1510, and S. 1699
Witness: Forest Service Associate Deputy Chief Glenn Casamassa
Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining
Testimony: Forest Service Associate Deputy Chief Glenn Casamassa, April 21 (PDF, 152 KB)
April 27, 2016
Topic: Oversight Hearing on the GAO Report on Telecommunications: Additional Coordination and Performance Measurement Needed for High-Speed Internet Access Programs on Tribal Lands
Witness: RUS Administrator Brandon McBride
Committee: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Testimony: RUS Administrator Brandon McBride, April 27 (PDF, 238 KB)
April 28, 2016
Topic: Legislative Hearing on Discussion Draft of the "Locally-elected Officials Cooperating with Agencies in Land Management Act" (LOCAL Management Act)
Witness: Forest Service Deputy Chief Leslie Weldon
Committee: House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands
Testimony: Forest Service Deputy Chief Leslie Weldon, April 28 (PDF, 236 KB)
April 28, 2016
Topic: Oversight and Legislative Hearing to Examine the Impacts of Invasive Species on the Productivity, Value, and Management of Land and Water Resources
Witness: Forest Service Associate Deputy Chief Glenn Casamassa
Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining
Testimony: Forest Service Associate Deputy Chief Glenn Casamassa, April 28 (PDF, 134 KB)
May 17, 2016
Topic: Water and Power Subcommittee Hearing on Pending Legislation (S. 2902 and S. 2524)
Witness: Forest Service Deputy Chief Leslie Weldon
Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power
Testimony: Forest Service Deputy Chief Leslie Weldon, May 17 (PDF, 102 KB)
May 24, 2016
Topic: Examining the Future of Recreation.gov
Witness: Forest Service Director Joe Meade and Rick DeLappe, Program Manager, Recreation One Stop
Committee: House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on the Interior
Testimony: Forest Service Director Joe Meade and Rick DeLappe, Program Manager, Recreation One Stop, May 24 (PDF, 388 KB)
June 8, 2016
Topic: Oversight and Legislative Hearing on Improving Interagency Forest Management to Strengthen Tribal Capabilities for Responding to and Preventing Wildfires, and S. 3014, "A Bill to Improve the Management of Indian Forest Land, and for Other Purposes"
Witness: Forest Service Deputy Chief James Hubbard
Committee: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Testimony: Forest Service Deputy Chief James Hubbard, June 8 (PDF, 319 KB)
June 9, 2016
Topic: SNAP: Examining Efforts to Combat Fraud and Improve Program Integrity
Witness: Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon
Committee: House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittees on Government Operations and the Interior
Testimony: Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon, June 9 (PDF, 272 KB)
June 22, 2016
Topic: Oversight Hearing on Accessing USDA Rural Development Programs in Native Communities
Witness: Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Lillian Salerno
Committee: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Testimony: Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Lillian Salerno, June 22 (PDF, 240 KB)
June 23, 2016
Topic: Hearing to Receive Testimony on the Discussion Draft Entitled the "Wildfire Budgeting, Response and Forest Management Act of 2016"
Witness: Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie
Committee: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Testimony: Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie, June 23 (PDF, 357 KB)
July 6, 2016
Topic: Public Hearing Re: Past, Present, and Future of SNAP: Evaluating Error Rates and Anti-Fraud Measures to Enhance Program Integrity
Witness: FNS Associate Administrator Jessica Shahin
Committee: House Committee on Agriculture
Testimony: FNS Associate Administrator Jessica Shahin, July 6 (PDF, 275 KB)
July 27, 2016
Topic: Field Hearing to Examine the Utah Public Lands Initiative and the Potential Impacts of Large-Scale Monument Designations
Witness: None. USDA submitted testimony.
Committee: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Testimony: USDA, July 27 (PDF, 71.0 KB)
September 21, 2016
Topic: The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Current State of the Farm Economy
Witness: Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
Committee: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Testimony: Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, September 21 (PDF, 363 KB)
September 22, 2016
Topic: Rehabilitation of the Chesapeake Bay: Healing the Bay the Voluntary Way
Witness: Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Jason Weller
Committee: House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry
Testimony: Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Jason Weller, September 22 (PDF, 281 KB)
September 23, 2016
Topic: Vacant Federal Properties
Witness: Assistant Secretary for Administration Dr. Gregory Parham
Committee: House Oversight & Government Reform Subcommittee on Transportation & Public Assets
Testimony: Assistant Secretary for Administration Dr. Gregory Parham, September 23 (PDF, 94.8 KB)
September 27, 2016
Topic: Bioresearch Labs and Inactivation of Dangerous Pathogens
Witness: APHIS Associate Deputy Administrator Dr. Mark Davidson
Committee: House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Testimony: APHIS Associate Deputy Administrator Dr. Mark Davidson, September 27 (PDF, 265 KB)
December 1, 2016
Topic: Examining Sexual Harassment and Gender Discrimination at the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Witness: Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Dr. Joe Leonard
Committee: House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Testimony: Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Dr. Joe Leonard, December 1 (PDF, 90.8 KB)