The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“Senate Committee Meetings” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the in the Daily Digest section section on pages D236-D237 on March 16.
The Department is primarily focused on food nutrition, with assistance programs making up 80 percent of its budget. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department implements too many regulations and restrictions and impedes the economy.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
USDA OVERSIGHT
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded an oversight hearing to examine the Department of Agriculture, after receiving testimony from Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture.
USCENTCOM AND USAFRICOM POSTURE
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded open and closed hearings to examine the posture of United States Central Command and United States Africa Command in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2024 and the Future Years Defense Program, after receiving testimony from General Michael Kurilla, USA, Commander, United States Central Command, and General Michael E. Langley, USMC, Commander, United States Africa Command, both of the Department of Defense.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine local views on public transportation, transit infrastructure and operations, and Federal transit programs, including S. 576, to enhance safety requirements for trains transporting hazardous materials, after receiving testimony from India L. Birdsong Terry, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Cleveland, Ohio; James C. Keel, Greenville Transit Authority, Greenville, South Carolina; and Michael McMillan, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1300, Baltimore, Maryland.
STRENGTHENING THE AVIATION WORKFORCE
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a hearing to examine strengthening the aviation workforce, after receiving testimony from Constance von Muehlen, Alaska Airlines, SeaTac, Washington; Rebecca Lutte, University of Nebraska Aviation Institute, Omaha, on behalf of the Women in Aviation Advisory Board; Jason Ambrosi, Air Line Pilots Association, International, and Raman Ramanathan, Ernst and Young LLP, both of McLean, Virginia; David Spero, Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, Washington, D.C.; and Sheree Utash, Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology, Wichita, Kansas.
ORIGINS OF COVID-19
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee received a closed briefing on the assessment of the origins of COVID-19 from officials of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Department of Energy.
BUDGET
Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2024, after receiving testimony from Janet L. Yellen, Secretary of the Treasury.
HEALTHCARE SECTOR CYBERSECURITY
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the cybersecurity risks to the healthcare sector, after receiving testimony from Scott Dresen, Corewell Health, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Katherine Pierce, Fortified Health Security, Franklin, Tennessee; Greg Garcia, Healthcare and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council, Washington, D.C.; and Stirling Martin, Epic, Verona, Wisconsin.