[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 13, 2011)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D407-D410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
IMPLEMENTING DODD-FRANK: A REVIEW OF THE CFTC'S RULEMAKING PROCESS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and 
Risk Management held a hearing on Implementing Dodd-Frank: A Review of 
the CFTC's Rulemaking Process. Testimony was heard from Dan M. 
Berkovitz, General Counsel, Commodity Futures Trading Commission; and 
public witnesses.
STATE OF THE POULTRY INDUSTRY
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry 
held a hearing on the state of the poultry industry. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
DEFENSE ACQUISITION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on 
Defense Acquisition. Testimony was heard from Ashton Carter, Under 
Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.
MEMBERS DAY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, 
and Related Agencies, Members Day hearing. Testimony was heard from 
Members of the 112th Congress.
EXAMINING FRAGMENTATION AND OVERLAP OF FEDERAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, Education and Related Agencies held a hearing on Examining 
Fragmentation and Overlap of Federal Education Programs. Testimony was 
heard from George Scott, Director, Education, Workforce, and Income 
Security, GAO.
GUANTANAMO DETAINEE TRANSFER POLICY AND RECIDIVISM
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on Guantanamo detainee transfer policy 
and recidivism. Testimony was heard from William K. Lietzau, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Detainee Policy, Department of 
Defense; Daniel Fried, Ambassador, Special Envoy for the Closure of the 
Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility, Department of State; Ed Mornston, 
Director, Joint Intelligence Task Force, Combating Terrorism 
Directorate for Analysis, Defense Intelligence Agency; Corin Stone, 
Deputy Assistant Director of National Intelligence for Policy and 
Strategy, Intelligence Community Information Sharing Executive, Office 
of the Director of National Intelligence; and Brad Wiegmann, Principal 
Deputy Assistant Attorney General, National Security Division, 
Department of Justice.
FY 2012 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST FOR MILITARY 
CONSTRUCTION, BASE CLOSURE, ENVIRONMENT, FACILITIES OPERATION AND 
MAINTENANCE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness held a hearing 
on the fiscal year 2012 national defense authorization budget request 
for military construction, base closure, environment, facilities 
operation and maintenance. Testimony was heard from Dorothy Robyn, 
Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, Installations and Environment; 
Katherine Hammack, Assistant Secretary of the Army, Installations, 
Energy and Environment; Jackalyne Pfannenstiel, Assistant Secretary of 
the Navy, Energy, Installations and Environment; and Terry Yonkers, 
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Installations, Environment and 
Logistic.
JOBS AND ENERGY PERMITTING ACT OF 2011
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held 
a hearing on Jobs and Energy Permitting Act of 2011 legislation. 
Testimony was heard from Sen. Murkowski; Sen. Begich; Rep. Young; Dan 
Sullivan, Commissioner, Department of Natural Resources, Alaska; and 
public witnesses.
STATUS OF FDA'S SCREENING EFFORTS AT THE BORDER
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Government Reform held a hearing entitled ``Import Safety: Status of 
FDA's Screening Efforts at the Border.'' Testimony was heard from 
Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., Commissioner, FDA.
PRIORITIES FOR U.S. ASSISTANCE IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere 
held a hearing on Priorities for U.S. Assistance in the Western 
Hemisphere. Testimony was heard from Arturo Valenzuela, Assistant 
Secretary of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Department of 
State; and Mark Feierstein, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Latin 
America and the Caribbean, U.S. Agency for International Development.

[[Page D408]]


CRISIS IN COTE D'IVOIRE: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE COUNTRY AND REGION; AND 
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, 
and Human Rights held a hearing on Crisis in Cote d'Ivoire: 
Implications for the Country and Region. Testimony was heard from 
William Fitzgerald, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African 
Affairs, Department of State. The hearing was followed by a markup of 
the following: H.R. 515, Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act of 2011; 
and H. Res. 85, supporting the democratic aspirations of the Ivoirian 
people and calling on the United States to apply intense diplomatic 
pressure and provide humanitarian support in response to the political 
crisis in Cote d'Ivoire. Both were forwarded to the full Committee, as 
amended.
POLITICAL TRANSITIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East and South 
Asia held a hearing on Shifting Sands: Political Transitions in the 
Middle East, Part 1. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
TAKING MEASURE OF COUNTERMEASURES
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, 
Response, and Communications held a hearing entitled ``Taking Measure 
of Countermeasures (Part 1): A review of government and industry 
efforts to protect the homeland through accelerated research, 
development, and acquisition of chemical, biological, radiological and 
nuclear medical countermeasures.'' Testimony was heard from Cynthia 
Bascetta, Managing Director, Health Care, GAO; Segaran P. Pillai, Chief 
Medical and Science Advisor, Chemical and Biological Division, Science 
and Technology Directorate, Department of Homeland Security; Richard J. 
Hatchett, Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Director, Strategic Sciences 
and Management, Department of Health and Human Services; Gerald W. 
Parker, Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Chemical and 
Biological Defense, Department of Defense; and public witnesses.
H-2A VISA PROGRAM
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and 
Enforcement held a hearing on the H-2A Visa Program: Meeting the 
Growing Needs of American Agriculture. Testimony was heard from Jane 
Oates, Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Department of 
Labor; and public witnesses.
BUSINESS ACTIVITY TAX SIMPLIFICATION ACT OF 2011
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and 
Administrative Law held a hearing on legislation on the Business 
Activity Tax Simplification Act of 2011. Testimony was heard from Rep. 
Goodlatte; Rep. Scott of Virginia; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a markup. The 
following were ordered reported, as amended: H.R. 1229, Putting the 
Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act; H.R. 1230, Restarting American 
Offshore Leasing Now Act, was ordered reported, without amendment. H.R. 
1231, Reversing President Obama's Offshore Moratorium Act; and
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a 
markup. The following were ordered reported, as amended: H.R. 828, 
Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act of 2011; H.R. 829, Contracting 
and Tax Accountability Act of 2011; and H.R. 1470, to amend title 5, 
United States Code, to extend the probationary period applicable to 
appointments in the civil service, and for other purposes. The 
following was ordered reported without amendment: H.R. 1423, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
115 4th Avenue Southwest in Ardmore, Oklahoma, as the ``Specialist 
Micheal E. Phillips Post Office''.
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ACT
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federal 
Workforce, U.S. Postal Service and Labor Policy held a hearing entitled 
``Federal Employees' Compensation Act: A Fair Approach?'' Testimony was 
heard from Gary Steinberg, Acting Director, Office of Workers 
Compensation, Department of Labor; Bill Siemer, Assistant Inspector 
General for Investigations, U.S. Postal Service; and public witnesses.
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a structure rule for 
consideration of H. Con. Res. 34, concurrent resolution establishing 
the budget for the United States Government for the fiscal year 2012 
and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2013 
through 2021.
  The rule provides four hours of general debate with three hours 
confined to the congressional budget equally divided and controlled by 
the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on the

[[Page D409]]

Budget and one hour on the subject of economic goals and policies 
equally divided and controlled by Rep. Brady (TX) and Rep. Hinchey (NY) 
or their designees. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of the concurrent resolution. The rule makes in order the 
amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in part A of the Rules 
Committee report as an original concurrent resolution for purpose of 
amendment, and provides that such amendment shall be considered as 
read. The rule waives all points of order against the amendment in the 
nature of a substitute printed in part A of the report.
  The rule makes in order only those further amendments printed in part 
B of the report, which may be offered only in the order printed in the 
report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall 
be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the 
report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, 
and shall not be subject to amendment. The rule waives all points of 
order against the amendments printed in part B of the report, except 
that the adoption of an amendment in the nature of a substitute shall 
constitute the conclusion of consideration of amendments. The rule 
provides, upon the conclusion of consideration of the concurrent 
resolution for amendment, for a final period of general debate, which 
shall not exceed 20 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chair 
and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Budget. The rule 
permits the Chairman of the Budget Committee to offer amendments in the 
House pursuant to section 305(a)(5) of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974 to achieve mathematical consistency. Finally, the rule provides 
that the concurrent resolution shall not be subject to a demand for 
division of the question of its adoption. Testimony was heard by 
Chairman Ryan of Wisconsin, Representatives Garrett, Van Hollen, Honda, 
Moore, Tonko, Cooper, Scott of Virginia, Woolsey, Fattah, Lee of 
California, Grijalva, and Cleaver.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Technology 
and Innovation held a markup on H.R. 1425, Creating Jobs Through Small 
Business Innovation Act of 2011. The bill was forwarded to the full 
Committee, as amended.
GREEN JOBS AND RED TAPE
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on 
Investigations and Oversight held a hearing on Green Jobs and Red Tape: 
Assessing Federal Efforts to Encourage Employment. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
HOW TAX COMPLEXITY HINDERS SMALL BUSINESSES
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a hearing on How Tax 
Complexity Hinders Small Businesses: The Impact on Job Creation and 
Economic Growth. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
IMPROVING AND STREAMLINING THE COAST GUARD'S ACQUISITION PROGRAM
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing on Improving and 
Streamlining the Coast Guard's Acquisition Program. Testimony was heard 
from Vice Admiral John Currier, Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, 
USCG; and John P. Hutton, Director of Acquisition and Sourcing 
Management, GAO.
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTING PRACTICES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Inspect What You Expect: 
Construction Contracting Practices at the Department of Veterans 
Affairs''. Testimony was heard from the following Department of 
Veterans' Affairs officials: Belinda J. Finn, Assistant Inspector 
General for Audits and Evaluations, Office of Inspector General; and 
Cherie Palmer, Audit Director, Chicago Audit Operations Division, 
Office of Inspector General.
SPECIAL BURDENS THAT THE TAX CODE IMPOSES ON INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS AND 
FAMILIES
Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee held a hearing on the 
special burdens that the tax code imposes on individual taxpayers and 
families and on the need for comprehensive tax reform to address these 
problems. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
ROLE OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS IN IDENTITY THEFT AND OPTIONS TO GUARD 
THEIR PRIVACY
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security held a 
hearing on the role of Social Security numbers in identity theft and 
options to guard their privacy. Testimony was heard from Patrick P. 
O'Carroll Jr., Inspector General, Social Security Administration; 
Maneesha Mithal, Associate Director of the Division of Privacy and 
Identity Protection, Federal Trade Commission; and Theresa L. Gruber, 
Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Office of Operations, Social Security 
Administration.

[[Page D410]]


MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on 
Terrorism, HUMINT, Analysis, and Counterintelligence held a hearing on 
Muslim Brotherhood. Testimony was heard from departmental officials.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.