[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 113 (Tuesday, July 26, 2011)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D847-D850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
TEN YEARS AFTER THE 2001 AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing on Ten Years 
After the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force: Current Status 
of Legal Authorities, Detention, and Prosecution in the War on Terror. 
Testimony was heard from Michael B. Mukasey, Partner, Debevoise and 
Plimpton, LLP, former Attorney General of the United States, former 
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern 
District of New York; Daniel Dell `Orto, Senior Vice President and 
General Counsel, AM General LLC, former Principal Deputy General 
Counsel and Acting General Counsel, Department of Defense; Steven 
Engel, Partner, Dechert LLP, former Deputy Assistant Attorney General, 
Department of Justice, Office of Legal Counsel; and public witnesses.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INVESTMENT IN TECHNOLOGY AND CAPABILITY TO MEET 
EMERGING SECURITY THREATS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and 
Capabilities held a hearing on Department of Defense investment in 
technology and capability to meet emerging security threats. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
TOTAL FORCE READINESS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness held a hearing 
on total force readiness. Testimony was heard from GEN Peter W. 
Chiarelli, Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Army; ADM Jonathan W. Greenert, 
Vice Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Navy; Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., 
Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, U.S. Marine Corps; and Gen. 
Philip M. Breedlove, Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force.
ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF THE LABOR DEPARTMENT'S PROPOSAL ON WORKERS AND 
RETIREES
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Health, 
Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing entitled ``Redefining 
`Fiduciary': Assessing the Impact of the Labor Department's Proposal on 
Workers and Retirees.'' Testimony was heard from Phyllis Borzi, 
Assistant Secretary, Employee Benefits Security Administration; and 
public witnesses.

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CYBERSECURITY: AN OVERVIEW OF RISKS TO CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations, hearing is entitled ``Cybersecurity: An Overview of 
Risks to Critical Infrastructure.'' Testimony was heard from Bobbie 
Stempfley, Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Cyber Security and 
Communications, Department of Homeland Security; Sean P. McGurk, 
Director, National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center 
(NCCIC) in the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications, Department 
of Homeland Security; and Gregory Wilshusen, Director of Information 
Security Issues, GAO.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a markup 
of the following: H.R. 2405, the ``Pandemic and All-Hazards 
Preparedness Reauthorization Act''; H.R. 1254, the ``Synthetic Drug 
Control Act''; and H.R. 1852, the ``Children's Hospital GME Support 
Reauthorization Act.'' The following were forwarded, as amended: H.R. 
2405 and H.R. 1254. H.R. 1852 was forwarded without amendment.
EXAMINING RENTAL PURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND THE POTENTIAL ROLE FOR FEDERAL 
REGULATION
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial Institutions 
and Consumer Credit held a hearing entitled ``Examining Rental Purchase 
Agreements and the Potential Role for Federal Regulation.'' Testimony 
was heard from Charles Harwood, Deputy Director, Bureau of Consumer 
Protection, Federal Trade Commission; and public witnesses.
IMPACT OF MONETARY POLICY ON THE ECONOMY
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary 
Policy and Technology held a hearing entitled ``Impact of Monetary 
Policy on the Economy: A Regional Fed Perspective on Inflation, 
Unemployment, and QE3.'' Testimony was heard from Thomas M. Hoenig, 
President, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
EASTERN EUROPE
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia held a 
hearing on Eastern Europe: The State of Democracy and Freedom. 
Testimony was heard from Thomas O. Melia, Deputy Assistant Secretary, 
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Department of State; and 
public witnesses.
REASSESSING AMERICAN GRAND STRATEGY IN SOUTH ASIA
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on Reassessing American Grand Strategy in 
South Asia. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
COORDINATING AFRICA POLICY
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, 
and Human Rights and the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, 
and Trade held a joint hearing on Coordinating Africa Policy on 
Security, Counterterrorism, Humanitarian Operations and Development. 
Testimony was heard from Donald Y. Yamamoto, Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, Department of State; Vicki 
Huddleston, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Office of the 
Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense; and Sharon Cromer, Senior 
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Africa, U.S. Agency for 
International Development.
FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL EFFORTS TO PREVENT NUCLEAR AND RADIOLOGICAL 
TERRORISM WITHIN THE UNITED STATES
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, 
Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies held a hearing 
entitled ``The Last Line of Defense: Federal, State, and Local Efforts 
to Prevent Nuclear and Radiological Terrorism Within the United 
States.'' Testimony was heard from Warren M. Stern, Director, Domestic 
Nuclear Detection Office, Department of Homeland Security; Carl 
Pavetto, Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Emergency 
Operations, National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of 
Energy; Richard Daddario, Deputy Commissioner for Counterterrorism, New 
York City Police Department; Mark Perez, Homeland Security Advisor, 
Florida Department of Law Enforcement; and David C. Maurer, Director, 
Homeland Security and Justice Issues, GAO.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and 
Homeland Security held a hearing on H.R. 2572, the ``Clean Up 
Government Act of 2011.'' Testimony was heard from Mary Pat Brown, 
Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, Department of 
Justice; and public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and 
Enforcement held a hearing on H.R. 2497, the ``Hinder the 
Administration's Legalization Temptation Act.'' Testimony was heard 
from Sen. Vitter; and public witnesses.

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NOAA'S FISHERY SCIENCE
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, 
Oceans, and Insular Affairs held a hearing entitled ``NOAA's Fishery 
Science: Is the Lack of Basic Science Costing Jobs?'' Testimony was 
heard from Rep. Mica; Rep. Jones; Eric Schwaab, Assistant 
Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration; and public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests 
and Public Lands held a hearing on the following: H.R. 2578, to amend 
the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act related to a segment of the Lower Merced 
River in California, and for other purposes; and H.R. 1581, the 
``Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011.'' Testimony was 
heard from Sen. Barrasso; Rep. McCarthy of California; Rep. Pearce; 
Robert V. Abbey, Director, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the 
Interior; Harris Sherman, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural 
Resources and Environment, U.S. Forest Service, Department of 
Agriculture; Bruce Babbitt, Former Secretary of the Interior; Mike 
Noel, Utah House of Representatives, District 73; Kent Connelly, County 
Commissioner, Lincoln County, Wyoming; and public witnesses.
OPERATION FAST AND FURIOUS: THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BORDER
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Operation Fast and Furious: The Other Side of the 
Border.'' Testimony was heard from Carlos Canino, ATF Acting Attache to 
Mexico; Darren Gil, former ATF Attache to Mexico; Jose Wall, ATF Senior 
Special Agent, Tijuana, Mexico; Lorren Leadmon, ATF Intelligence 
Operations Specialist; William Newell, former ATF Special Agent in 
Charge, Phoenix Field Division; and William McMahon, ATF Deputy 
Assistant Director for Field Operations (West, including Phoenix and 
Mexico).
LIGHTS OUT: HOW EPA REGULATIONS THREATEN AFFORDABLE POWER AND JOB 
CREATION
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight and Government Spending held a 
hearing entitled ``Lights Out: How EPA Regulations Threaten Affordable 
Power and Job Creation.'' Testimony was heard from Robert W. 
Perciasepe, Deputy Administrator, EPA; and public witnesses.
PROTECTING JOBS FROM GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE ACT
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 2587, the 
``Protecting Jobs from Government Interference Act''. The Committee 
granted, by record vote of 7 to 4, a closed rule providing one hour of 
debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority 
member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. The rule waives 
all points of order against consideration of the bill. The rule 
provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended 
by the Committee on Education and the Workforce now printed in the bill 
shall be considered as adopted. The bill, as amended, shall be 
considered as read. The rule waives all points of order against 
provisions in the bill, as amended. Finally, the rule provides one 
motion to recommit with or without instructions. Testimony on H.R. 2587 
was heard from the following: Chairman Kline; Rep. George Miller of 
California; and Rep. Andrews.
FASTER FOIA ACT OF 2011 (BUDGET CONTROL ACT OF 2011)
Committee on Rules: Full Committee began a hearing on S. 627 the 
``Faster FOIA Act of 2011'' (Budget Control Act of 2011). Testimony on 
S. 627 was heard from Rep. Van Hollen. The Committee plans to continue 
the hearing on S. 627 at a date and time to be determined.
ENSURING LIMITED FEDERAL RESOURCES ARE INVESTED IN THE BEST SCIENCE
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Research 
and Science Education held a hearing entitled ``The Merit Review 
Process: Ensuring Limited Federal Resources are Invested in the Best 
Science.'' Testimony was heard from Cora Marrett, Deputy Director, 
National Science Foundation; and public witnesses.
HOW TO IMPROVE OPERATIONS AND IMPLEMENT EFFICIENCIES FOR THE UNITED 
STATES COAST GUARD
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing entitled ``How to 
Improve Operations and Implement Efficiencies for the United States 
Coast Guard.'' Testimony was heard from Rep. Farr; Vice Admiral John 
Currier, Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, United States Coast 
Guard; Vice Admiral Brian Salerno, Deputy Commandant for Operations, 
United States Coast Guard; and Holly Bamford, Deputy Assistant 
Administrator, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.

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ALTERNATIVE TAX SYSTEMS
Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee held a hearing on 
alternative tax systems, with a focus on tax systems that are based on 
taxing consumption rather than income. Testimony was heard from Mike 
Huckabee, former Governor, Arkansas; Jim White, Director, Tax Issues, 
GAO; and public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
BOSNIA
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded 
a hearing to examine Bosnia, focusing on obstacles to progress and 
recommendations for the international response, after receiving 
testimony from Clifford Bond, former U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia-
Herzegovina, Department of State, and Nida Gelazis, Woodrow Wilson 
International Center for Scholars, both of Washington, D.C.; and Kurt 
Bassuener, Democratization Policy Council, Sarajevo, Bosnia-
Herzegovina.