[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 161 (Tuesday, October 25, 2011)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1141-D1143]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MILITARY RETIREMENT REFORM
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a 
hearing on military retirement reform. Testimony was heard from Jo Ann 
Rooney, Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and 
Readiness; Vee Penrod, Deputy Assistance Secretary of Defense for 
Military Personnel Policy; and public witnesses.
GOVERNMENT-RUN STUDENT LOANS
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Higher 
Education and Workforce Training held a hearing on ``Government-Run 
Student Loans: Ensuring the Direct Loan Program is Accountable to 
Students and Taxpayers.'' Testimony was heard from James W. Runcie, 
Chief Operating Officer, Office of Federal Student Aid, Department of 
Education; and public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power, 
hearing on H.R. 1633, the ``Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 
2011.'' Testimony was heard from Rep. Noem; Rep. Hurt; Gina McCarthy, 
Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, Environmental Protection 
Agency; and public witnesses.
INTERNET GAMING
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, 
Manufacturing, and Trade held a hearing entitled ``Internet Gaming: Is 
there a Safe Bet?'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
INSURANCE OVERSIGHT
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and 
Community Opportunity held a hearing entitled ``Insurance Oversight: 
Policy Implications for U.S. Consumers, Businesses and Jobs, Part 2.'' 
Testimony was heard from Michael McRaith, Director, Federal Insurance 
Office, Department of the Treasury.
EUROZONE CRISIS
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on International Monetary 
Policy and Trade held a hearing entitled ``The Eurozone Crisis and 
Implications for the United States.'' Testimony was heard from Charles 
Collyns, Assistant Secretary for International Finance, Department of 
the Treasury; and public witnesses.
DEPLOYMENT OF U.S. FORCES IN CENTRAL AFRICA
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Deployment of U.S. Forces in Central Africa and Implementation of The 
Lord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act.'' 
Testimony was heard from Donald Yamamoto, Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary of State for African Affairs, Department of State; and 
Alexander Vershbow, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International 
Security Affairs, Department of Defense.
POST KATRINA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REFORM ACT
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, 
Response, and Communications held a hearing entitled ``Five Years 
Later: An Assessment of the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform 
Act.'' Testimony was heard from W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 3010, 
the ``Regulatory Accountability Act of 2011.'' Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee began markup of the 
following: H.R. 822, the ``National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 
2011''; H.R. 420, the ``Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act of 2011''; H.R. 
10, the ``Regulations From the Executive in Need of

[[Page D1142]]

Scrutiny Act of 2011''; H.R. 2870, the ``Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act 
of 2011''; H.R. 1254, the ``Synthetic Drug Control Act of 2011''; and 
H.R. 3012, the ``Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act''. H.R. 10 
and H.R. 822 were ordered reported, as amended. The markup will 
continue on Thursday, October 27, at 9 a.m., 2141 Rayburn.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests 
and Public Lands held a hearing on the following: H.R. 41, the ``Beauty 
Mountain and Agua Tibia Wilderness Act of 2011''; H.R. 113, the 
``Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests Protection Act''; H.R. 
490, to modify the boundaries of Cibola National Forest in the State of 
New Mexico, to transfer certain Bureau of Land Management land for 
inclusion in the Manzano Mountain Wilderness, and for other purposes; 
H.R. 608, the ``Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Pratt and Middle 
Fork Snoqualmie Rivers Protection Act''; H.R. 977, the ``Sleeping Bear 
Dunes National Lakeshore Conservation and Recreation Act''; H.R. 1126, 
the ``Disposal of Excess Federal Lands Act of 2011''; H.R. 1413, the 
``Devil's Staircase Wilderness Act of 2011''; and H.R. 2050, the 
``Idaho Wilderness Water Resources Protection Act''. Testimony was 
heard from Rep. Dreier; Rep. Issa; Rep. Huizenga; H.R. Reichert; H.R. 
Simpson; Rep. Chaffetz; Rep. DeFazio; Rep. Heinrich; Mike Pool, Deputy 
Director, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior; and 
public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, 
Oceans and Insular Affairs held a hearing on the following: H.R. 2027, 
to revise the boundaries of John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources 
System Sachuest Point Unit RI-04P, Easton Beach Unit RI-05P, Almy Pond 
Unit RI-06, and Hazards Beach Unit RI-07 in Rhode Island; H.R. 2154, to 
correct the boundaries of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources 
System Gasparilla Island Unit FL-70P; H.R. 2236, the ``Wildlife Refuge 
System Conservation Semipostal Stamp Act of 2011''; H.R. 2714, to amend 
the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow the transport, 
purchase, and sale of pelts of, and handicrafts, garments, and art 
produced from Southcentral and Southeast Alaska northern sea otters 
that are taken for subsistence purposes; H.R. 2719, the ``Rattlesnake 
Mountain Public Access Act of 2011''; H.R. 3009, the ``National 
Wildlife Refuge Review Act of 2011''; H.R. 3117, the ``Permanent 
Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2011''. Testimony was heard from Rep. 
Dingell; James W. Kurth, Acting Assistant Director, National Wildlife 
Refuge System, Fish and Wildlife Service; Tim Ragen, Executive 
Director, Marine Mammal Commission; and public witnesses.
TO AMEND THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986 TO REPEAL THE IMPOSITION OF 
3 PERCENT WITHHOLDING ON CERTAIN PAYMENTS MADE TO VENDORS BY GOVERNMENT 
ENTITIES; AND TO AMEND THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986 TO MODIFY THE 
CALCULATION OF MODIFIED ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME FOR PURPOSES OF 
DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN HEALTHCARE-RELATED PROGRAMS
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on the following: 
H.R. 674, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 
imposition of 3 percent withholding on certain payments made to vendors 
by government entities; and H.R. 2576, to amend the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 to modify the calculation of modified adjusted gross 
income for purposes of determining eligibility for certain healthcare-
related programs.
  The Committee granted, by record vote of 8 to 2, a closed rule for 
H.R. 2576. The rule provides one hour of debate equally divided and 
controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
Ways and Means. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of H.R. 2576 and provides that the bill shall be 
considered as read. The rule waives all points of order against 
provisions in H.R. 2576. The rule provides one motion to recommit H.R. 
2576.
  The resolution also provides for consideration of H.R. 674 under a 
closed rule and provides one hour of debate on H.R. 674 equally divided 
and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the 
Committee on Ways and Means. The rule waives all points of order 
against consideration of H.R. 674. The rule provides that the amendment 
to H.R. 674 printed in the Rules Committee report accompanying the 
resolution shall be considered as adopted. The rule waives all points 
of order against provisions in H.R. 674, as amended. The rule provides 
that H.R. 674, as amended, shall be considered as read. The rule 
provides one motion to recommit H.R. 674 with or without instructions.
  The resolution directs the Clerk to, in the engrossment of H.R. 674, 
add the text of H.R. 2576, as passed by the House, as new matter at the 
end of H.R. 674, and to make technical and conforming changes. Finally, 
the rule provides that upon the addition of the text of H.R. 2576, as 
passed by the House, to the engrossment of H.R. 674, H.R. 2576 shall be 
laid on the table.

[[Page D1143]]


  On H.R. 674 testimony was heard from Rep. Herger and Rep. Levin. On 
H.R. 2576 testimony was heard from Rep. Black; and Rep. Levin.
U.S.-CHINA ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP
Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee held a hearing on the U.S.-
China economic relationship. Testimony was heard from Lael Brainard, 
Under Secretary of International Affairs, Department of Treasury; 
Demetrios Marantis, Ambassador, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative.