[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 174 (Tuesday, November 15, 2011)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1226-D1228]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a markup 
of H.R. 1173, the ``Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act 
of 2011.'' The bill was forwarded, without amendment.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a markup of H.R. 
1221, the ``Equity in Government Compensation Act of 2011.'' The bill 
was ordered reported, as amended.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital Markets and 
Government Sponsored Enterprises held a markup of the following: H.R. 
2586, the ``Swap Execution Facility Clarification Act''; H.R. 2779, to 
exempt inter-affiliate swaps from certain regulatory requirements put 
in place by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection 
Act; H.R. 3045, the ``Retirement Income Protection Act of 2011''; H.R. 
1838, to repeal a provision of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and 
Consumer Protection Act prohibiting any Federal bailout of swap dealers 
or participants; and H.R. 2308, the ``SEC Regulatory Accountability 
Act.'' The following were forwarded without amendment: H.R. 2586; H.R. 
2779; and H.R. 3045. The following were forwarded, as amended: H.R. 
1838; and H.R. 2308.
STATE OF AFFAIRS IN THE BALKANS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia held a 
hearing entitled ``The State of Affairs in the Balkans.'' Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
U.S. DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE TO CHINA
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific held 
a hearing entitled ``Feeding the Dragon: Reevaluating U.S. Development 
Assistance to China.'' Testimony was heard from Nisha Desai Biswal, 
Assistant Administrator for Asia, United States Agency for 
International Development.
TECHNOLOGY TO SECURE THE BORDER
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Border and Maritime 
Security held a hearing entitled ``Protecting the Homeland: How can DHS 
use DOD Technology to Secure the Border?'' Testimony was heard from 
Paul N. Stockton, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense 
and Americas' Security Affairs, Office of Undersecretary of Defense for 
Policy, Department of Defense; Mark Borkowski, Assistant Commissioner, 
Office of Technology Innovation and Acquisition, Customs and Border 
Protection, Department of Homeland Security; Adam Cox, Deputy Director 
(Acting), Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency, 
Department of Homeland Security; and Michael Tangora, Deputy Assistant 
Commandant & Director of Acquisition Services, United States Coast 
Guard, Department of Homeland Security.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and 
Intelligence held a markup of the following: H.R. 2764, the ``WMD 
Intelligence and Information Sharing Act of 2011''; and H.R. 3140, to 
amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of 
Homeland Security to prioritize the assignment of officers and analysts 
to certain State and urban area fusion centers to enhance the security 
of mass transit systems. Both bills were ordered reported, without 
amendment.
CYBER SECURITY
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security held a hearing entitled ``Cyber Security: Protecting 
America's New Frontier.'' Testimony was heard from Richard Downing, 
Deputy Chief, Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, 
Criminal Division, Department of Justice; and public witnesses.

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FOREIGN JUDGMENTS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and 
Administrative Law held a hearing entitled ``Recognition and 
Enforcement of Foreign Judgments.'' Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
FOREST SERVICE
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests 
and Public Lands held a hearing on ``Forest Service Regulatory 
Roadblocks to Productive Land Use and Recreation: Proposed Planning 
Rule, Special-use Permits, and Travel Management.'' Testimony was heard 
from Tom Tidwell, Chief, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; 
Mike Dombeck; and public witnesses.
OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federal 
Workforce, U.S. Postal Service and Labor Policy held a hearing entitled 
``Back to the Basics: Is OPM Meeting its Mission?'' Testimony was heard 
from John Berry, Director, Office of Personnel Management; Patrick E. 
McFarland, Inspector General, Office of Personnel Management; Pasquale 
``Pat'' M. Tamburino, Jr., Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Civilian Personnel Policy, Department of Defense; and Valerie C. 
Melvin, Director, Information Management and Human Capital Issues, 
Government Accountability Office; and public witnesses.
POLICY TOWARD IRAN
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National 
Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operations held a hearing 
entitled ``Progress of the Obama Administration's Policy Toward Iran.'' 
Testimony was heard from Adam Szubin, Director, Office of Foreign 
Assets, Control, Department of the Treasury; Henry Wooster, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Department of State; Colin Kahl, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Department of Defense; and public witnesses.
JOB CREATION ON MAIN STREET
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on TARP, 
Financial Services and Bailouts of Public and Private Programs held a 
hearing entitled ``How Roadblocks in Public Markets Prevent Job 
Creation on Main Street.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE RULES; AND BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE 
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on providing for 
consideration of motions to suspend the rules. The Committee granted, 
by a record vote of 8 to 4, a resolution authorizing the Speaker to 
entertain motions to suspend the rules through the legislative day of 
Friday, November 18, 2011, relating to H.J. Res. 2, proposing a 
balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The 
rule extends debate on such a motion to five hours. Finally, the rule 
provides that the Chair may postpone further consideration of such a 
motion to a time designated by the Speaker.
  Testimony was heard from Rep. Goodlatte; and Rep. Nadler.
U.S. PLANETARY SCIENCE
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Space and 
Aeronautics held a hearing entitled ``Exploring Mars and Beyond: What's 
Next for U.S. Planetary Science?'' Testimony was heard from Jim Green, 
Planetary Science Division Director, Science Mission Directorate, 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and Steve Squyres, 
Chair, Committee on the Planetary Science Decadal Survey, National 
Academies of Science.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Technology 
and Innovation held a markup of the ``Natural Hazards Risk Reduction 
Act of 2011.'' The Committee Print was forwarded without amendment.
POTENTIAL BUDGETARY SAVINGS WITHIN VETERANS AFFAIRS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing on 
Potential Budgetary Savings Within VA: Recommendations from Veterans' 
Service Organizations. Testimony was heard from Todd Grams. Executive 
in Charge for the Office of Management and Chief Financial Officer, 
Department of Veterans Affairs; William Schoenhard, FACHE, Deputy Under 
Secretary for Health Operations and Management, Veterans Health 
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Belinda J. Finn, 
Assistant Inspector General for Audits and Evaluations, Office of 
Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs; and Sondra McCauley, 
Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audits and Evaluations, Office 
of Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs; and public 
witnesses.
SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH INSURANCE TAX CREDIT
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing 
on the Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credit created by the 
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Testimony was heard from J. 
Russell George, Inspector General,

[[Page D1228]]

Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; Sarah Hall Ingram, 
Commissioner of the Tax Exempt/Government Entities Division, Internal 
Revenue Service; and public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND 
RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT
  On Monday, November 14, 2011, Conferees agreed to file a conference 
report on the differences between the Senate and House passed versions 
of H.R. 2112, making consolidated appropriations for the Departments of 
Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Transportation, and Housing and Urban 
Development, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 
30, 2012.
BELARUS
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Commission concluded 
a hearing to examine Belarus, focusing on the ongoing crackdown and 
forces for change, including the extent and impact of the crackdown on 
the lives of its victims and on the larger society, and what more can 
be done by the United States and European partners to promote 
democratic change in Belarus, after receiving testimony from Rodger 
Potocki, National Endowment for Democracy, and Susan Corke, Freedom 
House, both of Washington, DC; and Ales Mikhalevich, Minsk, Belarus.
SECTARIAN VIOLENCE AND DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION IN EGYPT
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded 
a hearing to examine the Arab Spring and Coptic Winter, focusing on 
sectarian violence and democratic transition in Egypt, after receiving 
testimony from Michael H. Posner, Assistant Secretary of State for 
Democracy, Human Rights and Labor; and Dina Guirguis, Egyptian American 
Rule of Law Association, Samuel Tadros, Hudson Institute Center for 
Religious Freedom, and Michele Dunne, Atlantic Council Rafik Hariri 
Center for the Middle East, all of Washington, DC.