[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 176 (Thursday, November 17, 2011)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1245-D1247]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
DEFENSE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND AUDIBILITY REFORM
Committee on Armed Services: Panel on Defense Financial Management and 
Audibility Reform held a hearing on Industry Perspectives on Achieving 
Audit Readiness. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
SOLYNDRA FAILURE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``The Solyndra Failure: Views 
from DOE Secretary Chu.'' Testimony was heard from Steven Chu, 
Secretary, Department of Energy.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial Institutions 
and Consumer Credit held a markup of the following: H.R. 1588, the 
``Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act''; and H.R. 1723, the ``Common 
Sense Economic Recovery Act of 2011.'' H.R. 1588 was forwarded, as 
amended. H.R. 1588 did not pass.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a markup of the 
following: H.R. 2918, the ``Taiwan Policy Act of 2011;'' and H.R. 2992, 
the ``Taiwan Airpower Modernization Act of 2011.'' H.R. 2918 and H.R. 
2992 were ordered reported, as amended.
2011 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, 
and Human Rights held a hearing entitled ``The 2011 International 
Religious Freedom Report.'' Testimony was heard from Leonard Leo, 
Chairman, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom; and 
public witnesses.
NARCOTERRORISM
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Terrorism, 
Nonproliferation, and Trade held a hearing entitled ``Narcoterrorism 
and the Long Reach of U.S. Law Enforcement, Part II.'' Testimony was 
heard from Derek S. Maltz, Special Agent in Charge, Special Operations 
Division, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice.
S&T ON A BUDGET
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, 
Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies held a hearing 
entitled ``S&T on a Budget: Finding Smarter Approaches to Spur 
Innovation, Impose Discipline, Drive Job Creation and Strengthen 
Homeland Security.'' Testimony was heard from Tara O'Toole, Under 
Secretary, Science and Technology Directorate, Department of Homeland 
Security; and David C. Maurer, Director, Homeland Security and Justice 
Issues, Government Accountability Office.

[[Page D1246]]


EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 
SECURITY
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, 
Response, and Communications held a hearing entitled ``Ensuring 
Coordination and Cooperation: A Review of the Emergency Communications 
Offices Within the Department of Homeland Security.'' Testimony was 
heard from Chris Essid, Director, Office of Emergency Communications, 
Department of Homeland Security; John O'Connor, Manager, National 
Coordinating Center for Communications, National Protection and 
Programs Directorate, Department of Homeland Security; Damon Penn, 
Assistant Administrator, National Continuity Programs, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency; Eric Edwards, Director, Disaster Emergency 
Communications Division, Response Directorate, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency; and Linda K. Moore, Specialist in Telecommunications 
and Spectrum Policy, Congressional Research Service.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a markup of the 
following: H.R. 1996, the ``Government Litigation Savings Act''; H.R. 
1864, the ``Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act of 
2011''; and H.R. 2815, to revise the Federal charter for the Blue Star 
Mothers of America, Inc., to reflect a change in eligibility 
requirements for membership. H.R. 2815 was ordered reported without 
amendment. The following were ordered reported, as amended: H.R. 1966; 
and H.R. 1864.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a markup of the 
following: H.R. 200, the ``Inland Empire Perchlorate Ground Water Plume 
Assessment Act of 2011''; H.R. 205, the ``HEARTH Act of 2011''; H.R. 
1545, the ``Waco Mammoth National Monument Establishment Act of 2011''; 
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. 2070, the ``World War II Memorial Prayer Act of 2011''; H.R. 2087, 
to remove restrictions from a parcel of land situated in the Atlantic 
District, Accomack County, Virginia; 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. 2336, the ``York 
River Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2011''; H.R. 2362, the 
``Indian Tribal Trade and Investment Demonstration Project Act of 
2011''; H.R. 2606, the ``New York City Natural Gas Supply Enhancement 
Act''; H.R. 2719, the ``Rattlesnake Mountain Public Access Act of 
2011''; H.R. 2834, the ``Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and 
Opportunities Act''; H.R. 2938, the ``Gila Bend Indian Reservation 
Lands Replacement Clarification Act''; H.R. 3117, the ``Permanent 
Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2011''; H.R. 3397, the ``Cabin Fee Act of 
2011''; H.R. 3404, to establish in the Department of the Interior an 
Under Secretary for Energy, Lands, and Minerals and a Bureau of Ocean 
Energy, an Ocean Energy Safety Service, and an Office of Natural 
Resources Revenue, and for other purposes; and S. 535, the ``Fort 
Pulaski National Monument Lease Authorization Act.'' The following were 
ordered reported without amendment: H.R. 200; H.R. 2027; H.R. 2236; 
H.R. 2362; H.R. 2719; H.R. 3392; and S. 535. The following were ordered 
reported, as amended: H.R. 205; H.R. 1545; H.R. 2070; H.R. 2087; H.R. 
2154; H.R. 2336; H.R. 2606; H.R. 2834; H.R. 2938; H.R. 3117; and H.R. 
3404.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a 
markup of the following: H.R. 373, the ``Unfunded Mandates Information 
and Transparency Act of 2011''; H.R. 3071, the ``Presidential Records 
Act Amendments of 2011''; H.R. 665, the ``Excess Federal Building and 
Property Disposal Act of 2011''; and H.R. 3433, the ``Grant Reform and 
New Transparency (GRANT) Act of 2011.'' The following were ordered 
reported, as amended: H.R. 665; H.R. 3071; H.R. 3433; and H.R. 373.
WORKFORCE DEMOCRACY AND FAIRNESS ACT
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 3094, the 
``Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act.'' The Committee granted, by 
voice vote, a structured rule providing one hour of general 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 original text for the purpose of amendment and shall 
be considered as read. The rule waives all points of order against the 
committee amendment in the nature of a substitute. The rule makes in 
order only those amendments printed in the Rules Committee report. Each 
such amendment

[[Page D1247]]

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, shall not be subject 
to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the 
question. The rule waives all points of order against the amendments 
printed in the report. Finally, the rule provides one motion to 
recommit with or without instructions.
  Testimony was heard from Chairman Kline; Rep. George Miller of 
California; Rep. Andrews; and Rep. Bishop of New York.
FOSTERING QUALITY SCIENCE AT EPA
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy and 
Environment held a hearing entitled ``Fostering Quality Science at EPA: 
The Need for Common Sense Reform.'' Testimony was heard from Paul 
Anastas, Assistant Administrator, Office of Research and Development, 
Environmental Protection Agency; David Trimble, Director, Natural 
Resources and Environment, Government Accountability Office; and Arthur 
Elkins, Jr., Inspector General, Environmental Protection Agency.
REGULATIONS ON FAMILY FARMERS
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and 
Trade held a hearing entitled ``Adrift in New Regulatory Burdens and 
Uncertainty: A Review of Proposed and Potential Regulations on Family 
Farmers.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
INTERNATIONAL TAX REFORM
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures 
held a hearing on the international tax reform discussion draft 
released on October 26, 2011 by the Committee on Ways and Means. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
ONGOING INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee held a 
hearing on ongoing intelligence activities. This was a closed hearing.

Joint Meetings
TAX REFORM
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine if 
tax reform can boost business investment and job creation, after 
receiving testimony from Stephen J. Entin, Institute for Research on 
the Economics of Taxation, Chad Stone, Center on Budget and Policy 
Priorities, and Seth Hanlon, Center for American Progress Action Fund, 
all of Washington, D.C.; and Dan R. Mastromarco, Argus Group, 
Arlington, Virginia.