[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 24, 2012)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D33-D35]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PERSPECTIVES ON FINANCIAL IMPROVEMENT AND AUDIT 
READINESS EFFORTS
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing on 
Department of Defense Perspectives on Financial Improvement and Audit 
Readiness Efforts. Testimony was heard from Robert F. Hale, Under 
Secretary of Defense (Comptroller); and Elizabeth A. McGrath, Deputy 
Chief Management Officer, Department of Defense.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Budget: Full Committee began markup of the following: 
H.R. 3582, the ``Pro-Growth Budgeting Act of 2011''; H.R. 3578, the 
``Baseline Reform Act of 2011''; and H.R. 3581, the ``Budget and 
Accounting Transparency Act of 2011.'' The following were ordered 
reported, as amended: H.R. 3582, H.R. 3578, and H.R. 3581.
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN VIETNAM
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, 
and Human Rights held a hearing entitled ``Examining Ongoing Human 
Rights Abuses in Vietnam.'' Testimony was heard from Anh

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``Joseph'' Cao, former Member of Congress; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a markup of the 
following: H.R. 1433, the ``Private Property Rights Protection Act of 
2011.'' The bill was ordered reported, as amended.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests 
and Public Lands held a hearing on the following: H.R. 919, the 
``Mohave Valley Land Conveyance Act of 2011''; H.R. 938, the ``Frank 
Buckles World War I Memorial Act''; H.R. 1278, to direct the Secretary 
of the Interior to conduct a special resources study regarding the 
suitability and feasibility of designating the John Hope Franklin 
Reconciliation Park and other sites in Tulsa, Oklahoma, relating to the 
1921 Tulsa race riot as a unit of the National Park System, and for 
other purposes''; H.R. 2240, the ``Lowell National Historical Park Land 
Exchange Act of 2011''; H.R. 2489, the ``American Battlefield 
Protection Program Amendments Act of 2011''; H.R. 3411, to modify a 
land grant patent issued by the Secretary of the Interior; H.R. 3440, 
the ``Recreational Shooting Protection Act''. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Franks of Arizona, Norton, Poe of Texas, Sullivan, 
Tsongas, Holt, Benishek, and Flake. Testimony was also heard from Bob 
Ratcliffe, Deputy Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning, 
Bureau of Land Management; Peter May, Associate Regional Director, 
National Capital Region, National Park Service; Adam Baacke, Assistant 
City Manager and Director of Planning and Development, Lowell, 
Massachusetts; and public witnesses.
INDEFINITE CAMPING IN MCPHERSON SQUARE
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Health 
Care, District of Columbia, Census and the National Archives held a 
hearing entitled ``McPherson Square: Who Made the Decision to Allow 
Indefinite Camping in the Park?'' Testimony was heard from Jonathan 
Jarvis, Director, National Park Service, Department of the Interior; 
Cathy Lanier, Chief, Metropolitan Police Department, District of 
Columbia; Paul Quander, Jr., Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and 
Justice, District of Columbia; Mohammad Akhter, M.D., Director, 
District of Columbia Department of Health; and public witness.
CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on TARP, 
Financial Services and Bailouts of Public and Private Programs held a 
hearing entitled ``How Will the CFPB Function Under Richard Cordray?'' 
Testimony was heard from Richard Cordray, Director, Consumer Financial 
Protection Bureau.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Rules: Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process held 
a hearing on H.R. 114, the ``Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act 
of 2011''. Testimony was heard from Representatives Young of Florida, 
Price of North Carolina, Whitfield, Ribble, Stivers and public 
witnesses.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND RETIREMENT SECURITY ACT OF 2011
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 1173, the 
``Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act of 2011.'' The 
Committee granted, by voice vote, a modified open rule providing one 
hour of general debate on the bill, with 40 minutes equally divided and 
controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce and 20 minutes 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 the 
bill. The rule makes in order the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute recommended by the Committee on Energy and Commerce now 
printed in the bill as original text for the purpose of amendment and 
provides that it 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 that are 
submitted for printing in the Congressional Record not later than the 
legislative day of Tuesday, January 31, 2012, or pro forma amendments 
for the purpose of debate. Each such amendment may be offered only by 
the Member who cause it to be printed or a designee and each amendment 
shall be considered as read if printed. The rule provides that the bill 
shall be considered for amendment for a period not to exceed three 
hours. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or 
without instructions.
  Testimony was heard from Representatives Gingrey of Georgia, Pallone, 
Boustany, and Deutsch.
ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY-ENERGY
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on 
Investigations and Oversight held a

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hearing entitled ``A Review of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-
Energy.'' Testimony was heard from Arun Majumdar, Director, Advanced 
Research Projects Agency-Energy, Department of Energy; Gregory 
Friedman, Inspector General, Department of Energy; and Frank Rusco, 
Director, Energy and Science Issues, Government Accountability Office.
STATE OF VA DISABILITY RATINGS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance 
and Memorial Affairs held a hearing entitled ``Rating the Rating 
Schedule--the State of VA Disability Ratings in the 21st Century.'' 
Testimony was heard from Tom Murphy, Director of Compensation Service, 
Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; John 
Campbell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Wounded Warrior Care 
and Transition Policy, Department of Defense; LTG James Terry Scott USA 
(Ret.), Chairman, Advisory Committee on Disability Compensation; and 
public witnesses.
SSA DISABILITY WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security held a 
hearing on combating disability waste, fraud and abuse. Testimony was 
heard from the following Social Security Administration officials: 
Carolyn Colvin, Deputy Commissioner; Patrick P. O'Carroll, Jr., 
Inspector General; Thomas Brady, Special Agent, Office of the Inspector 
General; and Paul Neske, Detective, St. Louis County Police Department; 
and public witness.

Joint Meetings
TEMPORARY PAYROLL TAX CUT CONTINUATION ACT
Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate and House 
passed versions of H.R. 3630, to extend the payroll tax holiday, 
unemployment compensation, Medicare physician payment, provide for the 
consideration of the Keystone XL pipeline, but did not complete action 
thereon, and recessed subject to the call.