[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 28, 2012)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D155-D158]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page D155]]




                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 12 public bills, H.R. 4093-
4104, and 1 resolution, H. Con. Res. 105, were introduced.   
  Page H1016
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages H1017-18
Report Filed: A report was filed today as follows:
  H. Res. 566, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1837) to 
address certain water-related concerns on the San Joaquin River, and 
for other purposes (H. Rept. 112-405).                       
Page H1016
Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed 
Representative Fitzpatrick to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. 
                                                              Page H969
Recess: The House recessed at 10:31 a.m. and reconvened at 12 noon. 
                                                              Page H973
Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest chaplain, Reverend Adam 
McHugh, Vitas Hospice Center, Covina, California.             
  Page H973
Resignation of the House Parliamentarian: Read a letter from John V. 
Sullivan in which he announced his resignation as the Parliamentarian 
of the House of Representatives, effective March 31, 2012.    
  Page H973
House Parliamentarian--Appointment: The Chair appointed Thomas J. 
Wickham, Jr. as Parliamentarian of the House of Representatives to 
succeed John V. Sullivan, resigned.                           
  Page H974
Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act: The House passed 
H.R. 2117, to prohibit the Department of Education from overreaching 
into academic affairs and program eligibility under title IV of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965, by a recorded vote of 303 ayes to 114 
noes, Roll No. 79.                               
  Pages H976-92, H992-97
  Rejected the Capps motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce with instructions to report the same back 
to the House forthwith with an amendment, by a recorded vote of 176 
ayes to 241 noes, Roll No. 78.                            
Pages H995-96
  Pursuant to the rule, 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 an original bill for the purpose of 
amendment under the five-minute rule.                         
Page H988
Agreed to:
  Foxx amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 112-404) that repeals a 
section of the credit hour regulation impacting clock hour programs. 
                                                              Page H989
Rejected:
  Polis amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 112-404) that sought to 
link state authorization regulations to student outcomes;     
Page H990
  Grijalva amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 112-404) that sought to 
retain the requirement that states have a process to hear and take 
appropriate action on student complaints regarding institutions as part 
of the state authorization (by a recorded vote of 170 ayes to 247 noes, 
Roll No. 75);                                    
Pages H988-89, H992-93
  Bishop (NY) amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 112-404) that sought 
to strike the prohibition on the Secretary of Education from ever 
promulgating or enforcing any regulation or rule defining the term 
``credit hour'' (by a recorded vote of 160 ayes to 255 noes, Roll No. 
76); and                                         
Pages H990-91, H993-94
  Polis amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 112-404) that sought to 
require the Secretary to present a plan to prevent waste, fraud and 
abuse to ensure effective use of taxpayer dollars (by a recorded vote 
of 199 ayes to 217 noes, Roll No. 77).           
Pages H991-92, H994-95
  H. Res. 563, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was 
agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 244 yeas to 171 nays, Roll No. 74, 
after the previous question was ordered without objection. 
                                                          Pages H976-80
Recess: The House recessed at 2:53 p.m. and reconvened at 3:15 p.m. 
                                                              Page H992
Moment of Silence: The House observed a moment of silence in honor of 
the victims of the school shooting in Chardon, OH on February 27, 2012, 
their families, the school community and the city of Chardon, OH.
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measure:
  Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2012: H.R. 1433, amended, 
to protect private property rights.                    
  Pages H997-H1003
Presidential Message: Read a message from the President wherein he 
transmitted the text of a Presidential Policy Directive establishing 
procedures to implement section 1022 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Public Law 112-81)--referred to 
the Committee on Armed

[[Page D156]]

Services and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-91).         
  Page H1008
Quorum Calls--Votes: One yea-and-nay vote and five recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H980, 
H993, H993-94, H994-95, H996, and H996-97. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:10 p.m.

Committees Meetings
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 Budget for the 
Department of Justice. Testimony was heard from Eric H. Holder, Jr., 
Attorney General, Department of Justice.
APPROPRIATIONS--INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 Budget for Indian Health 
Service. Testimony was heard from Yvette Roubideaux, Director, Indian 
Health Service; and Randy Grinnell, Deputy Director, Indian Health 
Service.
APPROPRIATIONS--FOOD, NUTRITION, AND CONSUMERS SERVICES, USDA
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on FY 2013 Budget for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, 
USDA. Testimony was heard from Kevin Concannon, Undersecretary, Food, 
Nutrition, and Consumer Services; Audrey Rowe, Administrator, Food and 
Nutrition Service; Rajen Anand, Director, Center on Nutrition Policy 
and Promotion; and Michael Young, Budget Officer.
APPROPRIATIONS--TRANSPORATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing on FY 2013 Budget for the Transportation Security 
Administration. Testimony was heard from John Pistole, Administrator, 
Transportation Security Administration.
APPROPRIATIONS--BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 Budget for Bureau of Indian 
Affairs. Testimony was heard from Larry Echo Hawk, Assistant Secretary 
for Indian Affairs; Michel S. Black, Director, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs; and Keith Moore, Director, Bureau of Indian Education.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 Budget for 
the Department of Energy. Testimony was heard from Steven Chu, 
Secretary, Department of Energy.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST--AIR FORCE
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing on Fiscal 
Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Budget Request from the 
Department of the Air Force. Testimony was heard from Michael B. 
Donley, Secretary of the Air Force; and General Norton A. Schwartz, 
Chief of Staff, USAF.
MILITARY PERSONNEL BUDGET OVERVIEW
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a 
hearing on Military Personnel Budget Overview--Office of the Secretary 
of Defense Perspective. Testimony was heard from the following 
Department of Defense officials: Jo Ann Rooney, Acting Secretary of 
Defense for Personnel and Readiness; Virginia S. Penrod, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary of Defense (Military Personnel Policy); Jonathan 
Woodson, Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) and Director 
of TRICARE Management Activity; and Pasquale M. Tamburrino, Jr., Deputy 
Assistant Secretary of Defense (Civilian Personnel Policy).
STRENGTHENING HEALTH AND RETIREMENT SECURITY
Committee on the Budget: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Strengthening Health and Retirement Security''. Testimony was heard 
from Richard S. Foster, Chief Actuary, Center for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services; and Stephen C. Goss, Chief Actuary, Social Security 
Administration.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Full Committee held a markup 
of the following: H.R. 3989, the ``Student Success Act'' and H.R. 3990, 
the ``Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act''. The 
following were ordered reported, as amended: H.R. 3989 and H.R. 3990.
EPA BUDGET--FISCAL YEAR 2013
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power and 
Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy held a joint hearing 
entitled

[[Page D157]]

``The FY 2013 EPA Budget''. Testimony was heard from Lisa P. Jackson, 
Administrator, EPA.
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE CYBERSECURITY--ASSESSMENTS OF SMART GRID 
SECURITY
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Critical Infrastructure 
Cybersecurity: Assessments of Smart Grid Security''. Testimony was 
heard from Gregory C. Wilshusen, Director of Information Security 
Issues, Government Accountability Office; David Trimble, Director, 
Natural Resources and Environment, Government Accountability Office; 
and Richard J. Campbell, Specialist in Energy Policy, Congressional 
Research Service.
OVERSIGHT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and 
Community Opportunity held a hearing entitled ``Oversight of the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development''. Testimony was heard from 
the following HUD officials: Carol Galante, Acting Federal Housing 
Administration Commissioner and Assistant Secretary for Housing; Sandra 
B. Henriquez, Assistant Secretary, Office of Public and Indian Housing; 
Mercedes M. Marquez, Assistant Secretary, Community Planning and 
Development; Raphael Bostic, Assistant Secretary for Policy Development 
and Research; and John Trasvina, Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing 
and Equal Opportunity.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTELLIGENCE SHARING WITH STATE, LOCAL AND TRIBAL 
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and 
Intelligence held a hearing entitled ``Federal Government Intelligence 
Sharing with State, Local and Tribal Law Enforcement: An Assessment Ten 
Years After 9/11''. Testimony was heard from Scott McAllister, Deputy 
Under Secretary, State and Local Program Office, Office of Intelligence 
and Analysis, Department of Homeland Security; Louis F. Ouijas, 
Assistant Secretary, Office for State and Local Law Enforcement, 
Department of Homeland Security; Eric Velez-Villard, Assistant 
Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice; and 
public witness.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a markup of the 
following: H.R. 4086, the ``Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional 
Immunity Clarification Act''; H.R. 3992, to allow otherwise eligible 
Israeli nationals to receive E-2 nonimmigrant visas if similarly 
situated United States national are eligible for similar nonimmigrant 
status in Israel; and H.R. 511, to amend title 18, United States code, 
to prohibit the importation of various injurious species of constrictor 
snakes. The following were ordered reported without amendment: H.R. 
3992; and H.R. 4086. H.R. 511 was ordered reported, as amended.
EXECUTIVE OVERREACH: THE HHS MANDATE VERSUS RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Executive Overreach: The HHS Mandate Versus Religious Liberty''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT FY 2013 BUDGET 
REQUEST
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests 
and Public Lands held a hearing entitled ``FY 2013 budget requests from 
the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management''. 
Testimony was heard from Jon Jarvis, Director, National Park Service; 
and Robert Abbey, Director, Bureau of Land Management.
GAO UNVEILS NEW DUPLICATIVE PROGRAM REPORT
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Government 2.0: GAO Unveils New Duplicative Program 
Report''. Testimony was heard from Senator Coburn; and Gene L. Dodaro, 
Comptroller General, Government Accountability Office.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY WATER RELIABILITY ACT
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 1837, the 
``San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability 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 Natural Resources. The rule waives all points of 
order against consideration of the bill. The rule makes in order as 
original text for purpose of amendment an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute consisting of Rules Committee Print 112-15 and provides that 
it shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points of order 
against the amendment in the nature of a substitute. The rule makes in 
order only those amendments printed in the Rules Committee report 
accompanying the resolution. Each such amendment 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

[[Page D158]]

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. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with 
or without instructions. Testimony was heard from Chairman Hastings, 
WA; and Representatives Napolitano; Garamendi; and Nunes.
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION FISCAL YEAR 2013 BUDGET
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Research 
and Science Education held a hearing entitled ``An Overview of the 
National Science Foundation Budget for Fiscal Year 2013''. Testimony 
was heard from Subra Suresh, Director, National Science Foundation; and 
Ray Bowen, Chairman, National Science Board.
FINANCING APPROACHES FOR COMMUNITY WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, PART 
1
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment held a hearing entitled ``Review of 
Innovative Financing Approaches for Community Water Infrastructure 
Projects--Part I''. Testimony was heard from Gregory A. Ballard, Mayor, 
Indianapolis, IN; and public witnesses.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FISCAL YEAR 2013 BUDGET
Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee held a hearing on President 
Obama's Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Proposal for the Department of Health 
and Human Services. Testimony was heard from Kathleen Sebelius, 
Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.

Joint Meetings
MISSING PERSONS
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded 
a hearing to examine clarifying the fate of missing persons in the 
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe region, focusing on 
locating and identifying persons missing as a result of conflicts, 
trafficking in humans and human rights violations, as well as natural 
or manmade disasters, after receiving testimony from Her Majesty Queen 
Noor of Jordan, International Commission on Missing Persons, Berkshire, 
United Kingdom; Shawn A. Bray, INTERPOL Washington, U.S. National 
Central Bureau, and Fatima Tlisova, Voice of America, both of 
Washington, D.C.; and Amor Masovic, Missing Persons Institute of Bosnia 
and Herzegovina, Sarajevo.