[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 29, 2012)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D164-D167]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION
Committee on Agriculture: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``The 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission 2012 Agenda''. Testimony was heard 
from Gary Gensler, Chairman, Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, 
and Related Programs held a hearing on FY 2013 Budget for the 
Department of State. Testimony was heard from Hillary Rodham Clinton, 
Secretary, Department of State.
APPROPRIATIONS--CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing on FY 2013 Budget for the Customs and Border Protection Agency. 
Testimony was heard from the following Customs and Border Protection 
officials: Michael Fisher, Chief; Kevin McAleenan, Assistant 
Commissioner (Acting), Office of Field Operations; Mark Borkowski, 
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Technology Innovation and 
Acquisition; and Michael Kostelnik, Assistant Commissioner, Office of 
Air and Marine.
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 National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy, 
Weapons Activities; and National Nuclear Security Administration. 
Testimony was heard from the following National Nuclear Security 
Administration officials: Thomas D'Agostino, Administrator; Donald 
Cook, Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs; and Brigadier General 
Sandra E. Finan, Principal, Assistant Deputy Administrator for Military 
Application.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on FY 2013 Budget for the Department of Health and Human 
Services, Food and Drug Administration. Testimony was heard from 
Margaret Hamburg, Commissioner, Food and Drugs, Food and Drug 
Administration; Patrick McGarey, Assistant Commissioner for Budget, 
Food and Drug Administration; and Norris Cochran, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Budget, Health and Human Services.
APPROPRIATIONS--EPA
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 Budget for the Environmental 
Protection Agency. Testimony was heard from Lisa Jackson, 
Administrator, EPA; and Barbara Bennett, Chief Financial Officer, EPA.
APPROPRIATIONS--OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 Budget for the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy. Testimony was heard from John 
P. Holdren, Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on FY 2013 Budget for the Department of Agriculture. Testimony 
was heard from the following officials from the Department of 
Agriculture: Phyllis Fong,

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Inspector General; David Gray, Deputy Inspector General; Karen Ellis, 
Assistant Inspector General for Investigations; and Gil Harden, 
Assistant Inspector General for Audit.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST FROM U.S. EUROPEAN AND 
U.S. AFRICA COMMANDS
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing on Fiscal 
Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Budget Request from U.S. 
European Command and U.S. Africa Command. Testimony was heard from 
Admiral James G. Stavridis, USN, Commander, U.S. European Command, NATO 
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe; and General Carter F. Ham, USA, 
Commander, U.S. Africa Command.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FISCAL YEAR 2013 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and 
Capabilities held a hearing on Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2013 
Science and Technology Programs. Testimony was heard from Zachary 
Lemnios, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, 
Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, 
and Logistics; Marilyn Freeman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army 
for Research and Technology, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the 
Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology; Rear Admiral Mathew 
Klunder, USN, Chief of Naval Research, Office of Naval Research; Steven 
Walker, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Science, 
Technology and Engineering, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the 
Air Force for Acquisition; and Kaigham J. Gabriel, Deputy Director, 
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FISCAL YEAR 2013 BUDGET
Committee on the Budget: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``The 
Department of Defense and the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget''. Testimony was 
heard from Leon E. Panetta, Secretary, Department of Defense; and 
General Martin E. Dempsey, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a markup 
of H.R. 452, the ``Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011''. The 
measure was forwarded without amendment.
MONETARY POLICY AND THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Monetary Policy and the State of the Economy''. Testimony was heard 
from Ben Bernanke, Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System.
ASSESSING U.S. FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITIES AMIDST ECONOMIC CHALLENGES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Assessing U.S. Foreign Policy Priorities Amidst Economic Challenges: 
The Foreign Relations Budget for Fiscal Year 2013''. Testimony was 
heard from Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, Department of 
State.
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY BUDGET
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, 
Response and Communications held a hearing entitled ``The President's 
FY 2013 Budget Request for the Federal Emergency Management Agency''. 
Testimony was heard from Richard Serino, Deputy Administrator, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES OFFICE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security held a hearing entitled ``The U.S. Department of 
Justice Community Oriented Policing Services Office''. Testimony was 
heard from Bernard K. Melekain, Director, Office of Community Oriented 
Policing Services, Department of Justice.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee began markup of the 
following: H.R. 491, 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 national forest, and for other 
purposes; H.R. 1038, to authorize the conveyance of two small parcels 
of land within the boundaries of the Coconino National Forest 
containing private improvements that were developed based upon the 
reliance of the landowners in an erroneous survey conducted in May 
1960; H.R. 1335, to revise the boundaries of the Gettysburg National 
Military Park to include the Gettysburg Train Station, and for other 
purposes; H.R. 2050, the ``Idaho Wilderness Water Resources Protection 
Act''; H.R. 2157, to facilitate a land exchange involving certain 
National Forest System lands in the Inyo National

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Forest, 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. 2512, the 
``Three Kids Mine Remediation and Reclamation Act''; H.R. 2745, to 
amend the Mesquite Lands Act of 1986 to facilitate implementation of a 
multispecies habitat conservation plan for the Virgin River in Clark 
County, Nevada; H.R. 2947, to provide for the release of the 
reversionary interest held by the United States in certain land 
conveyed by the United States in 1950 for the establishment of an 
airport in Cook County, Minnesota; H.R. 3263, the ``Lake Thunderbird 
Efficient Use Act of 2011''; H.R. 3409, the ``Coal Miner Employment and 
Domestic Energy Infrastructure Protection Act''; H.R. 3411, to modify a 
land grant patent issued by the Secretary of the Interior; H.R. 3440, 
the ``Recreational Shooting Protection Act''; H.R. 3452, the ``Wasatch 
Range Recreation Access Enhancement Act''; H.R. 4089, the ``Sportsmen's 
Heritage Act of 2012''; S. 271, the ``Wallowa Forest Service Compound 
Conveyance Act''; S. 292, the ``Salmon Lake Land Selection Resolution 
Act''; S. 404, to modify a land grant patent issued by the Secretary of 
the Interior; S. 684, to provide for the conveyance of certain parcels 
of land to the town of Alta, Utah; and S. 897, to amend the Surface 
Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to clarify that uncertified 
States and Indian tribes have the authority to use certain payments for 
certain noncoal reclamation projects and acid mine remediation 
programs.
HONORING GEORGE WASHINGTON'S LEGACY: DOES AMERICA NEED A REMINDER?
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federal 
Workforce, U.S. Postal Service and Labor Policy held a hearing entitled 
``Honoring George Washington's Legacy: Does America Need a Reminder?''. 
Testimony was heard from Representative Wolf and public witnesses.
PREVENTING STOLEN VALOR
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National 
Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operation held a hearing 
entitled ``Preventing Stolen Valor: Challenges and Solutions''. 
Testimony was heard from Lernes Hebert, Director of Office and Enlisted 
Personnel Management, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for 
Personnel and Readiness, Department of Defense; Colonel Jason Evans, 
Adjutant General, U.S. Army; Colonel Kari Mostert, Director of Awards 
and Decorations, Air Force; James Nierle, President, Department of the 
Navy's Board of Decorations and Medals, U.S. Navy; and Scott Levins, 
Director, National Personnel Records Center and public witnesses.
PROMOTING INNOVATION, COMPETITION, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH: PRINCIPLES FOR 
EFFECTIVE DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Technology 
and Innovation held a hearing entitled ``Promoting Innovation, 
Competition, and Economic Growth: Principles for Effective Domestic and 
International Standards Development''. Testimony was heard from Mary H. 
Saunders, Director, Standards Coordination Office, National Institute 
of Standards and Technology.
NASA CYBERSECURITY: AN EXAMINATION OF THE AGENCY'S INFORMATION SECURITY
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on 
Investigations and Oversight held a hearing entitled ``NASA 
Cybersecurity: An Examination of the Agency's Information Security''. 
Testimony was heard from Linda Y. Cureton, Chief Information Officer, 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and Paul K. Martin, 
Inspector General, National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
REVIEW OF CRUISE SHIP SAFETY AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE COSTA 
CONCORDIA ACCIDENT
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing entitled ``A Review of 
Cruise Ship Safety and Lessons Learned from the COSTA CONCORDIA 
Accident''. Testimony was heard from Vice Admiral Brian M. Salerno, 
Deputy Commandant for Operations, U.S. Coast Guard; and public 
witnesses.
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S TRADE POLICY AGENDA
Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee held a hearing on President 
Obama's trade policy agenda. Testimony was heard from Ron Kirk, Trade 
Representative, Office of the United States Trade Representative and 
public witnesses.
ONGOING INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee held a 
hearing on ongoing intelligence activities.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.

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