[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 6, 2012)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D195-D198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State Foreign Operations, 
and Related Programs held a hearing on FY 2013 Budget Request for the 
U.S. Agency for International Development. Testimony was heard from 
Rajiv Shah, Administrator, USAID.
APPROPRIATIONS--BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 Budget for the Bureau of 
Land Management. Testimony was heard from Robert Abbey, Director, 
Bureau of Land Management; and Karen Mouritsen, Budget Officer.
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 Request for the Department of Agriculture. 
Testimony was heard from the following Department of Agriculture 
officials: Ed Avalos, Under Secretary, Marketing and Regulatory 
Programs; Gregory L. Parham, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service; Alan Christian, Acting Administrator, Grain, 
Inspection Packers and Stockyards; Robert Keeney, Acting Administrator, 
Agricultural Marketing Service; and Michael Young, Budget Officer.
APPROPRIATIONS--AIR FORCE BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on 
FY 2013 Budget Request for the U.S. Air Force. Testimony was heard from 
Michael B. Donley, Secretary of the Air Force; and General Norton A. 
Schwartz, Chief of Staff, Air Force.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 Budget Request 
for the National Science Foundation. Testimony was heard from Subra 
Suresh, Director, National Science Foundation.
APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. COAST GUARD BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing on FY 2013 Budget Request for the U.S. Coast Guard. Testimony 
was heard from Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr., Commandant, U.S. Coast 
Guard.
APPROPRIATIONS--SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Committee on Appropriations: Committee on Financial Services held a 
hearing on FY 2013 Budget Request for the Securities and Exchange 
Commission. Testimony was heard from Mary L. Schapiro, Chairman, 
Securities and Exchange Commission.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 Budget 
Request for the Nuclear Nonproliferation and Naval Reactors and 
National Nuclear Security Administration. Testimony was heard from the 
following National Nuclear Security Administration officials: Thomas 
D'Agostino, Administrator; Anne Harrington, Deputy Administrator for 
Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation; and Admiral Kirkland Donald, 
Director, Naval Reactors.
APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 Budget Request for the U.S. 
Geological Survey. Testimony was heard from Marcia K. McNutt, Director, 
U.S. Geological Survey; Suzette Kimball, Deputy Director, U.S. 
Geological Survey; and Carla Burzyk, Director, Office of Budget, 
Planning, and Integration, U.S. Geological Survey.

[[Page D196]]


APPROPRIATIONS--HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 
Budget Request for Health and Human Services. Testimony was heard from 
Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.
APPROPRIATIONS--BUREAU OF PRISONS
Committee on Appropriations: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related 
Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 Budget request for the Bureau of 
Prisons. Testimony was heard from Charles E. Samuels, Jr., Director, 
Bureau of Prisons.
U.S. SOUTHERN COMMAND AND U.S. NORTHERN COMMAND
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing on Fiscal 
Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Budget Requests from U.S. 
Southern Command and U.S. Northern Command. Testimony was heard from 
General Douglas M. Fraser, USAF Commander, U.S. Southern Command; and 
General Charles H. Jacoby, Jr., Commander, U.S. Northern Command and 
North American Aerospace Defense Command.
MILITARY PERSONNEL BUDGET OVERVIEW
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a 
hearing on military personnel budget overview--service personnel 
chiefs' perspectives. Testimony was heard from Lieutenant General 
Thomas P. Bostick, USA, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, U.S. Army; Vice 
Admiral Scott R. Van Buskirk, USN, Chief of Naval Personnel, Deputy 
Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Navy; Sheryl E. Murray, Assistant 
Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, U.S. Marine Corps; 
and Lieutenant General Darrell D. Jones, USAF, Deputy Chief Staff, 
Manpower and Personnel, U.S. Air Force.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a 
hearing on the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Budget 
Request for Missile Defense. Testimony was heard from Bradley H. 
Roberts, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Nuclear and Missile 
Defense Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense; Lieutenant General 
Patrick O'Reilly, USA, Director, Missile Defense Agency; David G. 
Ahern, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Portfolio Systems 
Acquisition, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, 
Technology, and Logistics; and J. Michael Gilmore, Director, 
Operational Test and Evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Full Committee held a markup of the 
following: H.R. 452, the ``Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 
2011''; H.R. 3309, the ``Federal Communications Commission Process 
Reform Act''; and H.R. 3310, the ``Federal Communications Commission 
Consolidated Reporting Act''. The bills were ordered reported, as 
amended.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a markup of 
``Approval of Views and Estimates of the Committee on Financial 
Services on matter to be set forth in the Concurrent Resolution on the 
Budget for Fiscal Year 2013''. The legislation was passed, as amended.
TERRORIST AND THE VISA OVERSTAY PROBLEM
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Border and Maritime 
Security held a hearing entitled ``From the 9/11 Hijackers to Amine el-
Khalifi: Terrorists and the Visa Overstay Problem''. Testimony was 
heard from John Cohen, Deputy Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, Department 
of Homeland Security; Peter T. Edge, Deputy Associate Director, 
Homeland Security Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 
Department of Homeland Security; and David Dohahue, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Department of Homeland 
Security.
CHEMICAL FACILITIES ANT-ERRORISM STANDARDS PROGRAM
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, 
Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies held a hearing 
entitled ``The Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards Program: 
Addressing Its Challenges and Finding a Way Forward''. Testimony was 
heard from Rand Beers, Under Secretary, National Protection and 
Programs Directorate, Department of Homeland Security; Penny J. 
Anderson, Director, Infrastructure Security Compliance Division, Office 
of Infrastructure Protection, Department of Homeland Security; David 
Wulf, Deputy Director, Infrastructure Security Compliance Division, 
Office of Infrastructure Protection, Department of Homeland Security; 
and public witnesses.

[[Page D197]]


MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a markup of H.R. 4119, 
the ``Board Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012''. The bill was ordered 
reported without amendment.
EFFECTS OF THE PRESIDENT'S FY 2013 BUDGET AND LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS FOR 
THE OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 
Resources held a hearing on ``Effect of the President's FY2013 Budget 
and Legislative Proposals for the Office of Surface Mining on Private 
Sector Job Creation, Domestic Energy Production, State Programs and 
Deficit Reduction''. Testimony was heard from Joseph Pizarchik, 
Director, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement; Gregory 
E. Conrad, Executive Director, Interstate Mining Compact Commission; 
and public witnesses.
PRESIDENT'S FY 2013 BUDGET REQUEST FOR NOAA, OIA, AND FISH AND WILDLIFE 
SERVICE
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, 
Oceans, and Insular Affairs held a hearing on ``Spending for the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Office of Insular 
Affairs, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the President's Fiscal 
Year 2013 Budget Request for these Agencies''. Testimony was heard from 
Jane Lubchenco, Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, 
Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Dan 
Ashe, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and Tom Bussanich, 
Director of Budget, Office of Insular Affairs.
INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE AND OFFICE OF SPECIAL TRUSTEE FOR AMERICAN 
INDIANS BUDGET REQUEST
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska 
Native Affairs held a hearing entitled ``2013 Budget Request of the 
Indian Health Service and of the Office of Special Trustee for American 
Indians''. Testimony was heard from Yvette Roubideaux, Director, Indian 
Health Service; Michele F. Singer, Acting Principal Deputy Special 
Trustee, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
PROS AND CONS OF MAKING THE CENSUS BUREAU'S AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY 
VOLUNTARY
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Health 
Care, District of Columbia, Census and the National Archives held a 
hearing entitled ``The Pros and Cons of Making the Census Bureau's 
American Community Survey Voluntary''. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Poe, TX; Robert Groves, Director, U.S. Census Bureau; 
and public witnesses.
REOPENING AMERICAN CAPITAL MARKETS TO EMERGING GROWTH COMPANIES ACT OF 
2011
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 3606, the 
``Reopening American Capital Markets to Emerging Growth Companies Act 
of 2011''. 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 Financial 
Services. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of 
the bill. The rule provides that an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 112-17 shall 
be considered as adopted and the bill, as amended, 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 provisions in the 
bill, as amended. The rule makes in order only those further amendments 
printed in the Rules Committee report. 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 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 
Representatives Capito; Schweikert; Frank, MA; and Waters.
BUDGET OVERVIEW OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Technology 
and Innovation held a hearing entitled ``An Overview of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology Budget for Fiscal Year 2012''. 
Testimony was heard from Patrick Gallaher, Under Secretary of Commerce 
for Standards and Technology and Director, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology.
BUDGET OVERVIEW OF NOAA AND EPA
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy and 
Environment held a hearing entitled ``An Overview of the National 
Oceanic

[[Page D198]]

and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency 
Budgets for Fiscal Year 2013''. Testimony was heard from Jane 
Lubchenco, Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration; and Lek Kadeli, Acting Assistant Administrator, Office 
of Research and Development, Environmental Protection Agency.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS DUBIOUS CONTRACTING PRACTICES: SAVANNAH
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``VA's Dubious Contracting 
Practices: Savannah''. Testimony was heard from Robert L. Neary, Acting 
Director, Office of Construction and Facilities Management, Department 
of Veterans' Affairs; and public witnesses.
INDEPENDENT PAYMENT ADVISORY BOARD AND MEDICARE
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on 
how the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) will impact the 
Medicare program, its beneficiaries, and health care providers. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.