[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 7, 2012)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D202-D204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
HEALTHY FOOD INITIATIVES, LOCAL PRODUCTION, AND NUTRITION
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded 
a hearing to examine healthy food initiatives, local production, and 
nutrition, after receiving testimony from Thomas Vilsack, Secretary of 
Agriculture; Dan Carmody, Eastern Market Corporation, Detroit, 
Michigan; Ronald G. McCormick, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Bentonville, 
Arkansas; Jody Hardin, Hardin Farms, Grady, Arkansas; Anne Goodman, 
Cleveland Foodbank, Cleveland, Ohio; and John Weidman, Food Trust, 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
APPROPRIATIONS: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, 
Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies 
concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
year 2013 for the Department of Health and Human

[[Page D203]]

Service, after receiving testimony from Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of 
Health and Human Services.
APPROPRIATIONS: DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Department of Defense 
concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
year 2013 for the Department of the Navy, after receiving testimony 
from Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy, Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert, 
USN, Chief of Naval Operations, and General James F. Amos, USMC, 
Commandant of the Marine Corps, all of the Department of Defense.
SITUATION IN SYRIA
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded open and closed 
hearings to examine the situation in Syria, after receiving testimony 
from Leon E. Panetta, Secretary, and General Martin E. Dempsey, USA, 
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, both of the Department of Defense.
SPACE PROGRAM
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded 
a hearing to examine priorities, plans, and progress of the nation's 
space program, after receiving testimony from Charles F. Bolden, Jr., 
Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and Neil 
deGrasse Tyson, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York.
U.S. COAST GUARD AND NOAA BUDGET
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on 
Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard concluded a hearing to 
examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2013 
for the Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, after receiving testimony from Admiral Robert J. Papp, 
Jr., Commandant, United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland 
Security; and Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary for Oceans and 
Atmosphere, and Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, Department of Commerce.
NATIONAL PARKS BILLS
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National 
Parks concluded a hearing to examine S. 29, to establish the 
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area, S. 1150, to 
establish the Susquehanna Gateway National Heritage Area in the State 
of Pennsylvania, S. 1191, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to 
carry out a study regarding the suitability and feasibility of 
establishing the Naugatuck River Valley National Heritage Area in 
Connecticut, S. 1198, to reauthorize the Essex National Heritage Area, 
S. 1215, to provide for the exchange of land located in the Lowell 
National Historical Park, S. 1589, to extend the authorization for the 
Coastal Heritage Trail in the State of New Jersey, S. 1708, to 
establish the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National 
Historical Park, H.R. 1141, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior 
to study the suitability and feasibility of designating prehistoric, 
historic, and limestone forest sites on Rota, Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, as a unit of the National Park System, H.R. 
2606, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to allow the 
construction and operation of natural gas pipeline facilities in the 
Gateway National Recreation Area, S. 2131, to reauthorize the Rivers of 
Steel National Heritage Area, the Lackawanna Valley National Heritage 
Area, and the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, and S. 
2133, to reauthorize the America's Agricultural Heritage Partnership in 
the State of Iowa, after receiving testimony from Senators Kerry and 
Reed; Stephanie Toothman, Associate Director, Cultural Resources, 
National Park Service, Department of the Interior; Michael J. Reagan, 
Solano County Board of Supervisors, Solano County, California; and 
Annie Harris, Essex National Heritage Commission, Salem, Massachusetts.
PRESIDENT'S TRADE AGENDA
Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the 
President's 2012 trade agenda, after receiving testimony from Ron Kirk, 
United States Trade Representative, Executive Office of the President.
LENDING DISCRIMINATION PRACTICES AND FORECLOSURE ABUSES
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
lending discrimination practices and foreclosure abuses, after 
receiving testimony from Senator Cardin; Thomas E. Perez, Assistant 
Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice; Eric 
Rodriguez, National Council of La Raza, and Hilary O. Shelton, National 
Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Washington 
Bureau, both of Washington, D.C.; and William K. Black, University of 
Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City.
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS LEGISLATIVE PRESENTATION
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee concluded a joint hearing 
with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to examine the 
legislative presentation from Veterans of Foreign Wars, after receiving 
testimony from Richard L. DeNoyer, Veterans of Foreign

[[Page D204]]

Wars of the United States, Middleton, Massachusetts.
REMOVING OBSTACLES FOR SMALL BUSINESS
Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
opportunities for savings, focusing on removing obstacles for small 
business, and if better agency coordination can help small employers 
address challenges to plan sponsorship, after receiving testimony from 
Phyllis C. Borzi, Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employee 
Benefits Security Administration; Charles A. Jeszeck, Director, 
Education, Workforce, and Income Security, Government Accountability 
Office; Bryan Fiene, Robert W. Baird and Co. Incorporated, Madison, 
Wisconsin; and John J. Kalamarides, Prudential Retirement, Hartford, 
Connecticut.