[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 20, 2012)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D272-D276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
APPROPRIATIONS--SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 Budget Request for the 
Smithsonian Institution. Testimony was heard from Wayne Clough, 
Secretary, Smithsonian Institution.
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 Department of Agriculture. Testimony 
was heard from the following department

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officials: Michael Scuse, Acting Under Secretary, Farm and Foreign 
Agricultural Services; Bruce Nelson, Administrator, Farm Service 
Agency; Suzanne E. Heinen, Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural 
Services; William Murphy, Administrator, Risk Management Agency; and 
Michael Young, Budget Officer.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 Budget Request 
for the Department of Commerce. Testimony was heard from John Bryson, 
Secretary, Department of Commerce.
APPROPRIAITONS--NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a hearing on FY 2013 Budget Request for 
National Archives. Testimony was heard from David S. Ferriero, 
Archivist, National Archives and Records Administration.
APPROPRIATIONS--U.S. MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, 
and Related Programs held a hearing on FY 2013 Budget Request for U.S. 
Mission to the United Nations. Testimony was heard from Susan Rice, 
Ambassador, U.S. Mission to the United Nations.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 
Budget Request for the National Institutes of Health. Testimony was 
heard from Francis S. Collins, Director of National Institutes of 
Health; Thomas R. Insel, Director, National Institute of Mental Health, 
Acting Director, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; 
and public witnesses.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 Budget Request for National 
Park Service. Testimony was heard from Jon Jarvis, Director, National 
Park Service; Bruce Sheaffer, Comptroller, National Park Service; and 
Peggy O'Dell, Deputy Director, National Park Service.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 Budget 
Request for Department of Energy, Office of Science. Testimony was 
heard from Bill Brinkman, Under Secretary for Science (Acting), Office 
of Science.
APPROPRIATIONS--OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a hearing on FY 2013 Budget Request for Office 
of Management and Budget. Testimony was heard from Jeffrey Zients, 
Acting Director, Office of Management and Budget.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 Budget Request 
for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Testimony was 
heard from Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 
Atmosphere and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
Administrator.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN AFGHANISTAN
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing on the 
recent developments in Afghanistan. Testimony was heard from General 
John Allen, USMC, Commander, International Security Assistance Force; 
and James N. Miller, Jr., Acting Under Secretary of Defense and 
Principal Under Secretary of Defense Policy.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND CYBER OPERATIONS PROGRAM FY 2013 BUDGET 
REQUEST
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and 
Capabilities held a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Request for 
Information Technology and Cyber Operations Programs. Testimony was 
heard from Teresa Takai, Chief Information Officer, Department of 
Defense; General Keith Alexander, USA, Commander, U.S. Cyber Command, 
Department of Defense; and Madelyn Creedon, Assistant Secretary of 
Defense for Global Strategic Affairs, Department of Defense.
NAVY, MARINE CORPS AND AIR FORCE TACTICAL AVIATION PROGRAMS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land 
Force held a hearing on Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force tactical 
aviation programs. Testimony was heard from Frank Kendall, Acting 
Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, 
Office of the Secretary of

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Defense; David M. Van Buren, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air 
Force for Acquisition, Air Force; Vice Admiral David Venlet, USN, 
Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Program, Department 
of Defense; Michael J. Sullivan, Director of Acquisition and Sourcing, 
Government Accountability Office; Vice Admiral W. Mark Skinner, USN, 
Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 
Research, Development, and Acquisition; Lieutenant General Terry G. 
Robling, USMC, Deputy Commandant of the Marine Corps for Aviation; Rear 
Admiral Kenneth E. Floyd, USN, Director of the Air Warfare Division, 
U.S. Navy; Lieutenant General Herbert J. Carlisle, USAF, Deputy Chief 
of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements, Air Force; and Major 
General John Posner, USAF, Director of Global Power Programs, Office of 
the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition.
ENSURING REGULATIONS PROTECTION ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND QUALITY 
COMPANION CARE
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Workforce 
Protections held a hearing entitled ``Ensuring Regulations Protect 
Access to Affordable and Quality Companion Care''. Testimony was heard 
from Nancy J. Leppink, Deputy Administrator, Wage and Hour Division, 
Department of Labor; and public witnesses.
AMERICAN ENERGY INITIATIVE: CANADIAN OIL SANDS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held 
a hearing entitled ``The American Energy Initiative: A Focus on the 
Future of Energy Technology with an Emphasis on Canadian Oil Sands''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Hearing to Receive the Annual Testimony of the Secretary of the 
Treasury on the State of the International Financial System''. 
Testimony was heard from Timothy F. Geithner, Secretary, Department of 
the Treasury.
U.S. FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AMIDST ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Fiscal Year 2013 Budget: A Review of U.S. Foreign Assistance 
Amidst Economic Uncertainty''. Testimony was heard from Rajiv Shah, 
Administrator, Agency for International Development.
HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, 
Response, and Communications held a hearing entitled ``Ensuring the 
Transparency, Efficiency, and Effectiveness of Homeland Security 
Grants''. Testimony was heard from Elizabeth Harman, Assistant 
Administrator, Grant Programs Directorate, Federal Emergency Management 
Agency, Department of Homeland Security; Corey Gruber, Assistant 
Administrator, National Preparedness Directorate, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security; Anne Richards, 
Office of Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security; and 
William O. Jenkins, Jr., Director, Homeland Security and Justice 
Issues, Government Accountability Office.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a markup of the 
following: H.R. 3534, the ``Security in Bonding Act of 2011''; and H.R. 
4078, the ``Regulatory Freeze for Jobs Act of 2012''. The following 
bills were ordered reported, as amended: H.R. 3534, and H.R. 4078. The 
Committee began a markup of H.R. 3862, the ``Sunshine for Regulatory 
Decrees and Settlements Act of 2012''.
EFFECTS OF THE PRESIDENT'S FY 2013 BUDGET AND PROPOSALS FOR BLM, FOREST 
SERVICE'S ENERGY AND MINERALS PROGRAMS
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 
Resources held a hearing entitled ``Effects of the President's FY 2013 
Budget and Legislative Proposals for the Bureau of Land Management and 
the U.S. Forest Service's Energy and Minerals Programs on Private 
Sector Job Creation, Domestic Energy and Minerals Production and 
Deficit Reduction''. Testimony was heard from Bob Abbey, Director, 
Bureau of Land Management; Tom Tidwell, Chief, Forest Service; Mike 
McKee, County Commissioner, Uintah County, Utah; and public witness.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska 
Native Affairs held a hearing on the following: H.R. 4027, to clarify 
authority granted under the Act entitled ``An Act to define the 
exterior boundary of the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation in the 
State of Utah, and for other purposes''; and H.R. 4194, to amend the 
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to provide that Alexander

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Creek, Alaska, is and shall be recognized as an eligible Native village 
under that Act, and for other purposes. Testimony was heard from Tim 
Spisak, Deputy Assistant Director, Minerals and Realty Management, 
Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior; and public 
witnesses.
PROPOSED DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER MEMORIAL
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forest 
and Public Lands held a hearing entitled ``Proposed Dwight D. 
Eisenhower Memorial''. Testimony was heard from Representative Boswell; 
Susan Eisenhower, representing the Eisenhower Family; Stephen E. 
Whitesell, Regional Director, National Capital Region, National Park 
Service, Department of the Interior; William J. Guerin, Assistant 
Commissioner for the Office of Construction Programs, Public Buildings 
Service, General Services Administration; Brig. Gen. Carl W. Reddel, 
USAF (Ret.), Executive Director, Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial 
Commission; Bruce Cole, former Chairman, National Endowment for the 
Humanities, and public witnesses.
FISCAL YEAR 2013 SPENDING PRIORITIES AND THE MISSIONS OF THE BUREAU OF 
RECLAMATION, THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY'S WATER RESOURCES PROGRAM AND 
THE FOUR POWER MARKETING ADMINISTRATIONS
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power held a 
hearing entitled ``Examining the Proposed Fiscal Year 2013 Spending 
Priorities and the Missions of the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. 
Geological Survey's Water Resources program and the Four Power 
Marketing Administrations''. Testimony was heard from Michael L. 
Connor, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation; Stephen Wright, 
Administrator, Bonneville Power Administration; Timothy Meeks, 
Administrator, Western Area Power Administration; James McDonald, 
Acting Administrator, Southwestern Power Administration; Kenneth Legg, 
Administrator, Southeastern Power Administration; and Bill Werkheiser, 
Associate Director for Water, Geological Survey.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S STIMULUS SPENDING-
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Oversight of the Department of Energy's Stimulus 
Spending''. Testimony was heard from Steven Chu, Secretary, Department 
of Energy.
HELP EFFICIENT, ACCESSIBLE, LOW-COST, TIMELY HEALTHCARE (HEALTH) ACT OF 
2011
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 5, the ``Help 
Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 
2011''. The Committee granted, by a record vote of 7 to 4, a structured 
rule providing six hours of general debate equally divided among and 
controlled by the respective chairs and ranking minority members of the 
Committees on Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, and Ways and Means. 
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 112-18 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 amendments 
printed in the report. Finally, the rule provides one motion to 
recommit with or without instructions. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Franks, AZ; Nadler; Jackson Lee, TX; Waters; Johnson, 
GA; Deutch; Gingrey, GA; Broun, GA; Gosar; and Wasserman Schultz.
OFFICE OF COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET FOR FY 2013
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Space and 
Aeronautics held a hearing entitled ``An Overview of the Office of 
Commercial Space Transportation Budget for Fiscal Year 2013''. 
Testimony was heard from George Nield, Associate Administrator for 
Commercial Space Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration; 
Wilbur C. Trafton (USN Ret.), Chairman, Commercial Space Transportation 
Advisory Committee.
NO-COST IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a 
hearing on no-cost improvements to the child support enforcement (CSE) 
program. Testimony was heard from Marilyn Stephen, Director, Office of 
Child Support, Michigan

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Department of Human Services; Craig Burlingame, Chief Information 
Officer, Trial Court Information Services, Massachusetts Court System; 
and public witnesses.
HOW DISABILITY IS DECIDED
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security held a 
hearing on how disability is decided. Testimony was heard from Michael 
J. Astrue, Commissioner, Social Security Administration; Trudy Lyon-
Hart, Director, Office of Disability Determination Services, Vermont 
Agency of Human Services, on behalf of the National Council of 
Disability Determination Directors; Lisa D. Ekman, Senior Policy 
Advisor, Health and Disability Advocates on behalf of the Consortium 
for Citizens with Disabilities Social Security Task Force; Dan Bertoni, 
Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security Issues, Government 
Accountability Office; and Leighton Chan, Chief, Rehabilitation 
Medicine Department, National Institutes of Health.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.