[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 48 (Thursday, March 22, 2012)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D294-D295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
APPROPRIATIONS--FY 2013 BUDGET ISSUES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 budget issues. 
Testimony was heard from Representatives Chu, Farr, Lipinski, 
Pierluisi, Posey, Gerald W. Hyland, Supervisor, Fairfax County, 
Virginia; Billy Frank, Chairman, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission; 
Seamus P. McCaffery, Justice, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; Tom 
Skalak, Vice President for Research, University of Virginia; and public 
witnesses.
APPROPRIATIONS--FY 2013 BUDGET ISSUES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 budget issues. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FY 2013 BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 
Budget Request for the Department of Education. Testimony was heard 
from Arnie Duncan, Secretary, Department of Education.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION MAJOR MODES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing 
and Urban Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing on FY 2013 
Budget Request for the Department of Transportation Major Modes. 
Testimony was heard from Michael Huerta, Acting Administrator, Federal 
Aviation Administration; Victor Mendez, Administrator, Federal Highway 
Administration; Joseph C. Szabo, Administrator, Federal Railroad 
Administration; and Peter Rogoff, Administrator, Federal Transit 
Administration.
APPROPRIATIONS--COMMODITY FUTURE TRADING COMMISSION
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 Commodity Futures Trading 
Commission. Testimony was heard from Gary Gensler, Chairman, Commodity 
Futures Trading Commission.
NAVY'S READINESS POSTURE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness held a hearing 
on the Navy's readiness posture. Testimony was heard from Vice Admiral 
William Burke, USN, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Fleet Readiness 
and Logistics; Vice Admiral Kevin McCoy, USN, Commander, Naval Sea 
Systems Command; and Vice Admiral David Architzel, USN, Commander, 
Naval Air Systems Command.
HAZING IN THE MILITARY
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a 
hearing on hazing in the military. Testimony was heard from Sergeant 
Major of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III, USA, Sergeant Major of the 
Army; Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick D. West, USN, Master 
Chief Petty Officer of the Navy; Sergeant Major Michael P. Barrett, 
USMC, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps; Chief Master Sergeant of the 
Air Force James A. Roy, USAF, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force; 
and Master Chief Michael P. Leavitt, USCG, Master Chief Petty Officer 
of the Coast Guard.

[[Page D295]]


MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on the Budget: On Wednesday, March 21, 2012, the full 
Committee held a markup. The following was ordered reported, as 
amended: a Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2013.
MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY PROVISIONS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, 
Manufacturing, and Trade held a hearing entitled ``Motor Vehicle Safety 
Provisions in House and Senate Highway Bills''. Testimony was heard 
from Representative Lewis (GA); David L. Strickland, Administrator, 
National Highway Transportation Safety Administration; and public 
witnesses.
HOW MOBILE PAYMENTS COULD CHANGE FINANCIAL SERVICES
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial Institutions 
and Consumer Credit held a hearing entitled ``The Future of Money: How 
Mobile Payments Could Change Financial Services''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
BUILDING ONE DHS
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Oversight, 
Investigations, and Management held a hearing entitled ``Building One 
DHS: Why is Employee Morale Low?''. Testimony was heard from Catherine 
Emerson, Chief Human Capital Officer, Department of Homeland Security; 
and David Maurer, Director, Homeland Security and Justice Team, 
Government Accountability Office; and public witnesses.
EFFECTS OF THE PRESIDENT'S FY 2013 BUDGET FOR THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL 
SURVEY
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 
Resources held a hearing entitled ``Effect of the President's FY 2013 
Budget for the U.S. Geological Survey on Private Sector Job Creation, 
Hazard Protection, Mineral Resources and Deficit Reduction''. Testimony 
was heard from Marcia McNutt, Director, Geological Survey; and public 
witnesses.
LATEST THREAT TO ACCESS FOR RECREATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, 
Oceans and Insular Affairs held a hearing entitled ``Empty Hooks: The 
National Ocean Policy is the Latest Threat to Access for Recreational 
and Commercial Fisherman''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a markup of the 
following: H.R. 3985, the ``Building Better Business Partnerships Act 
of 2012''; H.R. 3987, the ``Small Business Protection Act of 2012''; 
H.R. 4081, the ``Contractor Opportunity Protection Act of 2012''; H.R. 
4206, the ``Contracting Oversight for Small Business Jobs Act of 
2012''; and H.R. 4203, the ``Women's Procurement Program Improvement 
Act of 2012''. The following bills were order reported, as amended: 
H.R. 3985; H.R. 3987; H.R. 4081; and H.R. 4206. The following bill was 
ordered reported, without amendment: H.R. 4203.
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE OPERATIONS AND THE 2012 TAX RETURN FILING 
SEASON
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing 
entitled ``Internal Revenue Service Operations and the 2012 Tax Return 
Filing Season''. Testimony was heard from Douglas Shulman, 
Commissioner, Internal Revenue Service.
ONGOING INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES
  House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee 
held a hearing on ongoing intelligence activities. This was a closed 
hearing.

Joint Meetings
PROGRESS IN NORTHERN IRELAND
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. On Wednesday, March 
21, 2012, commission concluded a hearing to examine prerequisites for 
progress in Northern Ireland, focusing on the 1998 Good Friday 
Agreement, and the current challenges to full implementation of the 
agreement and the action that is necessary for continued confidence and 
progress in the peace process, after receiving testimony from 
Christopher Stanley, British-Irish Rights Watch, London; Mark Thompson, 
Relatives for Justice, Brian Gormally, Committee on the Administration 
of Justice, and Geraldine Finucane, all of Belfast; and Patricia Lundy, 
University of Ulster, Jordanstown.