[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 17, 2012)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D358-D360]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a Member's Day on 
national defense priorities for the fiscal year 2013 national defense 
authorization bill. Testimony was heard from the following 
Representatives: Hanna; Connolly; Holt; Huelskamp; Davis, IL; Cravaack; 
Boren; Guthrie; Graves; Neugebauer; Walsh; Pierluisi; Chu; Herrera-
Beutler; Latham; Stivers; Murphy, PA; Crawford; and Honda.
NATIONAL DEFENSE BUDGET--ATOMIC ENERGY DEFENSE ACTIVITIES
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a 
hearing on FY 2013 National Defense Budget Request for Atomic Energy 
Defense Activities and Nuclear Forces Programs. Testimony was heard 
from Madelyn R. Creedon, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global 
Strategic Affairs, Department of Defense; General C. Robert Kehler, 
USAF, Commander, U.S. Strategic Command; Thomas P. D'Agostino, 
Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration, Under 
Secretary for Nuclear Security, Department of Energy; David G., 
Huizenga, Senior Advisor for Environmental Management, Department of 
Energy; and Peter S. Winokur, Chairman, Defense Nuclear Facilities 
Safety Board.
STRENGTHENING THE SAFETY NET
Committee on the Budget: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Strengthening the Safety Net''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURE
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Full Committee held a hearing 
on H.R. 4297, the ``Workforce Investment Improvement Act of 2012''. 
Testimony was heard from Norma Noble, Deputy Secretary of Commerce for 
Workforce Development, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Sandy Harmsen, San 
Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power 
continued a markup of the ``Gasoline Regulations Act of 2012''; and the 
``Strategic Energy Production Act of 2012''. The ``Gasoline Regulations 
Act of 2012'' was ordered reported, as amended; and the ``Strategic 
Energy Production Act of 2012'' was ordered reported, as amended.
COINAGE PRODUCTION
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary 
Policy and Technology held a hearing entitled ``The Future of Money: 
Coinage Production''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
INCREASING AMERICAN JOBS THROUGH GREATER EXPORTS TO AFRICA ART
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, 
and Human Rights held a hearing entitled ``The Increasing American Jobs 
Through Greater Exports to Africa Act''. Testimony was heard from 
Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of African 
Affairs, Department of State; Florizelle Liser, Assistant United States 
Trade Representative for Africa, Office of the United States Trade 
Representative; and public witnesses.
UTILIZATION OF THE NATIONAL GUARD TO ACHIEVE OPERATIONAL CONTROL
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Border and Maritime 
held a hearing entitled ``Boots on the Ground or Eyes in the Sky: How 
Best to Utilize the National Guard to Achieve Operational Control''. 
Testimony was heard from Paul N. Stockton, Assistant Secretary of 
Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas' Security Affairs, Office of 
the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Department of Defense; Ronald 
D. Vitiello, Deputy Chief, Border Patrol, Department of Homeland 
Security; Martin Vaughan, Executive Director, Southwest Region, Office 
of Air and Marine, Customs and Border Protection, Department of 
Homeland Security; Major General John Nichols, Adjutant General, Texas 
National Guard; and Brian J. Lepore, Director, Defense Capabilities and 
Management, Government Accountability Office.
TAKING MEASURE OF COUNTERMEASURES (PART 3): PROTECTING THE PROTECTORS
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, 
Response, and Communications held a hearing entitled ``Taking Measure 
of Countermeasures (Part 3): Protecting the Protectors''. Testimony was 
heard from J. D. Polk, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of 
Health Affairs, Department of Homeland Security; Edward J. Gabriel, 
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Preparedness and Response, 
Department of Health and Human Services; Chris Nocco, Sheriff, Pasco 
County, Florida; and public witnesses.

[[Page D359]]


MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee began a markup of Committee 
Print of Material to be Transmitted to the Committee on the Budget 
Pursuant to Section 201 of H. Con. Res. 112.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests 
and Public Lands held a hearing on the following measures: H.R. 3388, 
the ``Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Protection Act''; H.R. 3874, the ``Black 
Hills Cemetery Act''; H.R. 4039, the ``Yerington Land Conveyance and 
Sustainable Development Act''; H.R. 4073, to authorize the Secretary of 
Agriculture to accept the quitclaim, disclaimer, and relinquishment of 
a railroad right of way within and adjacent to Pike National Forest in 
El Paso County, Colorado, originally granted to the Mt. Manitou Park 
and Incline Railway Company pursuant to the Act of March 3, 1875; H.R. 
4193, the ``Land Acquisition to cut National Debt Act''; and H.R. 4222, 
to provide for the conveyance of certain land inholdings owned by the 
United States to the Tucson Unified School District and to the Pascua 
Yaqui Tribe of Arizona, and for other purposes. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives Langevin; and Stivers; William D. Shaddox, Chief 
Land Resources Division, National Park Service, Department of the 
Interior; Leslie A. C. Weldon, Deputy Chief, National Forest System, 
Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; Michael Nedd, Assistant 
Director, Minerals and Realty Management, Bureau of Land Management, 
Department of the Interior; George Dini, Mayor, Yerington, Nevada; and 
public witness.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power held a 
hearing on H.R. 460, the ``Bonneville Unit Clean Hydropower 
Facilitation Act''; and H.R. 2664, the ``Reauthorization of Water 
Desalination Act of 2011''. Testimony was heard from David Murillo, 
Deputy Commissioner and Director of Operations, Bureau of Reclamation; 
and public witnesses.
SEC'S AVERSION TO COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on TARP, 
Financial Services and Bailouts of Public and Private Programs held a 
hearing entitled ``The SEC's Aversion to Cost-Benefit Analysis''. 
Testimony was heard from Mary L. Schapiro, Chairman, Securities and 
Exchange Commission; and public witnesses.
SMALL BUSINESS TAX CUT ACT
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 9, the 
``Small Business Tax Cut Act''. The Committee granted, by voice vote, a 
structured rule providing one hour of debate equally divided and 
controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
Ways and Means. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of the bill. The rule provides that the amendment in the 
nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means 
now printed in the bill shall be considered as adopted. The bill, as 
amended, shall be considered as read and shall be considered as 
original text for the purpose of further amendment. The rule waives all 
points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended. The rule 
makes in order the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in 
the Rules Committee report, which may be offered only by Representative 
Levin of Michigan or his designee, shall be considered as read, shall 
be debatable for 20 minutes equally divided and controlled by the 
proponent and an opponent, and shall not be subject to amendment. The 
rule waives all points of order against the amendment printed in the 
report. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or 
without instructions. Testimony was heard from the following 
Representatives: Brady, (TX); Levin; and McDermott.
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EXTENSION ACT OF 2012
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 4348, the 
``Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II''. The 
Committee granted, by a record vote of 7 to 3, a structured rule 
providing one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by 
the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure. The rule waives all points of order 
against consideration of the bill. The rule provides that the bill 
shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points of order 
against provisions in the bill. The rule makes in order only those 
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 
Chairman Mica.

[[Page D360]]


TAPPING AMERICA'S UNCONVENTIONAL OIL RESOURCES FOR JOB CREATION AND 
AFFORDABLE DOMESTIC ENERGY
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Tapping America's Unconventional Oil Resources for 
Job Creation and Affordable Domestic Energy: Technology and Policy 
Pathways''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
GSA'S SQUANDERING OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management held a 
hearing entitled ``GSA's Squandering of Taxpayer Dollars: A Pattern of 
Mismanagement, Excess, and Waste''. Testimony was heard from the 
following GSA officials: Daniel Tangherlini, Acting Administrator; 
Brian Miller, Inspector General; Martha Johnson, Former Administrator; 
Susan Brita, Deputy Administrator; Alison Doone, Chief Financial 
Officer; Robert Peck, Former Public Buildings Service (PBS) 
Commissioner; David Foley, Public Building Services Deputy 
Commissioner; and Lisa Daniels, Event Planner, Public Buildings 
Service.
TAX REFORM AND TAX-FAVORED RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS
Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee held a hearing on tax 
reform and tax-favored retirement accounts. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
TAXATION OF CAPITAL
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine how 
the taxation of capital affects growth and employment, after receiving 
testimony from Jane G. Gravelle, Senior Specialist in Economic Policy, 
Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; and Kevin A. 
Hassett, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, 
Washington, DC.