[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 61 (Thursday, April 26, 2012)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D415-D417]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
FORMULATION OF THE 2012 FARM BILL: CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and 
Forestry held a hearing entitled ``Formulation of the 2012 Farm Bill: 
Conservation Programs''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
FORMULATION OF THE 2012 FARM BILL: DAIRY PROGRAMS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry 
held a hearing entitled ``Formulation of the 2012 Farm Bill: Dairy 
Programs''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Appropriations: Full Committee held a markup of Commerce, 
Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill FY 2013. The bill was ordered 
reported, as amended.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a 
markup of H.R. 4310, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2013 
for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe 
military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2013, and for other 
purposes. The bill was forwarded, without amendment.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection 
Forces held a markup of H.R. 4310, to authorize appropriations for 
fiscal year 2013 for military activities of the Department of Defense, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2013, and for 
other purposes. The bill was forwarded, as amended.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a 
markup of H.R. 4310, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2013 
for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe 
military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2013, and for other 
purposes. The bill was forwarded, without amendment.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and 
Capabilities held a markup of H.R. 4310, to authorize appropriations 
for fiscal year 2013 for military activities of the Department of 
Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 
2013, and for other purposes. The bill was forwarded without amendment.
PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2013 BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 
AND HUMAN SERVICES
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``Reviewing the President's Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Proposal 
for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services''. Testimony was 
heard from Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary, Department of Health and Human 
Services.
THE NORTH-SOUTH SUDAN CONFLICT 2012
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, 
and Human Rights held a hearing entitled ``The North-South Sudan 
Conflict 2012''. Testimony was heard from Princeton Lyman, Special 
Envoy for Sudan, Department of State; Anne C. Richard, Assistant 
Secretary of State, Department of State, Bureau of Population, 
Refugees, and Migration; and Nancy Lindborg, USAID Assistant 
Administrator for the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian 
Assistance.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia held a 
mark up of H. Res. 526, expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives with respect toward the establishment of a democratic 
and prosperous Republic of Georgia and the establishment of a peaceful 
and just resolution to the conflict with Georgia's internationally 
recognized borders. H. Res. 526 was forwarded without amendment.
NATO: THE CHICAGO SUMMIT AND U.S. POLICY
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia held a 
hearing entitled ``NATO: The Chicago Summit and U.S. Policy''. 
Testimony was heard from Tina S. Kaidanow, Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Department of 
State; James Townsend, Deputy Assistant Secretary, European and NATO 
Policy, Department of Defense; and public witnesses.

[[Page D416]]


IRANIAN CYBER THREAT TO THE U.S. HOMELAND
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and 
Intelligence; and Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure, 
Protection, and Security Technologies held a joint hearing entitled 
``Iranian Cyber Threat to the U.S. Homeland''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
ENSURING THE EFFICIENCY, EFFECTIVENESS, AND TRANSPARENCY OF HOMELAND 
SECURITY GRANTS
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, 
Response, and Communications held a hearing entitled ``Ensuring the 
Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Transparency of Homeland Security Grants 
(Part II): Stakeholder Perspectives''. Testimony was heard from Jim 
Davis, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Public Safety; Bryan 
Koon, Director, Florida Division of Emergency Management; Hui-Shan L. 
Walker, Emergency Management Coordinator, City of Hampton, Virginia; 
Judson Freed, Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, 
Ramsey County, Minnesota; Richard Daddario, Deputy Commissioner, 
Counterterrorism Bureau, New York City Police Department; Robert M. 
Maloney, Director, Office of Emergency Management, Baltimore, Maryland; 
Hank C. Clemmensen, Palatine Rural Fire Protection District; and public 
witnesses.
INTERNATIONAL PATENT ISSUES: PROMOTING A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR 
AMERICAN INDUSTRY ABROAD
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, 
Competition and the Internet held a hearing entitled ``International 
Patent Issues: Promoting a Level Playing Field for American Industry 
Abroad''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
VICTIMS' RIGHTS AMENDMENT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution held a 
hearing entitled ``Victims' Rights Amendment''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
INCREASED ELECTRICITY COSTS FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Increased Electricity Costs for American Families and Small 
Businesses: The Potential Impacts of the Chu Memorandum''. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 
Resources held a hearing on the following measures: H.R. 4381, the 
``Planning for American Energy Act''; H.R. 4382, the ``Providing 
Leasing Certainty for American Energy Act''; H.R. 4383, the 
``Streamlining Permitting of American Energy Act''; H.R. 4402, the 
``National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012''; 
H.R. 1192, the ``Soda Ash Royalty Extension, Job Creation, and Export 
Enhancement Act of 2011''; and H.R. 2176, the ``Clean Energy Promotion 
Act''. Testimony was heard from Representatives Amodei and Lummis; and 
public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a 
markup to amend title 5, United States Code, to comply with the 
reconciliation directive included in section 201 of the Concurrent 
Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2013; H.R. 2008, the ``Keeping 
Politics Out of Federal Contracting Act of 2011''; H.R. 3609, the 
``Taxpayers Right to Know Act''; H.R. 4078, the ``Regulatory Freeze for 
Jobs Act''; and H.R. 4607, to ensure economy and efficiency of Federal 
Government operations by establishing a moratorium on midnight rules 
during a President's final days in office, and for other purposes. The 
following measures were ordered reported, without amendment: H.R. 2008; 
H.R. 4607; and S. 1302. The following measures were ordered reported, 
as amended: H.R. 4078; H.R. 3609; and recommendations to comply with 
the reconciliation directive included in section 201 of the Concurrent 
Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2013.
NASA AERONAUTICS RESEARCH MISSION DIRECTORATE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 
2013
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Space and 
Aeronautics held a hearing entitled ``An Overview of the NASA 
Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate Budget for Fiscal Year 2013''. 
Testimony was heard from Jalwon Shin, Associate Administrator, 
Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration; Marion Blakey, Chair, Aeronautics Committee, NASA 
Advisory Council; and public witnesses.
SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATORS: ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF ENERGY SOLUTIONS
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and 
Trade held a hearing entitled ``Small Business Innovators: On the 
Cutting Edge of

[[Page D417]]

Energy Solutions''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
REGULATION OF THE MARITIME INDUSTRY: ENSURING U.S. JOB GROWTH WHILE 
IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL AND WORKER SAFETY
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure:  Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing entitled ``Regulation 
of the Maritime Industry: Ensuring U.S. Job Growth While Improving 
Environmental and Worker Safety''. Testimony was heard from Vice 
Admiral Brian Salerno, Deputy Commandant for Operations, United States 
Coast Guard; James Hanlon, Director, Office of Wastewater Management, 
Office of Water, Environmental Protection Agency; and public witnesses.
EXPIRING TAX PROVISIONS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures 
held a hearing entitled ``Expiring Tax Provisions''. Testimony was 
heard from the following Representatives: Brady (TX); Jenkins, Davis 
(KY); Herger; Schock; Welch; Bilbray; Black (TN); Pierluisi; Bass (NH); 
Campbell; Braley (IA); McGovern; Grimm; King (IA); Costa; McDermott; 
Latham; Christensen; Herrera Beutler; Deutch; Reed; Blumenauer; Pompeo; 
Boren; and Riechert.

Joint Meetings
GAS PRICES IN THE NORTHEAST
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine gas 
prices in the Northeast, focusing on the potential impact on the 
American consumer due to loss of refining capacity, after receiving 
testimony from Diana L. Moss, American Antitrust Institute, Bob Greco, 
American Petroleum Institute (API), and Michael Greenstone, 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, all of Washington, D.C.; and 
Thomas D. O'Malley, PBF Energy, Parsippany, New Jersey.