[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 99 (Thursday, June 28, 2012)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D678-D681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Appropriations: Full Committee held a markup of Interior, 
Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, FY 2013. The 
bill was ordered reported, as amended.
PROMOTING SAFE WORKPLACES THROUGH VOLUNTARY PROTECTION PROGRAMS
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Workforce 
Protections held a hearing entitled ``Promoting Safe Workplaces Through 
Voluntary Protection Programs''. Testimony was heard from Jordan Barab, 
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health, 
Department of Labor; and public witnesses.
THE AMERICAN ENERGY INITIATIVE: A FOCUS ON THE NEW PROPOSAL TO TIGHTEN 
NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR FINE PARTICULATE MATTER
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held 
a hearing entitled ``The American Energy Initiative: A Focus on the New 
Proposal to Tighten National Standards for Fine Particulate Matter''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
FRACTIONAL RESERVE BANKING AND THE FEDERAL RESERVE: THE ECONOMIC 
CONSEQUENCES OF HIGH-POWERED MONEY
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary 
Policy held a hearing entitled ``Fractional Reserve Banking and the 
Federal Reserve: The Economic Consequences of High-Powered Money''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
APPRAISAL OVERSIGHT: THE REGULATORY IMPACT ON CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and 
Community Opportunity held a hearing entitled ``Appraisal Oversight: 
The Regulatory Impact on Consumers and Businesses''. Testimony was 
heard from William B. Shear, Director, Financial Markets and Community 
Investment, Government Accountability Office; James R. Park, Executive 
Subcommittee, Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council; and 
public witnesses.
ECONOMIC ESPIONAGE: A FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE THREAT TO AMERICAN JOBS AND 
HOMELAND SECURITY
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and 
Intelligence held a hearing entitled ``Economic Espionage: A Foreign 
Intelligence Threat to American Jobs and Homeland Security''. Testimony 
was heard from Stuart Graham, Chief Economist, Patent and Trademark 
Office, Department of Commerce; John P. Woods, Assistant Director, 
Homeland Security Investigations Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 
Department of Homeland Security; Frank Figliuzzi, Assistant Director, 
Counterintelligence Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 
Department of Justice; and Gregory C. Wilshusen, Director, Information 
Security Issues, Government Accountability Office.
IDENTITY THEFT AND INCOME TAX PREPARATION FRAUD
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security held a hearing entitled ``Identity Theft and Income 
Tax Preparation Fraud''. Testimony was heard from Rebecca Sparkman, 
Director, Operations, Policy and Support, Criminal Investigation 
Division, Internal Revenue Service; Nina E. Olson, United States Tax 
Payer Advocate, Office of the Taxpayer Advocate, Internal Revenue 
Service; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a markup of H.R. 1860, 
the ``Digital Goods and Services Tax Fairness Act of 2011''; H.R. 823, 
for the

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relief of Maria Carmen; H.R. 316, for the relief of Esther Karinge; 
H.R. 794, for the relief of Allan Bolor Kelley; H.R. 357, for the 
relief of Corina de Chalup Turcinovic; H.R. 824, for the relief of 
Daniel Wachira; H.R. 1857, for the relief of Bartosz Kumor; H.R. 3120, 
the ``Student Visa Reform Act''; and H.R. 6019 the ``Juvenile 
Accountability Block Grant Reauthorization and the Bullying Prevention 
and Intervention Act''; and the Third Semiannual Activity Report of the 
Committee on the Judiciary for the 112th Congress. The following 
measures were ordered reported, as amended: H.R. 1860; H.R. 3120; and 
H.R. 6019. The following measures were ordered reported, without 
amendment: H.R. 823; H.R. 316; H.R. 794; H.R. 357; H.R. 824; and H.R. 
1857. The Semiannual Activity Report was adopted without amendment.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests 
and Public Lands held a hearing on the following measures: H.R. 5987, 
the ``Manhattan Project National Historical Park Act''; H.R. 624, the 
``First State National Historic Park Act''; H.R. 3640, to authorize the 
Secretary of the Interior to acquire not more than 18 acres of land and 
interests in land in Mariposa, California, and for other purposes; H.R. 
4109, the ``Los Padres Conservation and Recreation Act of 2012''; H.R. 
4334, the ``Organ Mountains National Monument Establishment Act''; H.R. 
4484, the ``Y Mountain Access Enhancement Act''; H.R. 5319, the 
``Nashua River Wild and Scenic River Study Act''; H.R. 5958, to name 
the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Contact Station of the Jamaica 
Bay Wildlife Refuge unit of Gateway National Recreation Area in honor 
of James L. Buckley; 10 a.m., 1324 Longworth. Testimony was heard from 
Senator Carper and Representatives Carney, Chaffetz, Denham, Gallegly, 
Hastings (WA), Pearce, Tsongas, and Turner (NY); Carl Rountree, 
Director, National Landscape Conservation System, Bureau of Land 
Management, Department of the Interior; Billy Garrett, Commissioner, 
Dona Ana County; Jim Pena, Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest 
Service; United States Forest Service; Department of Agriculture; John 
Curtis, Mayor, City of Provo; Victor Knox, Associate Director for Park 
Planning, Facilities and Lands, National Park Service, Department of 
the Interior; Ingrid Kolb, Director, Office of Management, Department 
of Energy; Kevin Cann, Supervisor, Mariposa County; and public 
witnesses.
ASSESSMENT OF THE TRANSITION FROM A MILITARY TO A CIVILIAN-LED MISSION 
IN IRAQ
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National 
Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operations held a hearing 
entitled ``Assessment of the Transition from a Military to a Civilian-
Led Mission in Iraq.'' Testimony was heard from Patrick Kennedy, Under 
Secretary for Management, Department of State, Peter Verga, Chief of 
Staff for the Under Secretary for Policy, Department of Defense; Mara 
Rudman, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for the Middle East, Agency for 
International Development; Michael Courts, Acting Director, 
International Affairs and Trade, Government Accountability Office; 
Harold Geisel, Acting Inspector General, Department of State; Mickey 
McDermott, Special Deputy Inspector General for Southwest Asia, 
Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General; Michael Carroll, 
Deputy Inspector General, Agency for International Development; and 
Stuart Bowen, Jr., Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.
JOBS ACT IN ACTION PART II: OVERSEEING EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 
JOBS ACT AT THE SEC
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on TARP, 
Financial Services and Bailout of Public and Private Programs held a 
hearing entitled ``The JOBS Act in Action Part II: Overseeing Effective 
Implementation of the JOBS Act at the SEC.'' Testimony was heard from 
Mary Schapiro, Chairman, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
MANDATE MADNESS: WHEN SUE AND SETTLE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and 
Procurement Reform held a hearing entitled, ``Mandate Madness: When Sue 
and Settle Just Isn't Enough.'' Testimony was heard from E. Scott 
Pruit, Attorney General for the State of Oklahoma; and public 
witnesses.
CONFERENCE REPORT--H.R. 4348, SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EXTENSION ACT OF 
2012; H.R. 5856, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2013; H.R. 
6020, FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
2013; AND MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Rules: The Committee granted, by a record vote, a 
resolution providing for an open rule

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for H.R. 5856. The rule provides one hour of general debate equally 
divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the 
Committee on Appropriations. The rule waives all points of order 
against provisions in the bill for failure to comply with clause 2 of 
rule XXI except for section 8121 (regarding funds being used to sponsor 
any professional or semi-professional sporting event or competitor). 
The rule provides that the bill shall be considered for amendment under 
the five-minute rule. The rule authorizes the Chair to accord priority 
to Members who have pre-printed their amendments in the Congressional 
Record. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions.
  The resolution further provides for H.R. 6020 under an open rule. The 
rule provides one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled 
by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
Appropriations. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of the bill. The rule waives points of order against 
provisions in the bill for failure to comply with clause 2 of rule XXI 
except beginning with `: Provided'' on page 95, line 9, through 
``level'' on page 95, line 11 (regarding six-day delivery by the United 
States Postal Service). The rule provides that the bill shall be 
considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. The rule 
authorizes the Chair to accord priority in recognition to Members who 
have pre-printed their amendments in the Congressional Record. The rule 
provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.
  The rule waives all points of order against the conference report to 
accompany H.R. 4348 and its consideration, and provides that it shall 
be considered as read. The rule provides that the previous question 
shall be considered as ordered on the conference report without 
intervening motion except one hour of debate and one motion to recommit 
if applicable. Debate on the conference report is divided pursuant to 
clause 8(d) of rule XXII.
  The rule provides that it shall be in order at any time on the 
legislative day of June 29, 2012, for the Speaker to entertain motions 
that the House suspend the rules relating to measures addressing 
expiring provisions of law and a concurrent resolution correcting the 
enrollment of H.R. 4348.
  The rule waives clause 6(a) of rule XIII, requiring a two-thirds vote 
to consider a report from the Committee on Rules on the same day it is 
reported to the House, against any resolution reported on the 
legislative day of June 29, 2012, providing for consideration or 
disposition of measures addressing expiring provisions of law and a 
concurrent resolution correcting the enrollment of H.R. 4348. Finally, 
the Committee adopted, by voice vote, the Rules Committee Activity 
Report for the 3rd Quarter of the 112th Congress.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a 
hearing on adoption of the 3rd Semiannual Report of the Activities of 
the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. The Report of the 
Activities of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee was adopted, 
without amendment.
UNLOCKING OPPORTUNITIES: RECIDIVISM VERSUS FAIR COMPETITION IN FEDERAL 
CONTRACTING
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce 
held a hearing entitled ``Unlocking Opportunities: Recidivism versus 
Fair Competition in Federal Contracting''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
A REVIEW OF THE DELAYS AND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH TSA'S 
TRANSPORTATION WORKER IDENTIFICATION CREDENTIAL
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``A Review of the Delays and Problems Associated with 
TSA's Transportation Worker Identification Credential''. Testimony was 
heard from Rear Admiral Joseph Servidio, Assistant Commandant for 
Preparedness, United States Coast Guard; Kelli Ann Walther; Assistant 
Secretary, Office of Policy, Department of Homeland Security; Stephen 
Sadler, Assistant Administrator, Transportation Security 
Administration; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 
held a markup of H.R. 4115, the ``Helping Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans 
Return to Employment at Home Act''; H.R. 3524, the ``Disabled Veterans 
Employment Protection Act''; H.R. 4057, the ``Improving Transparency of 
Education Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2012''; H.R. 4740, the 
``Fairness for Military Homeowners Act of 2012''; and H.R. 5747, the 
``Military Family Home Protection Act''. The following measure was 
forwarded without amendment H.R. 4115; and the following measures were 
forwarded, as amended: H.R. 3524; H.R. 4057; H.R. 4740; and H.R. 5747.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURE AND MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
  House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee 
held a hearing on H.R. 5949, the ``FISA Amendments Act 
Reauthorization Act of 2012''; and adoption of the Semiannual 
Committee Activity Report.

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 A portion of this hearing was closed. H.R. 5949 was ordered 
reported, as amended. The Semiannual Committee Activity Report was 
adopted, without amendment., 

Joint Meetings
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EXTENSION ACT
Conferees agreed to file a conference report on the differences between 
the Senate and House passed versions of H.R. 4348, to provide an 
extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, 
transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund 
pending enactment of a multi-year law reauthorizing such programs.