[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 13, 2013)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D102-D105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Agriculture: Full Committee held a business meeting to 
consider oversight plan of the Committee on Agriculture for the 113th 
Congress and other organizational matters. The Committee approved its 
Oversight Plan and Committee Rules for the 113th Congress.
IMPACTS OF A CONTINUING RESOLUTION AND SEQUESTRATION ON DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Impacts of a Continuing Resolution and Sequestration on Defense.'' 
Testimony was heard from Ashton Carter, Deputy Secretary of Defense; 
General Martin Dempsey, USA, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; 
Raymond T. Odierno, USA Chief of Staff, U. S. Army; Admiral Jonathan W. 
Greenert, USN, Chief of Naval Operations, U. S. Navy; General James F. 
Amos, USMC, Commandant of the Marine Corps, U. S. Marine Corps; and 
General Frank J. Grass, USARNG, Chief, National Guard Bureau.
PERSPECTIVES ON THE FUTURE NATIONAL SECURITY ENVIRONMENT: 
TECHNOLOGICAL, GEOPOLITICAL AND ECONOMIC TRENDS AFFECTING THE DEFENSE 
STRATEGIC GUIDANCE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Intelligence, Emerging 
Threats and Capabilities held a hearing entitled ``Perspectives on the 
Future National Security Environment: Technological, Geopolitical and 
Economic Trends Affecting the Defense Strategic Guidance''. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE'S BUDGET AND ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
Committee on the Budget: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``The 
Congressional Budget Office's Budget and Economic Outlook''. Testimony 
was heard from Douglas W. Elmendorf, Director, Congressional Budget 
Office.
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Health, 
Employment, Labor and Pensions held a hearing entitled ``The Future of 
the NLRB: What Noel Canning vs. NLRB Means for Workers, Employers, and 
Unions''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
INFLUENZA: PERSPECTIVE ON CURRENT SEASON AND UPDATE ON PREPAREDNESS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled

[[Page D103]]

``Influenza: Perspective on Current Season and Update on 
Preparedness''. Testimony was heard from Thomas Frieden, MD, MPH, 
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of 
Health and Human Service; Jesse L. Goodman, MD, MPH, Chief Scientist, 
Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services; 
and Marcia Crosse, PhD, Director, Health Care, Government 
Accountability Office.
SATELLITE VIDEO 101
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Communications and 
Technology held a hearing entitled ``Satellite Video 101''. Testimony 
was heard from Eloise Gore, Associate Bureau Chief, Enforcement Bureau, 
Federal Communications Commission; and public witnesses
A LOOK AT THE FEDERAL HOUSING ADMINISTRATION'S 2012 ACTUARIAL REPORT
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Bailout, Bust, or Much Ado About Nothing?: A Look at the Federal 
Housing Administration's 2012 Actuarial Report''. Testimony was heard 
from Carol J. Galante, Commissioner and Assistant Secretary for 
Housing, Federal Housing Administration.
NEW PERSPECTIVE ON THREATS TO THE HOMELAND
Committee on Homeland Security: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``A New Perspective on Threats to the Homeland''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
U.S. DIRECT ASSISTANCE IN AFGHANISTAN: ENSURING TRANSPARENCY AND 
ACCOUNTABILITY
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National 
Security, hearing entitled ``U.S. Direct Assistance in Afghanistan: 
Ensuring Transparency and Accountability''. Testimony was heard from 
John F. Sopko, Special Inspector General, Afghanistan Reconstruction.
OVERSIGHT PLAN; AND STATUTORY PAY ADJUSTMENT FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 273, to 
eliminate the 2013 statutory pay adjustment for Federal employees; and 
Proposed Oversight Plan of the Committee on Rules for the 113th 
Congress. The Committee adopted the Oversight Plan of the Committee on 
Rules for the 113th Congress. The Committee granted, by a record vote 
of 7 to 4, a closed rule for H.R. 273. The rule provides one hour of 
debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority 
member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. 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 provides one 
motion to recommit. Section 2 provides that during any recess or 
adjournment of not more than three days, if in the opinion of the 
Speaker the public interest so warrants, then the Speaker or his 
designee, after consultation with the Minority Leader, may reconvene 
the House at a time other than that previously appointed, within the 
limits of clause 4, section 5, article I of the Constitution, and 
notify Members accordingly. Section 3 provides that it shall be in 
order at any time throughout the legislative day of February 15, 2013, 
for the Speaker to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules, 
as though under clause 1 of rule XV, relating to a measure condemning 
the government of North Korea and its February 12, 2013 test of a 
nuclear device. -Section 4 provides that on any legislative day during 
the period from February 16, 2013 through February 22, 2013 the Journal 
of the proceedings of the previous day shall be considered as approved 
and the Chair may at any time declare the House adjourned to meet at a 
date and time, within the limits of clause 4, section 5, article I of 
the Constitution. Section 5 provides that the Speaker may appoint 
Members to perform the duties of the Chair for the duration of the 
period addressed by section 4. Testimony was heard from Representatives 
DeSantis, Hoyer, Jackson Lee, Van Hollen, Bera, and Delegate Norton.
AMERICAN ENERGY OUTLOOK: TECHNOLOGY, MARKET, AND POLICY DRIVERS
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy 
held a hearing entitled ``American Energy Outlook: Technology, Market, 
and Policy Drivers''. Testimony was heard from Adam Sieminski, 
Administrator, Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy; 
and public witnesses.
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee, hearing entitled ``The 
State of the Small Business Economy''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
FEDERAL ROLE IN AMERICA'S INFRASTRUCTURE
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``The Federal Role in America's Infrastructure''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

[[Page D104]]


HONORING THE COMMITMENT: OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO QUALITY MENTAL HEALTH 
CARE FOR VETERANS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Honoring the Commitment: Overcoming Barriers to Quality Mental Health 
Care for Veterans''. Testimony was heard from Linda Spoonster Schwartz, 
Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs, State of Connecticut; Robert A. 
Petzel, M.D., Under Secretary for Health Veterans, Health 
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; and public witnesses.
BUSINESS MEETING
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee held a 
business meeting on Committee Organization and Rules. The Committee 
rules for the 113th Congress were adopted.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.


                    COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY,

                           FEBRUARY 14, 2013

        (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)


                                 Senate

  Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: organizational 
business meeting to consider committee rules, and an original 
resolution authorizing expenditures by the committee during the 
113th Congress; to be immediately followed by a hearing to examine 
drought, fire, and freeze, focusing on the economics of disasters 
for America's agricultural producers, 9:30 a.m., SR-328A.
  Committee on Appropriations: to hold hearings to examine the 
impacts of sequestration, 9:30 a.m., SH-216.
  Committee on Armed Services: to hold hearings to examine the 
nominations of General Lloyd J. Austin III, USA, for reappointment 
to the grade of general and to be Commander, United States Central 
Command, and General David M. Rodriguez, USA, for reappointment to 
the grade of general and to be Commander, United States Africa 
Command, both of the Department of Defense, 10 a.m., SD-G50.
  Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: to hold hearings 
to examine Wall Street reform, focusing on oversight of financial 
stability and consumer and investor protections, 10:30 a.m., SD-538.
  Committee on Environment and Public Works: organizational business 
meeting to consider committee rules, subcommittee assignments, and 
an original resolution authorizing expenditures by the committee 
during the 113th Congress, 10 a.m., SD-406.
  Committee on Finance: to hold hearings to examine health insurance 
exchanges, focusing on a progress report, 9:30 a.m., SD-215.
  Committee on the Judiciary: business meeting to consider the 
nominations of Caitlin Joan Halligan, of New York, to be United 
States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit, Patty 
Shwartz, of New Jersey, to be United States Circuit Judge for the 
Third Circuit, Pamela Ki Mai Chen, to be United States District 
Judge for the Eastern District of New York, Katherine Polk Failla, 
Analisa Torres, and Nelson Stephen Roman, all to be a United States 
District Judge for the Southern District of New York, Andrew Patrick 
Gordon, to be United States District Judge for the District of 
Nevada, Ketanji Brown Jackson, of Maryland, to be United States 
District Judge for the District of Columbia, Raymond P. Moore, to be 
United States District Judge for the District of Colorado, Troy L. 
Nunley, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District 
of California, Beverly Reid O'Connell, to be United States District 
Judge for the Central District of California, Derrick Kahala Watson, 
to be United States District Judge for the District of Hawaii, 
Shelly Deckert Dick, to be United States District Judge for the 
Middle District of Louisiana, William H. Orrick III, of the District 
of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the Northern 
District of California, Mark A. Barnett, of Virginia, and Claire R. 
Kelly, of New York, both to be a Judge of the United States Court of 
International Trade, and David Medine, of Maryland, to be Chairman 
and Member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, 10 
a.m., SD-226.
  Select Committee on Intelligence: to hold closed hearings to 
examine certain intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., SH-219.


                                 House

  Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water, 
hearing entitled ``National Nuclear Administration (NNSA), Weapons 
Activities Budget'', 10 a.m., 2362-B Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, 
hearing entitled ``Embassy Security'', 9:30 a.m., H-140 Capitol. 
This is a closed hearing.
  Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee, hearing entitled 
``Framework for Building Partnership Capacity Programs and 
Authorities to Meet 21st Century Challenges'', 10 a.m., 2118 
Rayburn.
  Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Early 
Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, hearing entitled 
``Raising the Bar: How Education Innovation Can Improve Student 
Achievement'', 10 a.m., 2261 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, hearing entitled 
``Sequestration: Examining Employers' WARN Act Responsibilities'', 
10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn.
  Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health, hearing 
entitled ``SGR: Data, Measures and Models; Building a Future 
Medicare Physician Payment System'', 10:15 a.m., 2123 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, hearing 
entitled ``Our Nation of Builders: Manufacturing in America'', 10 
a.m., 2322 Rayburn.
  Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee, meeting to adopt 
the Committee's Oversight Plan for the 113th Congress, 10 a.m., 2128 
Rayburn.
  Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee, hearing entitled 
``The Crisis in Mali: U.S. Interests and the International 
Response'', 10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn.

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  Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee, meeting to adopt the 
Judiciary Committee Oversight Plan for the 113th Congress, 9:30 
a.m., 2141 Rayburn.
  Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee, hearing entitled 
``The Past, Present and Future of the Federal Helium Program''; and 
H.R. 527, the ``Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship 
Act'', 10 a.m., 1324 Longworth.
  Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee, 
business meeting to approve the Committee Report entitled ``Billions 
of Federal Tax Dollars Wasted Annually by New York's Medicaid 
Program'', 10:15 a.m., 2154 Rayburn.
  Full Committee, hearing entitled ``Exploring GAO's High Risk List 
and Opportunities for Reform'', 10:30 a.m., 2154 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Health and Entitlements, hearing 
entitled ``The Effects of Rising Energy Costs on American Families 
and Employers'', 1 p.m., 2154 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Job Creation and Regulatory 
Affairs, hearing entitled ``Unintended Consequences: Is Government 
Effectively Addressing the Unemployment Crisis?'', 2 p.m., 2247 
Rayburn.
  Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on 
Environment, hearing entitled ``The State of Environment: Evaluating 
Progress and Priorities'', 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Research, hearing entitled ``Applications for 
Information Technology Research and Development'', 2 p.m., 2318 
Rayburn.
  Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic 
Opportunity, hearing entitled ``Post 9/11 GI Bill Claims Processing 
Issues'', 10 a.m., 334 Cannon.
  Committee on Ways and Means: Full Committee, business meeting on 
the Committee's Oversight Plan for the 113th Congress; and hearing 
entitled ``Tax Reform and Charitable Contributions'', 9:30 a.m., 
1100 Longworth.
  House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee, 
hearing entitled ``Advanced Cyber Threats Facing Our Nation'', 10 
a.m., HVC-210.