[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 37 (Thursday, March 14, 2013)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D220-D223]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
EXAMINING LEGISLATIVE IMPROVEMENTS TO TITLE VII OF THE DODD-FRANK ACT
Committee on Agriculture: Full Committee held a hearing on Examining 
Legislative Improvements to Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act. Testimony 
was heard from Gary Gensler, Chairman, Commodity Futures Trading 
Commission; and public witnesses.
APPROPRIATIONS--STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS OUTSIDE 
AND PUBLIC WITNESSES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, 
and Related Programs held a hearing for Public and Outside Witnesses. 
Testimony was heard from public and outside witnesses.
APPROPRIATIONS--USDA FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Testimony was heard from 
Audrey Rowe, Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service, Department of 
Agriculture.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FY 2014 BUDGET APPLIED ENERGY 
FUNDING
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development held a hearing on Department of Energy FY 2014 Budget 
Applied Energy Funding. Testimony was heard from Pete Lyons, Assistant 
Secretary for Nuclear Energy, Department of Energy; and Christopher 
Smith, Acting Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, Department of 
Energy.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OVERSIGHT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing on the Department of 
Justice Oversight. Testimony was heard from Michael E. Horowitz, 
Inspector General, Department of Justice.
APPROPRIATIONS--SUPREME COURT OVERSIGHT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a hearing on Supreme Court of the United States 
Oversight. Testimony was heard from Anthony Kennedy, Associate Justice 
of the Supreme Court of the United States; and Stephen Breyer, 
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
APPROPRIATIONS--MANAGEMENT ISSUES AT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND 
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing 
and Urban Development held a hearing on Management Issues at Department 
of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development. Testimony was 
heard from Calvin Scovel III, Inspector General, Department of 
Transportation; David Montoya, Inspector General, Department of Housing 
and Urban Development; Mathew Scire, Director, Financial Markets and 
Community Investment, Government Accountability Office; and Phillip 
Herr, Managing Director, Physical Infrastructure, Government 
Accountability Office.
APPROPRIATIONS--SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION'S MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES 
IN A FISCALLY CONSTRAINED ENVIRONMENT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education held a hearing on Social Security 
Administration's Management Challenges in a Fiscally Constrained 
Environment. Testimony was heard from Carolyn Colvin, Acting 
Commissioner, Social Security Administration.

[[Page D221]]


APPROPRIATIONS--IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT OVERSIGHT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing on Immigration Enforcement Oversight. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of Immigration and Custom Enforcement: Daniel 
H. Ragsdale, Deputy Director; Gary Mead, Executive Associate Director, 
Enforcement and Removal Operations; and John Morton, Director.
BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness held a hearing 
entitled ``Is Base Realignment and Closure Appropriate at this Time?''. 
Testimony was heard from John Conger, Acting Deputy Director of Defense 
for Installations and Environment, Department of Defense; Kathleen 
Ferguson, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Installations, 
Environment and Logistics, Department of Defense; Katherine Hammack, 
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations, Energy, and the 
Environment), Department of Defense; and Roger Natsuhara, Acting 
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Energy, Installations and Environment, 
Department of Defense.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on the Budget: Full Committee held a markup on the Concurrent 
Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2014. The Resolution was 
ordered reported, as amended.
LOWER-SKILLED GUEST WORKER PROGRAMS IN TODAY'S ECONOMY
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Workforce 
Protections held a hearing entitled ``Examining the Role of Lower-
Skilled Guest Worker Programs in Today's Economy''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
CHEMICAL FACILITIES ANTI-TERRORISM STANDARDS PROGRAM: A PROGRESS UPDATE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and the 
Economy held a hearing entitled ``The Chemical Facilities Anti-
terrorism Standards Program: A Progress Update''. Testimony was heard 
from Rand Beers, Under Secretary, National Protection and Programs 
Directorate, Department of Homeland Security; David Wulf, Director, 
Infrastructure Security Compliance Division, Department of Homeland 
Security; Stephen L. Caldwell, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, 
Government Accountability Office; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT OF THE FIRST RESPONDER NETWORK AUTHORITY (FIRSTNET) AND 
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Communications and 
Technology held a hearing entitled ``Oversight of the First Responder 
Network Authority (FirstNet) and Emergency Communications''. Testimony 
was heard from Sam Ginn, Chairman, First Responder Network Authority; 
Ray Lehr, Director, Statewide Communications Interoperability Program, 
Maryland Department of Information Technology; Chris McIntosh, 
Statewide Interoperability Coordinator, Office of Veterans Affairs and 
Homeland Security, Office of the Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia; 
David Turetsky, Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, 
Federal Communications Commission; and public witnesses.
GAO'S ASSESSMENT OF THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OVERSIGHT COUNCIL AND THE 
OFFICE OF FINANCIAL RESEARCH
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Who is Too Big to Fail? GAO's 
Assessment of the Financial Stability Oversight Council and the Office 
of Financial Research''. Testimony was heard from Richard Berner, 
Director, Office of Financial Research, Department of the Treasury; 
Amias Gerety, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Financial Stability Oversight 
Council, Department of the Treasury; and A. Nicole Clowers, Director, 
Financial Markets and Community Investment, Government Accountability 
Office.
U.S. ENERGY SECURITY: ENHANCING PARTNERSHIPS WITH MEXICO AND CANADA
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere 
held a hearing entitled ``U.S. Energy Security: Enhancing Partnerships 
with Mexico and Canada''. Testimony was heard from Representative 
Terry; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on House Administration: Full Committee held a markup on H. 
Res. 115, the Omnibus Committee Funding Resolution; and hearing on 
Committee Resolution for Franked Mail Allowances for Certain 
Committees; and Disposition of Election Contest in the 28th District of 
Texas. H. Res. 115 was ordered reported, without amendment; Committee 
Resolution 113-5 was agreed to without amendment; and the disposition 
of the contested election in the 28th Congressional District of Texas 
was agreed to.

[[Page D222]]


TSA'S EFFORTS TO ADVANCE RISK-BASED SECURITY
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Transportation Security 
held a hearing entitled ``TSA's Efforts to Advance Risk-Based 
Security''. Testimony was heard from John S. Pistole, Administrator, 
Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland 
Security.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 1067, 
to enact title 36, United States Code, ``Patriotic and National 
Observances, Ceremonies, and Organizations'', as positive law; H.R. 
1068, to enact title 54, United States Code, ``National Park System'', 
as positive law; H.R. 258, the ``Stolen Valor Act of 2013''; and, H.R. 
1073, the ``Nuclear Terrorism Conventions Implementation and Safety of 
Maritime Navigation Act of 2013''. The following bills were ordered 
reported, without amendment: H.R. 1067; H.R. 1068; H.R. 1073; and H.R. 
258.
ABUSIVE PATENT LITIGATION: THE IMPACT ON AMERICAN INNOVATION AND JOBS, 
AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual 
Property, and the Internet held a hearing entitled ``Abusive Patent 
Litigation: The Impact on American Innovation and Jobs, and Potential 
Solutions''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
SEPARATION OF NUCLEAR FAMILIES UNDER U.S. IMMIGRATION LAW
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Border 
Security held a hearing entitled ``The Separation of Nuclear Families 
under U.S. Immigration Law''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses. The Subcommittee adopted favorably the following items: 
Rules of Procedure and Statement of Policy for Private Immigration 
Bills; Rules of Procedure for Private Claims Bills; and Statement of 
Policy on Federal Charters.
AMERICA'S ONSHORE ENERGY RESOURCES: CREATING JOBS, SECURING AMERICA, 
AND LOWERING PRICES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 
Resources held a hearing entitled ``America's Onshore Energy Resources: 
Creating Jobs, Securing America, and Lowering Prices''. Testimony was 
heard from Michael McKee, County Commissioner, Uintah County, Utah; and 
public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Public Lands and 
Environment Regulation held a hearing on H.R. 588, the ``Vietnam 
Veterans Donor Acknowledgment Act of 2013''; H.R. 716, to direct the 
Secretary of the Interior to convey certain Federal land to the city of 
Vancouver, Washington, and for other purposes; and H.R. 819, the 
``Preserving Access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational 
Area Act''. Testimony was heard from Representatives Herrera Beutler, 
Jones, and Young (AK); and Herbert C. Frost, Associate Director, 
Natural Resource Stewardship and Science, National Park Service, 
Department of the Interior; Warren Judge, Board of Commissioners, Dare 
Count, North Carolina; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a 
markup on H.R. 756, the ``Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2013''; and 
H.R. 967, the ``Advancing America's Networking and Information 
Technology Research and Development Act of 2013''. The following bills 
were ordered reported, as amended: H.R. 756 and H.R. 967.
TOP CHALLENGES FOR SCIENCE AGENCIES
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Oversight 
held a hearing entitled ``Top Challenges For Science Agencies: Reports 
from the Inspectors General--Part 2''. Testimony was heard from Gregory 
H. Friedman, Inspector General, Department of Energy, Office of 
Inspector General; Arthur A. Elkins, Jr., Inspector General, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Inspector General; Mary L. 
Kendall, Deputy Inspector General, Department of the Interior, Office 
of Inspector General.
REGULATING THE REGULATOR--REDUCING BURDENS ON SMALL BUSINESS
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight 
and Regulations held a hearing entitled ``Regulating the Regulators-
Reducing Burdens on Small Business''. Testimony was heard from Winslow 
Sargeant, Chief Counsel for Advocacy, Small Business Administration; 
and public witnesses.
IMPLEMENTING MAP-21: PROGRESS REPORT FROM DOT MODAL ADMINISTRATORS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Highways and Transit held a hearing entitled ``Implementing MAP-21: 
Progress Report from DOT Modal Administrators''. Testimony was

[[Page D223]]

heard from Victor M. Mendez, Administrator, Federal Highway 
Administration; Peter M. Rogoff, Administrator, Federal Transit 
Administration; Anne S. Ferro, Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Administration; and David L. Strickland, Administrator, National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
LOWERING THE RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT FOR THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 
held a hearing entitled ``Lowering the Rate of Unemployment for the 
National Guard and Reserve: Are We Making Progress?''. Testimony was 
heard from MG Terry M. Haston, Adjutant General, Tennessee National 
Guard; Maj Ty Shepard, Director, California National Guard Employment 
Initiative; Ronald G. Young, Director, Family and Employer Program and 
Policy, Department of Defense; and public witnesses.
EXAMINING PATIENT WAIT TIMES AT VA
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Waiting for Care: Examining 
Patient Wait Times at VA''. Testimony was heard from William 
Schoenhard, FACHE, Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and 
Management Veterans Health Administration. Department of Veterans 
Affairs; and a public witness.
FINANCING CHALLENGES FACING THE SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE 
PROGRAM
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee Social Security held a 
hearing entitled ``Financing Challenges Facing the Social Security 
Disability Insurance Program''. Testimony was heard from Joyce M. 
Manchester, Chief, Long-Term Analysis Unit, Health, Retirement, and 
Long-Term Analysis Division Congressional Budget Office.
BUSINESS MEETING
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee held a 
business meeting on Member Access request. This was a closed meeting.
ONGOING INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee held 
hearing entitled ``Ongoing Intelligence Activities''. This was a closed 
hearing.

Joint Meetings
FEDERAL DEBT CRISIS
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
solving the Federal debt crisis, after receiving testimony from former 
Senator Judd Gregg; Douglas Holtz-Eakin, American Action Forum, and 
Alice M. Rivlin, Brookings Institution, both of Washington, D.C.; and 
Simon Johnson, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of 
Management, Cambridge.