[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 20, 2013)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D254-D257]
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 the following measures: H.R. 634, the ``Business Risk 
Mitigation and Price Stabilization Act of 2013''; H.R. 677, the 
``Inter-Affiliate Swap Clarification Act''; H.R. 742, the ``Swap Data 
Repository and Clearinghouse Indemnification Correction Act of 2013''; 
H.R. 992, the ``Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act''; H.R. 1003, to 
improve consideration by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission of 
the costs and benefits of its regulations and orders; H.R. 1038, the 
``Public Power Risk Management Act of 2013''; and H.R. 1256 to direct 
the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures 
Trading Commission to jointly adopt rules setting forth the application 
to cross-border swaps transactions of certain provisions relating to 
swaps that were enacted as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform 
and Consumer Protection Act. The following bills were ordered reported, 
without amendment: H.R. 634; H.R. 742; H.R. 1003; H.R. 1038; H.R. 1256; 
and H.R. 992. The following bill was ordered reported, as amended: H.R. 
677.
APPROPRIATIONS--CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH OVERSIGHT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education held a hearing on Children's Mental Health 
Oversight. Testimony was heard from Pamela Hyde, Administrator, 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Department 
of Health and Human Services; and Deb Delisle, Assistant Secretary, 
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL GUARD AND U.S. ARMY RESERVE OVERSIGHT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on 
National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve Oversight. Testimony was heard 
from General Frank J. Grass, Chief, National Guard Bureau; Lieutenant 
General William E. Ingram, Jr., Director, Army National Guard; 
Lieutenant General Stanley E. ``Sid'' Clarke III, Director, Air 
National Guard; and Lieutenant General Jeffrey W. Talley, Chief, U.S. 
Army Reserve; National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve Oversight.
APPROPRIATIONS--CYBERSECURITY AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing on Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure. Testimony was 
heard from Rand Beers, Under Secretary, National Protection and 
Programs Directorate; and Suzanne Spaulding, Deputy Under Secretary, 
National Protection and Programs Directorate.
APPROPRIATIONS--MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 
OVERSIGHT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development held a hearing on Major Construction Projects of the 
Department of Energy Oversight. Testimony was heard from Bob Raines, 
Associate Administrator for Acquisition and Project Management, 
National Nuclear Security Administration; Jack Surash, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Acquisition and Project Management, Office of 
Environmental Management, Department of Energy; Paul Bosco, Director, 
Office of Acquisition and Project Management, Department of Energy; 
Dave Trimble, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, Government 
Accountability Office; Mike Ferguson, Chief of Cost Engineering, 
Huntington District, Army Corps of Engineers; and William A. Eckroade, 
Principal Deputy Chief, Office of Health, Safety and Security, 
Department of Energy.
APPROPRIATIONS--JUDICIARY OVERSIGHT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a hearing on Judiciary Oversight. Testimony was 
heard from Julia S. Gibbons, Chair, Committee on the Budget of the 
Judicial Conference of the United States; and Thomas F. Hogan, Director 
of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

[[Page D255]]


APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and 
Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing on National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration Budget. Testimony was heard from Charles F. 
Bolden, Jr., Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration.
U.S. NORTHERN COMMAND AND U.S. SOUTHERN COMMAND
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing on the 
Posture of the U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Southern Command. 
Testimony was heard from General Charles H. Jacoby, Jr., USA, 
Commander, U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense 
Command; and General John F. Kelly, USMC, Commander, U.S. Southern 
Command.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Full Committee held a markup 
on H.R. 1120, the ``Preventing Greater Uncertainly in Labor-Management 
Relations Act''. The bill was ordered reported, as amended.
HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Health Information Technologies: How Innovation Benefits 
Patients''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
STATE OF COMMUNITY BANKING IN THE CURRENT REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial Institutions 
and Consumer Credit held a hearing entitled ``State of Community 
Banking: Is the Current Regulatory Environment Adversely Affecting 
Community Financial Institutions?''. Testimony was heard from the 
following Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: Richard Brown, Chief 
Economist and Associate Director, Division of Insurance and Research; 
Doreen Eberley, Director, Division of Risk Management Supervision; Bret 
Edwards, Director, Division of Resolutions and Receiverships; Jon T. 
Rymer, Inspector General; and Lawrance L. Evans, Jr., Director, 
Financial Markets and Community Investment, Government Accountability 
Office.
CRISIS IN SYRIA: THE U.S. RESPONSE
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Crisis in Syria: The U.S. Response''. Testimony was heard from Robert 
S. Ford American Ambassador to Syria; Anne C. Richard, Assistant 
Secretary Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration, Department of 
State; and Nancy E. Lindborg, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for 
Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance; United States Agency 
for International Development.
HEZBOLLAH'S STRATEGIC SHIFT: A GLOBAL TERRORIST THREAT
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Terrorism, 
Nonproliferation, and Trade held a hearing on ``Hezbollah's Strategic 
Shift: A Global Terrorist Threat''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
MEASURING OUTCOMES TO UNDERSTAND THE STATE OF BORDER SECURITY
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Border and Maritime 
Security held a hearing entitled ``Measuring Outcomes to Understand the 
State of Border Security. Testimony was heard from Michael J. Fisher, 
Chief, Border Patrol, Department of Homeland Security; Kevin McAleenan, 
Acting Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations; Customs and 
Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security; Mark Borkowski, 
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Technology Innovation and 
Acquisition, Customs and Border Protection; and Veronica Escobar, 
Judge, El Paso County, Texas.
CYBER THREATS FROM CHINA, RUSSIA AND IRAN: PROTECTING AMERICAN CRITICAL 
INFRASTRUCTURE
Commmittee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, 
Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technology held a hearing 
entitled ``Cyber Threats from China, Russia and Iran: Protecting 
American Critical Infrastructure''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, 
Commercial and Antitrust Law began a markup on H.R. 367, the 
``Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2013''; and 
H.R. 982, the ``Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency (FACT) Act of 
2012''. The Committee ordered reported, without amendment H.R. 367. The 
Committee did not complete action on H.R. 982.
THE REGISTER'S CALL FOR UPDATES TO U.S. COPYRIGHT LAW
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual 
Property and the Internet held a hearing entitled ``The Register's Call 
for Updates to U.S. Copyright Law''. Testimony was heard from Maria 
Pallante, Register of Copyright, U.S. Copyright Office.

[[Page D256]]


LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
527, the ``Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act''; 
H.R. 254, the ``Bonneville Unit Clean Hydropower Facilitation Act''; 
H.R. 291, the ``Black Hills Cemetery Act''; H.R. 507, the ``Pascua 
Yaqui Tribe Trust Land Act; H.R. 588, the ``Vietnam Veterans Donor 
Acknowledgment Act of 2013''; H.R. 678, the ``Bureau of Reclamation 
Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act''; 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; H.R. 1033, 
the ``American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act of 2013''; 
and H.R. 1159, the ``Cabin Fee Act of 2013''. The following bills were 
ordered reported, without amendment: H.R. 254; H.R. 291; H.R. 507; H.R. 
588; H.R. 678; H.R. 716; and H.R. 1033. The following bills were 
ordered reported, as amended: H.R. 527; and H.R. 1159.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  March 20, 2013, on page D256, the following appeared: a hearing 
on H.R. 527, the ``Responsible Helium
  
  The online version should be corrected to read: a markup on H.R. 
527, the ``Responsible Helium


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 

BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a 
business meeting to consider the following: H.R. 1232, the ``Federal 
Information Technology Acquisition and Reform Act''; H.R. 1211, the 
``FOIA Oversight and Implementation Act of 2013''; H.R. 1163, the 
``Federal Information Security Amendments Act of 2013''; H.R. 1162, the 
``Government Accountability Office Improvement Act''; H.R. 1233, the 
``Presidential and Federal Records Act Amendments of 2013''; H.R. 1234, 
the ``Electronic Message Preservation Act''; H.R. 328, the ``Excess 
Federal Building and Property Disposal Act of 2013''; H.R. 1133, the 
``Presidential Library Donation Reform Act''; H.R. 1104, the ``Federal 
Advisory Committee Reform Act''; H.R. 249, the ``Federal Employee Tax 
Accountability Act of 2013''; H.R. 882, the ``Contracting and Tax 
Accountability Act of 2013''; H.R. 313, the ``Government Spending 
Accountability Act of 2013''; and H.R. 1246, the ``DC CFO Vacancy 
Act.'' The following bills were ordered reported, without amendment: 
H.R. 249; H.R. 882; H.R. 328; H.R. 1163; H.R. 1232; H.R. 1162; H.R. 
1133; H.R. 1104; and H.R. 1246. The following bills were ordered 
reported, as amended: H.R. 313; H.R. 1211; H.R. 1233; and H.R. 1234.
IMPROVING EPA'S SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY PROCESSES
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on 
Environment held a hearing entitled ``Improving EPA's Scientific 
Advisory Processes.'' Testimony was heard from Michael Honeycutt, Chief 
Toxicologist, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; Roger 
McClellan, Advisor, Toxicology and Human Health Risk Analysis; and a 
public witness.
EXAMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NIST LABORATORIES
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Technology 
held a hearing entitled ``Examining the Effectiveness of NIST 
Laboratories''. Testimony was heard from Willie E. May, Associate 
Director for Laboratory Programs, National Institute of Standards and 
Technology; and a public witness.
INEFFICIENCIES AND DUPLICATION ACROSS FEDERAL PROGRAMS
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Entrepreneurial Assistance: Examining Inefficiencies and Duplication 
Across Federal Programs.'' Testimony was heard from William Shear, 
Director, Financial Markets and Community Investments, Government 
Accountability Office; Michael A. Chodos, Associate Administrator for 
Entrepreneurial Development, Office of Entrepreneurial Development, 
Small Business Administration; and Doug O'Brien, Deputy Under Secretary 
for Rural Development, Department of Agriculture.
EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND WORKLOAD MANAGEMENT TO IMPROVE DISABILITY CLAIMS 
PROCESSING
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Focusing on People: A Review of VA's Plans for Employee Training, 
Accountability, and Workload Management to Improve Disability Claims 
Processing.'' Testimony was heard from Allison Hickey, Under Secretary 
for Benefits, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs; and Diana Rubens, Deputy Under Secretary for Field Operations, 
Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
CHALLENGES OF ACHIEVING FAIR AND CONSISTENT DISABILITY DECISIONS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security held a 
hearing entitled ``Challenges of Achieving Fair and Consistent 
Disability Decisions.'' Testimony was heard from Patrick P. O'Carroll, 
Jr., Inspector General, Social Security Administration; and Arthur R. 
Spencer, Associate Commissioner, Office of Disability Programs, Social 
Security Administration; and public witnesses.
FINANCIAL PRODUCTS TAX REFORM
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures 
held a hearing entitled ``Financial Products Tax Reform.'' Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.

[[Page D257]]



Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.