[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 102 (Wednesday, July 17, 2013)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D716-D718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Appropriations:  Full Committee held a markup on the 
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill 
for FY 2014; and Financial Services and General Government 
Appropriations Bill for FY 2014. The Committee ordered reported, 
without amendment, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Bill for FY 2014. The Committee ordered reported, as 
amended, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations 
Bill for FY 2014.
SECURITY SITUATION IN THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC--IMPLICATIONS FOR U.S. 
NATIONAL SECURITY AND U.S. POLICY OPTIONS
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Security Situation in the Syrian Arab Republic--Implications for 
U.S. National Security and U.S. Policy Options''. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Full Committee concluded markup on 
H.R. 1582, the ``Energy Consumers Relief Act 2013''; H.R. 1900, the 
``Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act''; H.R. 83, a bill to 
require the Secretary of the Interior to develop an action plan to 
address the energy needs of the insular areas of the United States and 
the Freely Associated States; H.R. 2094, the ``School Access to 
Emergency Epinephrine Act''; H.R. 698, the ``HIV Organ Policy Equity 
Act''; and H.R. 2052, the ``Global Investment in American Jobs Act of 
2013''. The following bills were ordered reported as amended: H.R. 
1582; H.R. 1900; and H.R. 2052. The following bills were ordered 
reported without amendment: H.R. 83; H.R. 2094; and H.R. 698.
MONETARY POLICY AND THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Monetary Policy and the State of the Economy''. Testimony was heard 
from Ben Bernanke, Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve 
System.
STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVES ON TSA ACQUISITION REFORM
Committee on Homeland Security:  Subcommittee on Transportation 
Security held a hearing entitled ``Stakeholder Perspectives on TSA 
Acquisition Reform''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
EVALUATING PRIVACY, SECURITY, AND FRAUD CONCERNS WITH OBAMACARE'S 
INFORMATION SHARING APPARATUS
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, 
Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies; and the Committee 
on Oversight and Government Reform's Subcommittee on Energy Policy, 
Health Care and Entitlements held a hearing entitled ``Evaluating 
Privacy, Security, and Fraud Concerns with ObamaCare's Information 
Sharing Apparatus''. Testimony was heard from Alan R. Duncan, Assistant 
Inspector General for Security and Information Technology Services, 
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; Terence V. 
Milholland, Chief Technology Officer, Internal Revenue Service; Danny 
Werfel, Principal Deputy Commissioner, Internal Revenue Service; 
Marilyn B. Tavenner, Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services, Department of Health and Human Services; Henry Chao, Deputy 
Chief Information Officer, Deputy Director of the Office of Information 
Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of 
Health and Human Services; and John Dicken, Director, Health Care, 
Government Accountability Office.
COLLECTIONS STEWARDSHIP AT THE SMITHSONIAN
Committee on House Administration: Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``Collections Stewardship at the Smithsonian''. Testimony was 
heard from G. Wayne Clough, Secretary, Smithsonian Institution; Scott 
Miller, Deputy Undersecretary for Collections and Interdisciplinary 
Support, Smithsonian Institution; and Scott Dahl, Inspector General, 
Smithsonian Institution.
OVERSIGHT OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S USE OF FISA AUTHORITIES
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Oversight of the Administration's use of FISA Authorities''. 
Testimony was heard from James Cole, Department of Justice; John C. 
Inglis, National Security Agency; Robert S. Litt, Office of Director of 
National Intelligence, Stephanie Douglas, Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, National Security Branch; and a public witness.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Constitution and Civil 
Justice held a markup on H.R. 2655, the ``Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act 
of 2013''. The bill was forwarded, without amendment.

[[Page D717]]


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OPERATIONS, MANAGEMENT, AND RULEMAKINGS
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Department of the Interior Operations, Management, and 
Rulemakings''. Testimony was heard from Sally Jewell, Secretary, 
Department of the Interior.
NATIONAL BLUEWAYS ORDER
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power held a 
hearing entitled ``A Washington, DC-based Bureaucratic Invention with 
Potential Water Conservation and Property Rights Impacts: The National 
Blueways Order''. Testimony was heard from Rebecca Wodder, Senior 
Advisor to the Secretary, Department of the Interior; Robert Griffin, 
Judge, Independence County, Arkansas; and public witnesses.
WHY SHOULD AMERICANS HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE LAWS OF FOREIGN NATIONS?
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, 
Oceans and Insular Affairs held a hearing entitled ``Why should 
Americans have to comply with the laws of foreign nations?''. Testimony 
was heard from Kristina Alexander, Legislative Attorney, American Law 
Division, Congressional Research Service; and public witnesses.
BORDER SECURITY OVERSIGHT, PART III: EXAMINING ASYLUM REQUESTS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National 
Security held a hearing entitled ``Border Security Oversight, Part III: 
Examining Asylum Requests''. Testimony was heard from Joseph E. 
Langlois, Associate Director, Refugee, Asylum, and International 
Operations, Citizenship and Immigration Services.
A PATH FORWARD ON POSTAL REFORM
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``A Path Forward on Postal Reform''. Testimony was 
heard from Representative Smith (NE); Patrick Donahoe, Postmaster 
General and CEO, United States Postal Service; and public witnesses.
STUDENT SUCCESS ACT
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 5, the 
``Student Success Act''. The Committee granted, by record vote of 8-4, 
a structured rule for H.R. 5. The rule provides one hour of general 
debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority 
member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. The rule waives 
all points of order against consideration of the bill. The rule makes 
in order as original text for the purpose of amendment an amendment in 
the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee 
Print 113-18 and provides that it shall be considered as read. The rule 
waives all points of order against the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute. The rule makes in order only those further amendments 
printed in the Rules Committee report. Each such amendment may be 
offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by 
a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall 
be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and 
controlled by the proponent and an opponent, may be withdrawn by its 
proponent at any time before action thereon, shall not be subject to 
amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the 
question. The rule waives all points of order against the amendments 
printed in the report. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or 
without instructions. Testimony was heard from Chairman Kline (MN), and 
Representatives George Miller (CA), Salmon, Thompson (PA), Brooks (IN), 
Polis, Young (AK), Garrett, Scalise, Fitzpatrick, Duncan (SC), Gibson, 
Mullin, Jackson Lee, Cardenas, Hanabusa, and Esty.
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AND SMALL BUSINESSES: ENSURING FAIR TREATMENT
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Internal Revenue Service and Small Businesses: Ensuring Fair 
Treatment''. Testimony was heard from Daniel I. Werfel, Principal 
Deputy Commissioner, Internal Revenue Service.
CAUSES OF DELAYS TO THE FAA'S NEXTGEN PROGRAM
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation held a hearing entitled ``Causes of Delays to the FAA's 
NextGen Program''. Testimony was heard from Michael P. Huerta, 
Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration; and Calvin L. Scovel 
III, Inspector General, Department of Transportation.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing on the 
following: H.R. 813, the ``Putting Veterans Funding First Act of 
2013''; H.R. 806, to amend title 38, United States Code, to make 
permanent the requirement for annual reports on Comptroller General 
reviews of the accuracy of Department of Veterans Affairs medical 
budget submissions, and for other purposes; and a draft discussion bill 
to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct

[[Page D718]]

the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a Future-Years 
Veterans Program and a quadrennial veterans review, to establish in the 
Department of Veterans Affairs a Chief Strategy Officer, and for other 
purposes. Testimony was heard from Robert D. Snyder, Acting Assistant 
Secretary for the Office of Policy and Planning, Department of Veterans 
Affairs; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance 
and Memorial Affairs held a markup on H.R. 2086, the ``Pay As You Rate 
Act''; H.R. 2189, to establish a commission or task force to evaluate 
the backlog of disability claims of the Department of Veterans Affairs; 
and H.R. 2423, the ``Disabled Veterans' Access to Medical Exams 
Improvement Act''. The following bills were forwarded, as amended: H.R. 
2086; H.R. 2189; and H.R. 2423.
DELAY OF THE EMPLOYER MANDATE PENALTIES AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on 
the Obama Administration's recent decision to delay the information 
reporting requirements and penalties associated with the employer 
mandate in the Affordable Care Act until 2015. Testimony was heard from 
J. Mark Iwry, Senior Advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Retirement and Health Policy, Department of the Treasury.
WHAT REALLY WORKS: EVALUATING CURRENT EFFORTS TO HELP FAMILIES SUPPORT 
THEIR CHILDREN AND ESCAPE POVERTY
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a 
hearing entitled ``What Really Works: Evaluating Current Efforts to 
Help Families Support their Children and Escape Poverty''. Testimony 
was heard from Kristen Cox, Executive Director, Utah Governor's Office 
of Management and Budget; and public witnesses.
ONGOING INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee held a 
hearing entitled ``Ongoing Intelligence Activities''. This was a closed 
hearing.

Joint Meetings
AUTHORITARIANISM IN AZERBAIJAN
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: On Tuesday, July 16, 
2013, Commission received a briefing on growing authoritarianism in 
Azerbaijan, focusing on current events in Azerbaijan and the prospect 
for a free and fair election, after receiving testimony from Thomas 
Melia, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights 
and Labor; Elin Suleymanov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to 
the United States, and Miriam Lanskoy, National Endowment for 
Democracy, both of Washington, D.C.; and Erkin Gadirli, Republican 
Alternative, Samad Seyidov, National Assembly of Azerbaijan, and Eldar 
Namavoz, National Council of Democratic Forces of Azerbaijan, all of 
Baku, Azerbaijan.