[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 107 (Wednesday, July 24, 2013)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D759-D761]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
FHA SOLVENCY ACT
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a 
hearing to examine the ``Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Solvency 
Act of 2013'', after receiving testimony from Carol Galante, Assistant 
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Housing, and Federal 
Housing Administration Commissioner.
NOMINATION
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded 
a hearing to examine the nomination of Mark E. Schaefer, of California, 
to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, after 
the nominee, who was introduced by Senator Nelson, testified and 
answered questions in his own behalf.
CRUISE INDUSTRY OVERSIGHT
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded 
a hearing to examine cruise industry oversight, focusing on the need 
for a stronger focus on consumer protection, after receiving testimony 
from Rear Admiral Joseph Servidio, Assistant Commandant for Prevention 
Policy, United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security; 
Ross A. Klein, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, 
Newfoundland, Canada; Mark Rosenker, Cruise Lines International 
Association, McLean, Virginia; and Gerald Cahill, Carnival Cruise 
Lines, and Adam M. Goldstein, Royal Caribbean International, both of 
Miami, Florida.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee announced the 
following subcommittee assignments:
Subcommittee on Energy: Senators Franken (Chair), Johnson (SD), 
Landrieu, Cantwell, Sanders, Stabenow, Udall (CO), Manchin, Heinrich, 
Baldwin, Risch, Heller, Flake, Alexander, Portman, and Hoeven.
Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining: Senators Manchin 
(Chair), Johnson (SD), Landrieu, Cantwell, Udall (CO), Franken, Schatz, 
Heinrich, Baldwin, Barrasso, Risch, Lee, Heller, Flake, Scott, 
Alexander, and Hoeven.
Subcommittee on National Parks: Senators Udall (CO) (Chair), Landrieu, 
Sanders, Stabenow, Schatz, Heinrich, Baldwin, Portman, Barrasso, Lee, 
Alexander, and Hoeven.

[[Page D760]]


Subcommittee on Water and Power: Senators Schatz (Chair), Johnson (SD), 
Cantwell, Sanders, Stabenow, Manchin, Franken, Lee, Barrasso, Risch, 
Heller, Flake, and Scott.
  Senators Wyden and Murkowski are ex officio members of each 
subcommittee.
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE AND INNOVATION ACT
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded an 
oversight hearing to examine implementation of Moving Ahead for 
Progress in the 21st Century's (MAP-21) ``Transportation Infrastructure 
Finance and Innovation Act'' (TIFIA) program enhancements, after 
receiving testimony from Anthony Foxx, Secretary of Transportation; 
James Bass, Texas Department of Transportation Chief Financial Officer, 
Austin; Geoffrey S. Yarema, Nossaman LLP, and Arthur T. Leahy, Los 
Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, both of Los 
Angeles, California; Jim Roberts, Granite Construction Inc., 
Watsonville, California, on behalf of The Associated General 
Contractors of America; and DJ Gribbin, Macquarie Capital, New York, 
New York.
ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Superfund, 
Toxics and Environmental Health concluded a hearing to examine cleaning 
up and restoring communities for economic revitalization, after 
receiving testimony from Mathy Stanislaus, Assistant Administrator, 
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Environmental Protection 
Agency; Debbie O'Malley, Bernalillo County Commissioner, Albuquerque, 
New Mexico; Kendra Kenyon, Idaho Council of Governments, Garden City; 
and Geoff Anderson, Smart Growth America, Washington, D.C.
HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine health 
information technology, focusing on using it to improve care, after 
receiving testimony from Janet M. Marchibroda, Bipartisan Policy 
Center, Washington, D.C.; John P. Glaser, Siemens Healthcare, Malvern, 
Pennsylvania; Marty Fattig, Nemaha County Hospital, Auburn, Nebraska; 
and Colin Banas, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, 
Richmond.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to 
examine the nominations of Linda Thomas-Greenfield, of Louisiana, to be 
Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, who was introduced by Senators 
Schumer and Nelson, James F. Entwistle, of Virginia, to be Ambassador 
to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Patricia Marie Haslach, of Oregon, 
to be Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, 
Stephanie Sanders Sullivan, of New York, to be Ambassador to the 
Republic of the Congo, Patrick Hubert Gaspard, of New York, to be 
Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa, who was introduced by 
Senator Schumer, and Reuben Earl Brigety, II, of Florida, to be 
Representative of the United States of America to the African Union, 
with the rank and status of Ambassador, all of the Department of State, 
after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own 
behalf.
REBALANCE TO ASIA
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific 
Affairs concluded a hearing to examine rebalance to Asia III, focusing 
on protecting the environment and ensuring food and water security in 
East Asia and the Pacific, after receiving testimony from Daniel A. 
Reifsnyder, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and 
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs; Gregory Beck, 
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia, U.S. Agency for International 
Development; Carter Roberts, World Wildlife Fund, Washington, D.C.; and 
Elizabeth C. Economy, Council on Foreign Relations, New York, New York.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee ordered 
favorably reported the nominations of Kent Yoshiho Hirozawa, of New 
York, and Nancy Jean Schiffer, of Maryland, both to be a Member of the 
National Labor Relations Board.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
the nominations of Cornelia T. L. Pillard, to be United States Circuit 
Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit, Landya B. McCafferty, to be 
United States District Judge for the District of New Hampshire, who was 
introduced by Senator Shaheen, Brian Morris, and Susan P. Watters, both 
to be a United States District Judge for the District of Montana, who 
were both introduced by Senator Baucus, and Jeffrey Alker Meyer, to be 
United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut, who was 
introduced by Senator Murphy, after the nominees testified and answered 
questions in their own behalf.
CLOSING GUANTANAMO
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil 
Rights and Human Rights concluded a hearing to examine closing 
Guantanamo, focusing on the national security, fiscal, and human rights

[[Page D761]]

implications, after receiving testimony from Representatives Adam Smith 
and Pompeo; Lieutenant Josh Fryday, United States Navy, Department of 
Defense; Major General Paul D. Eaton, USA (Ret.), Fox Island, 
Washington; Brigadier General Stephen N. Xenakis, USA (Ret.), 
Arlington, Virginia; and Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., Center for Security 
Policy, and Elisa Massimino, Human Rights First, both of Washington, 
D.C.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee concluded a hearing to 
examine the nominations of Ann Miller Ravel, of California, and Lee E. 
Goodman, of Virginia, both to be a Member of the Federal Election 
Commission, after the nominees testified and answered questions in 
their own behalf.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee ordered favorably 
reported the following business items:
  S. 375, to require Senate candidates to file designations, 
statements, and reports in electronic form; and
  The nomination of Davita Vance-Cooks, of Virginia, to be Public 
Printer, Government Printing Office.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship: Committee concluded a 
hearing to examine implementation of the ``Affordable Care Act'', 
focusing on understanding small business concerns, after receiving 
testimony from J. Mark Iwry, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the 
Treasury, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Retirement and Health 
Policy; Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Deputy Director, Policy and Regulation, 
Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human 
Services; Meredith K. Olafson, Small Business Administration; Nancy 
Clark, Glen Group, Inc., North Conway, New Hampshire; Jim Houser, 
Hawthorne Auto Clinic, Portland, Oregon; Lawrence K. Katz, Dots Diner, 
Metairie, Louisiana; Jamal Lee, Breasia Studios, Laurel, Maryland; 
Kevin Settles, Bardenay Restaurant and Distillery, Boise, Idaho, on 
behalf of the National Restaurant Association; and William J. Dennis, 
Jr., National Federation of Independent Business, Washington, D.C.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported 
the following business items:
  S. 944, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require courses of 
education provided by public institutions of higher education that are 
approved for purposes of the All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance 
Program and Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to charge veterans tuition 
and fees at the in-State tuition rate, with an amendment in the nature 
of a substitute;
  S. 893, to provide for an increase, effective December 1, 2013, in 
the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected 
disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for 
the survivors of certain disabled veterans;
  S. 572, to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the 
conditions under which certain persons may be treated as adjudicated 
mentally incompetent for certain purposes;
  S. 373, to amend titles 10, 32, 37, and 38 of the United States Code, 
to add a definition of spouse for purposes of military personnel 
policies and military and veteran benefits that recognizes new State 
definitions of spouse, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
  S. 287, to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the 
definition of homeless veteran for purposes of benefits under the laws 
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, with an amendment in 
the nature of a substitute;
  S. 131, to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the 
reproductive assistance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs 
to severely wounded, ill, or injured veterans and their spouses, with 
an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
  S. 6, to reauthorize the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, to provide 
assistance to small businesses owned by veterans, to improve 
enforcement of employment and reemployment rights of members of the 
uniformed services, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; 
and
  S. 851, to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend to all 
veterans with a serious service-connected injury eligibility to 
participate in the family caregiver services program.


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

  
  On page D761, July 24, 2013, the following language appears: 
BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee ordered 
favorably reported the following business items: S. 944, to amend 
title 38, United States Code, to require courses of education 
provided by public institutions of higher education that are 
approved for purposes of the All-Volunteer Force Educational 
Assistance Program and Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to charge 
veterans tuition and fees at the in-State tuition rate, with an 
amendment; * * * S. 373, to amend titles 10, 32, 37, and 38 of the 
United States Code, to add a definition of spouse for purposes of 
military personnel policies and military and veteran benefits that 
recognizes new State definitions of spouse; S. 287, to amend title 
38, United States Code, to expand the definition of homeless 
veteran for purposes of benefits under the laws administered by 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, with an amendment; S. 131, to 
amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the reproductive 
assistance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
severely wounded, ill, or injured veterans and their spouses; S. 
6, to reauthorize the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, to provide 
assistance to small businesses owned by veterans, to improve 
enforcement of employment and reemployment rights of members of 
the uniformed services, with amendments; and S. 851, to amend 
title 38, United States Code, to extend to all veterans with a 
serious service-connected injury eligibility to participate in the 
family caregiver services program.
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: BUSINESS MEETING 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee ordered favorably 
reported the following business items: S. 944, to amend title 38, 
United States Code, to require courses of education provided by 
public institutions of higher education that are approved for 
purposes of the All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program 
and Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to charge veterans tuition 
and fees at the in-State tuition rate, with an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute; * * *S. 373, to amend titles 10, 32, 37, 
and 38 of the United States Code, to add a definition of spouse 
for purposes of military personnel policies and military and 
veteran benefits that recognizes new State definitions of spouse, 
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 287, to amend 
title 38, United States Code, to expand the definition of homeless 
veteran for purposes of benefits under the laws administered by 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, with an amendment in the nature 
of a substitute; S. 131, to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
improve the reproductive assistance provided by the Department of 
Veterans Affairs to severely wounded, ill, or injured veterans and 
their spouses, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 
6, to reauthorize the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, to provide 
assistance to small businesses owned by veterans, to improve 
enforcement of employment and reemployment rights of members of 
the uniformed services, with an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute; and S. 851, to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
extend to all veterans with a serious service-connected injury 
eligibility to participate in the family caregiver services 
program.


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

PAYDAY LOANS
Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
payday loans, after receiving testimony from David M. Silberman, 
Associate Director for Research, Markets, and Regulation, Consumer 
Financial Protection Bureau; Mark Pearce, Director, Division of 
Depositor and Consumer Protection, Federal Deposit Insurance 
Corporation; Eric E. Wright, Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit 
Protection, Augusta; Rebecca Borne, Center for Responsible Lending, and 
Richard Hunt, Consumer Bankers Association, both of Washington, D.C.; 
W. Dennis Shaul, Community Financial Services Association of America, 
Alexandria, Virginia; and Annette Smith, Rocklin, California.