[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 31, 2013)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D807-D810]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Appropriations:  Full Committee began a markup on Interior 
and Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, FY 2014.
WAR ON POVERTY: A PROGRESS REPORT
Committee on the Budget: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``The 
War on Poverty: A Progress Report''. Testimony was heard from Eloise 
Anderson, Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families; and 
public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
2810, the ``Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act of 
2013''; and H.R. 2844, the ``Federal Communications Commission 
Consolidated Reporting Act of 2013''. The following bills were ordered 
reported, as amended: H.R. 2810; and H.R. 2844.
OVERSIGHT OF DOE'S STRATEGY FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL OF USED 
NUCLEAR FUEL AND HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and the 
Economy held a hearing entitled ``Oversight of DOE's Strategy for the 
Management and Disposal of Used Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive 
Waste''. Testimony was heard from Ernest Moniz, Secretary, Department 
of Energy.
IRAN-SYRIA NEXUS AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE REGION
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East and North 
Africa held a hearing entitled ``The Iran-Syria Nexus and Its 
Implications for the Region''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
TSA INTEGRITY CHALLENGES: EXAMINING MISCONDUCT BY AIRPORT SECURITY 
PERSONNEL
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Management Efficiency and Subcommittee on Transportation Security held 
a joint hearing entitled ``TSA Integrity Challenges: Examining 
Misconduct by Airport Security Personnel''.

[[Page D808]]

 Testimony was heard from John Halinski, Deputy Administrator, 
Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland 
Security; Stephen M. Lord, Director, Forensic Audits and Investigative 
Services, Government Accountability Office; and Deborah Outten-Mills, 
Acting Assistant Inspector General for Inspections, Office of the 
Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 1123, 
the ``Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act''; H.R. 
2542, the ``Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2013''; H.R. 
2641, the ``Responsibly and Professionally Invigorating Development Act 
of 2013''; and H.R. 2655, the ``Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2013''. 
The following bill was ordered reported, as amended: H.R. 1123. The 
following bill was ordered reported, without amendment: H.R. 2542.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
255, to amend certain definitions contained in the Provo River Project 
Transfer Act for purposes of clarifying certain property descriptions, 
and for other purposes; H.R. 553, to designate the exclusive economic 
zone of the United States as the ``Ronald Wilson Reagan Exclusive 
Economic Zone of the United States''; H.R. 623, the ``Alaska Native 
Tribal Health Consortium Land Transfer Act''; H.R. 908, the ``Green 
Mountain Lookout Heritage Protection Act''; H.R. 930, the ``New 
Philadelphia, Illinois, Study Act''; H.R. 1168, to direct the Secretary 
of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Land Management, to 
convey to the City of Carlin, Nevada, in exchange for consideration, 
all right, title, and interest of the United States, to any Federal 
land within that city that is under the jurisdiction of that agency, 
and for other purposes; H.R. 1170, to direct the Secretary of the 
Interior, acting through the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau 
of Reclamation, to convey, by quitclaim deed, to the City of Fernley, 
Nevada, all right, title, and interest of the United States, to any 
Federal land within that city that is under the jurisdiction of either 
of those agencies; H.R. 1526, the ``Restoring Healthy Forests for 
Healthy Communities Act''; H.R. 1684, the ``Ranch A Consolidation and 
Management Improvement Act''; H.R. 1818, the ``Polar Bear Conservation 
and Fairness Act of 2013''; H.R. 1963, the ``Bureau of Reclamation 
Conduit Hydropower Development Equity and Jobs Act''; H.R. 2388, to 
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to take certain Federal lands 
located in El Dorado County, California, into trust for the benefit of 
the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, and for other purposes; H.R. 
2463, the ``Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act'': 
H.R. 2650, the ``Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Non-
Intercourse Act of 2013''; H.R. 2728, the ``Protecting States' Rights 
to Promote American Energy Security Act''. The following bills were 
ordered reported as amended: H.R. 623; H.R. 930; H.R. 1168; H.R. 1170; 
H.R. 1526; H.R. 1963; H.R. 2388; and H.R. 2728. The following bills 
were ordered reported without amendment: H.R. 255; H.R. 553; H.R. 908; 
H.R. 1684; H.R. 1818; H.R. 2463; and H.R. 2650.
OVERSIGHT OF THE IRS'S LEGAL BASIS FOR EXPANDING OBAMACARE'S TAXES AND 
SUBSIDIES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Energy 
Policy, Health Care and Entitlements held a hearing entitled 
``Oversight of the IRS's Legal Basis for Expanding ObamaCare's Taxes 
and Subsidies''. Testimony was heard from Scott Pruitt, Attorney 
General, State of Oklahoma; Emily S. McMahon, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Tax Policy, Department of the Treasury; and public 
witnesses.
REGULATIONS FROM THE EXECUTIVE IN NEED OF SCRUTINY ACT OF 2013; KEEP 
THE IRS OFF YOUR HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2013; AND STOP GOVERNMENT ABUSE ACT
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 367, the 
``Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2013''; 
H.R. 2009, the ``Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013''; and 
H.R. 2879, the ``Stop Government Abuse Act''. The Committee granted by 
record vote of 9-3, a structured rule for H.R. 367. The rule provides 
one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair 
and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary. 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 the 
amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on 
the Judiciary now printed in the bill modified by the amendment printed 
in part A of the Rules Committee report and provides that it shall be 
considered as read. The rule waives all points of order against that 
amendment in the nature of a substitute. The rule makes in order only 
those further amendments printed in Part B of the 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, 
shall not be subject to amendment, and shall

[[Page D809]]

not be subject to a demand for division of the question. The rule 
waives all points of order against the amendments printed in Part B of 
the report. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions. In section 2, the rule provides a closed rule for H.R. 
2009. The rule provides one hour of debate equally divided and 
controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
Ways and Means. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of the bill and provides that it shall be considered as 
read. The rule waives all points of order against provisions in the 
bill. The rule provides one motion to recommit. In section 3, the rule 
provides that H. Res. 292 is laid on the table. In section 4, the rule 
provides that on any legislative day during the period from August 3, 
2013, through September 6, 2013: the Journal of the proceedings of the 
previous day shall be considered as approved; the Chair may at any time 
declare the House adjourned to meet at a date and time to be announced 
by the Chair in declaring the adjournment; and bills and resolutions 
introduced shall be numbered, listed in the Congressional Record, and 
when printed shall bear the date of introduction, but may be referred 
at a later time. In section 5, the rule provides that the Speaker may 
appoint Members to perform the duties of the Chair for the duration of 
the period addressed by section 4 of the resolution. In section 6, the 
rule provides that each day during the period addressed by section 4 of 
the resolution shall not constitute a calendar day for purposes of 
section 7 of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1546). In section 7, 
the rule provides that each day during the period addressed by section 
4 of the resolution shall not constitute a legislative day for purposes 
of clause 7 of rule XIII resolutions of inquiry), In section 8, the 
rule provides a closed rule for H.R. 2879. 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 
and provides that it shall be considered as read. The rule waives all 
points of order against provisions in the bill. The rule provides one 
motion to recommit. In section 9, the rule provides that upon passage 
of H.R. 2879, the following bills are laid on the table: H.R. 1541, 
H.R. 2579, and H.R. 2711. Testimony was heard from Chairman Goodlatte, 
Chairman lssa and Representatives Smith of Missouri, Scalise, Price of 
Georgia, Conyers, Jackson Lee, Johnson of Georgia and McDermott.
FRONTIERS OF HUMAN BRAIN RESEARCH
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Research 
and Technology held a hearing entitled ``The Frontiers of Human Brain 
Research''. Testimony was heard from Dr. Story Landis, Director of 
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National 
Institutes of Health; Master Sergeant Joseph Deslauriers Jr., U.S. Air 
Force; and a public witness.
HOW TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY, SAFETY, AND SECURITY OF MARITIME 
TRANSPORTATION: BETTER USE AND INTEGRATION OF MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS 
DATA
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime held a hearing entitled ``How to Improve the 
Efficiency, Safety, and Security of Maritime Transportation: Better Use 
and Integration of Maritime Domain Awareness Data''. Testimony was 
heard from Rear Admiral Mark E. Butt, Assistant Commandant for 
Capability, United States Coast Guard; Stephen Caldwell, Director, 
Homeland Security and Justice, Government Accountability Office; and 
public witnesses.
IMPROVING THE SAFETY NET: BETTER COORDINATING TODAY'S MAZE OF PROGRAMS 
TO ENSURE FAMILIES RECEIVE REAL HELP
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a 
hearing entitled ``Improving the Safety Net: Better Coordinating 
Today's Maze of Programs to Ensure Families Receive Real Help''. 
Testimony was heard from Eloise Anderson, Secretary, Wisconsin 
Department of Children and Families; Clarence Carter, Director, Arizona 
Department of Economic Security; Michelle Saddler, Secretary, Illinois 
Department of Human Services; and Larry Woods, Chief Executive Officer, 
House Authority of Winston-Salem.

Joint Meetings
TAX REFORM
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine how 
tax reform can boost economic growth, focusing on lessons from Reagan, 
after receiving testimony from Jane G. Gravelle, Senior Specialist in 
Economic Policy, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; 
former Virginia Governor James S. Gilmore III, Free Congress 
Foundation, Alexandria, Virginia; Laura D'Andrea Tyson, University of 
California Haas School of Business, Berkeley; and Kevin A. Hassett, 
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, Washington, 
DC.

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN CENTRAL ASIA
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded 
a hearing to examine implications for economic development in Central 
Asia, focusing on if the government can create the necessary conditions 
for more trade and exchange, including infrastructure development, 
efficient customs regimes and reliable transportation networks, after 
receiving testimony from Danica Starks, Senior Desk Officer for Russia, 
Caucasus and Central Asia, Department of Commerce; and Craig 
Steffenson, Asian Development Bank, Eric Stewart, U.S.-Turkmen Business 
Council, and Joshua Kucera, all of Washington, DC.