[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 166 (Wednesday, November 20, 2013)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1120-D1121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
U.S.-CHINA ECONOMIC AND SECURITY REVIEW COMMISSION
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing on the 2013 
Report to Congress of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review 
Commission. Testimony was heard from Carolyn Bartholomew, Commissioner, 
U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission; William A. Reinsch, 
Chairman, U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission; Dennis C. 
Shea, Vice Chairman, U.S.-China Economic and Security Review 
Commission; and Larry M. Wortzel, Commissioner, U.S.-China Economic and 
Security Review Commission. ,
MILITARY RESALE PROGRAMS OVERVIEW
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a 
hearing entitled ``Military Resale Programs Overview''. Testimony was 
heard from Rosemary Freitas Williams, Deputy Assistant Secretary of 
Defense for Military Community and Family Policy, Department of 
Defense; and public witnesses.
REDEFINING COMPANION CARE: JEOPARDIZING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CARE FOR 
SENIORS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Workforce 
Protections held a hearing entitled ``Redefining Companion Care: 
Jeopardizing Access to Affordable Care for Seniors and Individuals with 
Disabilities''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power 
concluded a markup on H.R. 3301, the ``North American Energy 
Infrastructure Act''. The bill was forwarded, without amendment.
EXAMINING PUBLIC HEALTH LEGISLATION TO HELP LOCAL COMMUNITIES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Examining Public Health Legislation to Help Local 
Communities''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee began a markup on H.R. 
2385, the ``CFPB Pay Fairness Act of 2013''; H.R. 2446, the 
``Responsible Consumer Financial Protection Regulations Act of 2013''; 
H.R. 2571, the ``Consumer Right to Financial Privacy Act of 2013''; 
H.R. 3183, to provide consumers with a free annual disclosure of 
information the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection maintains on 
them; H.R. 3193, the ``Consumer Financial Protection Safety and 
Soundness Improvement Act of 2013''; and H.R. 3519, the ``Bureau of 
Consumer Financial Protection Accountability and Transparency Act of 
2013''.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a markup on H. Res. 
147, calling for the release of United States citizen Saeed Abedini and 
condemning the Government of Iran for its persecution of religious 
minorities; H. Res. 402, supporting the European aspirations of the 
peoples of the European Union's Eastern Partnership countries, and for 
other purposes; H. Res. 404, expressing condolences and support for 
assistance to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan which made landfall in the 
Republic of the Philippines on November 8, 2013; H.R. 1992, the 
``Israel Qualitative Military Edge Enhancement Act''; H.R. 3470, the 
``Naval Vessel Transfer and Arms Export Control Amendments Act of 
2013''; and H.R. 3509, the ``Assessing Progress in Haiti Act of

[[Page D1121]]

2013''. The following bills and resolutions were ordered reported, as 
amended: H. Res. 147; H. Res. 402; H. Res. 404; H.R. 1992; H.R. 3470; 
and H.R. 3509.
TERRORIST GROUPS IN SYRIA
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Terrorism, 
Nonproliferation, and Trade held a hearing entitled ``Terrorist Groups 
in Syria''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
BANGLADESH IN TURMOIL: NATION ON THE BRINK
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific held 
a hearing entitled ``Bangladesh in Turmoil: A Nation on the Brink?''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTING IN 2012; AND MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on House Administration: Full Committee held a hearing 
entitled ``Military and Overseas Voting in 2012''; and markup on a 
resolution regarding the House Academic Competition. Testimony was 
heard from Ross Miller, Secretary of State, Nevada; and Matt Boehmer, 
Director Federal Voting Assistance Program. The Committee resolution on 
the House Academic Competition was considered and adopted.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 3309, 
the ``Innovation Act''. The bill was ordered reported, as amended.
ABUSE OF OVERTIME AT DHS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National 
Security held a hearing entitled ``Abuse of Overtime at DHS: Padding 
Paychecks and Pension at Taxpayer Expense''. Testimony was heard from 
John Florence, Branch Chief, Use of Force Policy Division, Field 
Operations Academy, Customs and Border Protection; Carolyn N. Lerner, 
Special Counsel, Office of Special Counsel; Catherine V. Emerson, Chief 
Human Capital Officer, Department of Homeland Security; Ronald 
Vitiello, Deputy Chief, Office of Border Patrol, Customs and Border 
Protection; and a public witness.
COMMERCIAL SPACE
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Space held 
a hearing entitled ``Commercial Space''. Testimony was heard from 
Representative McCarthy (CA); and public witnesses.
STARTUP MOVEMENT
Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``The Startup Movement''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 
3521, the ``Department of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease 
Authorization Act of 2013''. The bill was ordered reported, without 
amendment.
BUILDING VA'S FUTURE
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Building VA's Future: Confronting Persistent Challenges in VA Major 
Construction and Lease Programs''. Testimony was heard from Linda 
Halliday, Assistant Inspector General for Audits and Evaluations, 
Office of the Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs; Lloyd 
Caldwell, Director of Military Programs, Army Corps of Engineers; Glenn 
D. Haggstrom, Principal Executive Director, Office of Acquisitions, 
Logistics and Construction, Department of Veterans Affairs; and public 
witnesses.

Joint Meetings
WATER RESOURCES REFORM AND DEVELOPMENT ACT
Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate and House 
passed versions of H.R. 3080, to provide for improvements to the rivers 
and harbors of the United States, to provide for the conservation and 
development of water and related resources, but did not complete action 
thereon, and recessed subject to the call.