[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 29, 2014)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D432-D435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Committee Meetings
CURRENT RESEARCH AND APPLICATION OF MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO CONTROL
PESTS AND DISEASES OF POLLINATORS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Horticulture, Research,
Biotechnology, Foreign Agriculture held a hearing to review current
research and application of management strategies to control pests and
diseases of pollinators. Testimony was heard from Jeff Pettis, Research
Leader, Department of Agriculture--Agricultural Research Service; and
public witnesses.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY FY 2015 BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and
General Government held a hearing on Department of Treasury FY 2015
Budget. Testimony was heard from Jack Lew, Secretary, Department of
Treasury.
APPROPRIATIONS--CYBERSECURITY FY 2015 BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a
hearing on Cybersecurity FY 2015 Budget. This was a closed hearing.
APPROPRIATIONS--UNITED STATES ASSISTANCE IN AFRICA FY 2015 BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations,
and Related Programs held a hearing on United States Assistance in
Africa FY 2015 Budget. Testimony was heard from Linda Thomas-
Greenfield, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, Department
of State; Earl Gast, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Africa, U.S.
Agency for International Development; and a public witness.
REVIEWING THE PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2015 BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Full Committee held a hearing
entitled ``Reviewing the President's Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Proposal
for the Department of Education''. Testimony was heard from Arne
Duncan, Secretary, Department of Education.
CHEMICALS IN COMMERCE ACT
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and the
Economy held a hearing entitled ``The Chemicals in Commerce Act''.
Testimony was heard from Jim Jones, Assistant Administrator, Office of
Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention,
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Environmental Protection Agency; and public witnesses.
EXAMINING THE GROWING PROBLEMS OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND HEROIN ABUSE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Examining the Growing Problems
of Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse''. Testimony was heard from
Joseph T. Rannazzisi, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of
Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Agency, Department of Justice;
Michael Botticelli, Acting Director, Office of National Drug Control
Policy, Executive Office of the President; Daniel M. Sosin, Acting
Director, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention; Nora D. Volkow, M.D., Director,
National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health; and H.
Westley Clark, M.D., Director, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment,
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Full Committee began a markup on H.R.
2689, the ``Energy Savings Through Public-Private Partnerships Act'';
H.R. 4092, the ``Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act of
2014''; and H.R. 6, the ``Domestic Property and Global Freedom Act''.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION--AGENDA, OPERATIONS, AND FY 2015
BUDGET REQUEST
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled
``Oversight of the SEC's Agenda, Operations, and FY 2015 Budget
Request''. Testimony was heard from Mary Jo White, Chairman, Securities
and Exchange Commission.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations held a meeting to consider a resolution authorizing the
issuance of subpoenas. The subpoena resolution agreed to, as amended.
ADMINISTRATION'S FY 2015 MENA BUDGET REQUEST: PRIORITIES, OBJECTIVES
AND CHALLENGES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East and North
Africa held a hearing entitled ``The Administration's FY 2015 MENA
Budget Request: Priorities, Objectives and Challenges''. Testimony was
heard from Anne W. Patterson, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Near
Eastern Affairs, Department of State; and Alina L. Romanowski, Deputy
Assistant Administrator, Bureau for the Middle East, U.S. Agency for
International Development.
U.S.-RUSSIA NUCLEAR ARMS NEGOTIATIONS: UKRAINE AND BEYOND
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Terrorism,
Nonproliferation, and Trade; and Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and
Emerging Threats, held a joint subcommittee hearing entitled ``U.S.-
Russia Nuclear Arms Negotiations: Ukraine and Beyond''. Testimony was
heard from Anita E. Friedt, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Nuclear and Strategic Policy, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification, and
Compliance, Department of State; and Brent Hartley, Deputy Assistant
Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Department of
State.
EFFECTIVE ACCOUNTABILITY: TIER RANKINGS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN
TRAFFICKING
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health,
Global Human Rights, and International Organizations held a hearing
entitled ``Effective Accountability: Tier Rankings in the Fight Against
Human Trafficking''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
STAKEHOLDER ASSESSMENTS OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS
GRANT PROGRAM PROPOSAL
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness,
Response, and Communications held a hearing entitled ``Stakeholder
Assessments of the Administration's National Preparedness Grant Program
Proposal''. Testimony was heard from Steven M. Fulop, Mayor, Jersey
City, New Jersey; Troy Riggs, Director, Department of Public Safety,
City of Indianapolis; and public witnesses.
ORIGINAL MEANING OF THE ORIGINATION CLAUSE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Constitution and Civil
Justice held a hearing entitled ``The Original Meaning of the
Origination Clause''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURE
Committee on the Judiciary:
=========================== NOTE ===========================
April 29, 2014, on page D433, the following appeared: Committee
on the judiciary:
The online version should be corrected to read: Committee on the
Judiciary:
========================= END NOTE =========================
Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law held a
hearing on H.R. 1129, the ``Mobile Workforce State Income Tax
Simplification Act of 2013''. Testimony was heard from public
witnesses.
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AMERICAN ENERGY JOBS: OPPORTUNITIES FOR SKILLED TRADES WORKERS
Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a hearing entitled
``American Energy Jobs: Opportunities for Skilled Trades Workers''.
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFICE OF INSULAR AFFAIRS' SPENDING AND THE
PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2015 BUDGET REQUEST FOR THE OFFICE; AND
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife,
Oceans and Insular Affairs held a hearing entitled ``The Department of
the Interior Office of Insular Affairs' spending and the President's
Fiscal Year 2015 budget request for the Office''; and H.R. 4296, to
amend Public Law 94-241 with respect to the Northern Mariana Islands;
and H.R. 4402, the ``Guam Military Training and Readiness Act of
2014''. Testimony was heard from Thomas Bussanich, Director of Budget,
Office of Insular Affairs, Department of Interior; Megan J. Uzzell,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Policy, Department of Labor; David G. Gulick, District Director--
District 26, Hawaii, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands,
Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security;
James Kurth, Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System, Fish and Wildlife
Service, Department of Interior; Joseph Ludovici, Director Joint Guam
Program Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Energy,
Installations and Environment, Department of Navy.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Public Lands and
Environmental Regulations held a hearing on H.R. 3687, the ``Military
LAND Act''; and H.R. 4458, the ``Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake
Security Enhancement Act''. Testimony was heard from Representative
McCarthy (CA); Stephanie Toothman, Associate Director, Cultural
Resources, Partnerships and Science, National Park Service, Department
of Interior; Maureen Sullivan, Director of Environmental Management,
Office of the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense, Installations and
Environment, Department of Defense; Roger Natsuhara, Acting Assistant
Secretary to the Navy, Energy, Installations and Environment, United
States Navy; Karen Mouritsen, Deputy Assistant Director, Energy,
Minerals and Realty Management, Bureau of Land Management, Department
of Interior; and a public witness.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RELATED AGENCIES
APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2015; AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT,
2015
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 4486, the
``Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2015''; and H.R. 4487, the ``Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act, 2015''. The Committee granted, by voice vote, an
open rule for H.R. 4486. The rule provides one hour of general debate
equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member
of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule waives all points of order
against consideration of the bill. The rule waives points of order
against provisions in the bill for failure to comply with clause 2 of
rule XXI. The rule provides that the bill shall be considered for
amendment under the five-minute rule. The rule authorizes the Chair to
accord priority in recognition to Members who have pre-printed their
amendments in the Congressional Record. The rule provides one motion to
recommit with or without instructions. In section 2, the rule provides
a structured rule for H.R. 4487. The rule provides one hour of general
debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority
member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule waives all points
of order against consideration of the bill and provides that the bill
shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points of order
against provisions in the bill for failure to comply with clause 2 of
rule XXI. The rule makes in order only those amendments to H.R. 4487
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, 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. In section 3, the rule provides that pending the
adoption of a concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2015,
the amounts provided for current law mandatory budget authority and
outlays contained in the statement of the Chair of the Committee on the
Budget of the House of Representatives in the Congressional Record
dated April 29, 2014, shall be considered for all purposes in the House
to be allocations to the Committee on Appropriations under section
302(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. In section 4, the rule
provides that during
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consideration of H.R. 4486 and H.R. 4487 pursuant to this resolution,
the suballocations printed in House Report 113-425 shall be considered
for all purposes in the House to be suballocations under section302(b)
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Testimony was heard from
Representatives Culberson, Bishop (GA), Cole, Lowey, Moran, and Gosar.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Full Committee held a
markup on H.R. 4412, the ``National Aeronautics and Space
Administration Authorization Act of 2014''. The bill was ordered
reported, as amended.
REVIEW OF RECENT UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS CHIEF'S REPORTS
AND POST AUTHORIZATION CHANGE REPORTS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water
Resources and Environment held a hearing entitled ``A Review of Recent
United States Army Corps of Engineers Chief's Reports and Post
Authorization Change Reports''. Testimony was heard from Major General
John Peabody, Deputy Commanding General, Civil and Emergency
Operations, United States Army Corps of Engineers.
CONFRONTING TRANSNATIONAL DRUG SMUGGLING: AN ASSESSMENT OF REGIONAL
PARTNERSHIPS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast
Guard and Maritime; and Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on
Western Hemisphere, joint hearing entitled ``Confronting Transnational
Drug Smuggling: An Assessment of Regional Partnerships''. Testimony was
heard from Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr., Commandant, United States Coast
Guard; General John F. Kelly, Commander, United States Southern
Command; and Luis E. Arreaga, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State,
Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Ways and Means: Full committee held a markup on the
following legislation: H.R. 4058, to prevent and address sex
trafficking of youth in foster care; H.R. 4429, to amend the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the subpart F exemption for
active financing income; H.R. 4438, to amend the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 to simplify and make permanent the research credit; H.R. 4453,
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the
reduced recognition period for built-in gains of S corporations; H.R.
4454, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent
certain rules regarding basis adjustments to stock of S corporations
making charitable contributions of property; H.R. 4457, to amend the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend increased expensing
limitations, and for other purposes; and H.R. 4464, to amend the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the look-through
treatment of payments between related controlled foreign corporations.
Testimony was heard from Matt Weidinger, Staff Director, Subcommittee
on Human Resources, Committee on Ways and Means; and Thomas Barthold,
Staff Director, Joint Committee on Taxation. The following bills were
ordered reported, as amended: H.R. 4058; H.R. 4429; H.R. 4438; H.R.
4453; H.R. 4454; H.R. 4457; and H.R. 4464.
Joint Meetings
No joint committee meetings were held.