[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 20, 2014)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D531-D533]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, 
FDA and Related Agencies held a markup on the Agriculture, Rural 
Development, FDA and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill FY 2015. The bill 
was ordered reported to the Full Committee, without amendment.
PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL OF ADVISORS ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (PCAST) REPORT ON 
DRUG INNOVATION
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``21st Century Cures: The President's Council of Advisors on 
Science and Technology (PCAST) Report on Drug Innovation''. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Communications and 
Technology held a hearing entitled ``Oversight of the Federal Communications 
Commission''. Testimony was heard from Tom Wheeler, Chairman, Federal 
Communications Commission.
FSOC'S DESIGNATION PROCESS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE U.S. FINANCIAL SYSTEM
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Examining the Dangers of the FSOC's Designation Process and Its Impact on 
the U.S. Financial System''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS TO REFORM DOMESTIC INSURANCE POLICY
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance held 
a hearing entitled ``Legislative Proposals to Reform Domestic Insurance 
Policy''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
FUTURE OF U.S.-MEXICO RELATIONS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``The 
Future of U.S.-Mexico Relations''. Testimony was heard from Roberta S. 
Jacobson, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, 
Department of State; William R. Brownfield, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of 
International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Department of State; 
and Elizabeth Hogan, Acting Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Latin 
American and the Caribbean, U.S. Agency for International Development.
AL-QAEDA IN AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN: AN ENDURING THREAT
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, 
and Trade held a hearing entitled ``Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan: An 
Enduring Threat''. Testimony was heard from Michael A. Sheehan, 
Distinguished Chair, Combating Terrorism Center, United States Military 
Academy, West Point; and public witnesses.
RESOURCING THE PIVOT TO ASIA: EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC FY 2015 BUDGET 
PRIORITIES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific held a 
hearing entitled ``Resourcing the Pivot to Asia: East Asia and Pacific FY 
2015 Budget Priorities''. Testimony was heard from Daniel R. Russel, 
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of 
State; and Denise Rollins, Acting Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Asia, 
U.S. Agency for International Development.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security 
held a markup on H.R. 3203, the ``Essential Transportation Worker 
Identification Credential Assessment Act''; H.R. 3488, to establish the 
conditions under which the Secretary of Homeland Security may establish 
preclearance facilities, conduct preclearance operations, and provide 
customs services outside the

[[Page D532]]

United States, and for other purposes; and H.R. 3846, the ``United States 
Customs and Border Protection Authorization Act''. The bills were forwarded, 
as amended, to the Full Committee.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Public Lands and 
Environmental Regulation held a hearing on the following legislation: H.R. 
1776, the ``Clear Creek National Recreation Area and Conservation Act''; 
H.R. 2175, the ``World War II Memorial Prayer Act of 2013''; H.R. 2489, the 
``Oregon Caves Revitalization Act of 2013''; H.R. 3806, the ``Great Smoky 
Mountains National Park Agreement Act of 2013''; H.R. 4094, the ``Ashland 
Breakwater Light Transfer Act''; and H.R. 4272, the ``Forest Access in Rural 
Communities Act''. Testimony was heard from Senator Allard; Representatives 
Farr; Meadows; and Johnson (OH); Heath Schuler; Lenise Lago, Deputy Chief of 
Business Operations, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; Carl 
Roundtree, National Landscape Conservation System and Community 
Partnerships, Bureau of Land Management, Department of Interior; Bruce 
Sheaffer, Comptroller, National Park Service, Department of Interior; and a 
public witness.
AMERICAN ENERGY JOBS: OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMERICAN MANUFACTURING
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources 
held a hearing entitled ``American Energy Jobs: Opportunities for American 
Manufacturing''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
OIL AND GAS ACTIVITIES WITHIN OUR NATION'S NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans 
and Insular Affairs held a hearing entitled ``Oil and Gas Activities Within 
Our Nation's National Wildlife Refuge System''. Testimony was heard from 
Steve Guertin, Assistant Director, Fish and Wildlife Service; Kip Knudson, 
Director of State and Federal Relations, State of Alaska.
EXAMINING THE FEDERAL RESPONSE TO AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government 
Operations held a hearing entitled ``Examining the Federal Response to 
Autism Spectrum Disorders''. Testimony was heard from Thomas R. Insel, M.D., 
Director, National Institute of Mental Health; Michael K. Yudin, Acting 
Assistant Secretary, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services, Department of Education; Marcia Crosse, Director, Health Care, 
Government Accountability Office.
MEDICARE MISMANAGEMENT: OVERSIGHT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EFFORT TO 
RECAPTURE MISSPENT FUNDS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Energy Policy, 
Health Care and Entitlements held a hearing entitled ``Medicare 
Mismanagement: Oversight of the Federal Government Effort to Recapture 
Misspent Funds''. Testimony was heard from Shantanu Agrawal, M.D., Deputy 
Administrator and Director, Center for Program Integrity, CMS; Kathleen 
King, Director, Health Care, Government Accountability Office; and Brian P. 
Ritchie, Assistant Inspector General for Audit Services, Office of Inspector 
General, Health and Human Services.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015; AND USA FREEDOM ACT
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H.R. 4435, the 
``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015'' (amendment 
consideration); and H.R. 3361, the ``USA FREEDOM Act''. The Committee 
granted, by voice vote a structured rule providing for further consideration 
of H.R. 4435. The rule provides no additional general debate. The rule makes 
in order only those further amendments printed in part A of the Rules 
Committee report and amendments en bloc described in section 3 of the rule. 
The rule provides that the amendments printed in part A of the report 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 part A of the report or against amendments en bloc as described in 
section 3 of the rule.
  In section 3, the rule provides that it shall be in order at any time for 
the chair of the Committee on Armed Services or his designee to offer 
amendments en bloc consisting of amendments printed in part A of the report 
not earlier disposed of. Amendments en bloc shall be considered as read, 
shall be debatable for 20 minutes equally divided and controlled by the 
chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Armed Services or 
their designees, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject 
to a demand for division of the question. The rule provides one motion to 
recommit with or without instructions.
  The rule also provides a closed rule for H.R. 3361. The rule provides one 
hour of debate with 40 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chair 
and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary and 20 minutes 
equally divided and

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controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Permanent Select 
Committee on Intelligence. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of the bill. The bill provides that the amendment in the 
nature of a substitute printed in part B of the report shall be considered 
as adopted and the bill, as amended, shall be considered as read. The rule 
waives all points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended. The 
rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.
  In section 6, the rule provides that the Committee on Appropriations may, 
at any time before 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, file privileged reports 
to accompany measures making appropriations for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2015.
  Testimony was heard from Representatives Coffman; Franks; Fleming; 
Bridenstine; Langevin, Hanabusa; Speier; Castro; Duckworth; Gabbard; 
McGovern; Young (AK); Rohrabacher; Jones (NC); Pitts; King; Jenkins; Lummis; 
Thompson (PA); Amash; Denham; Ellmers; Huizenga; Mulvaney; Collins (NY); 
Jackson Lee; Lofgren; Lee; Larson (CT); Schiff; Lynch; Bishop (NY); Cleaver; 
Welch, Nolan; Keating, Cardenas; Gohmert; and Chairman Goodlatte.
NANOTECHNOLOGY: FROM LABORATORIES TO COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Research and 
Technology held a hearing entitled ``Nanotechnology: From Laboratories to 
Commercial Products''. Testimony was heard from Timothy Person, Chief 
Scientist, Government Accountability Office; Lloyd Whitman, Interim 
Director, National Nanotechnology Coordination Office; Deputy Director, 
Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, National Institute of Standards 
and Technology; and public witnesses.
REVIEW OF THE PIPELINE SAFETY, REGULATORY CERTAINTY, AND JOB CREATION ACT OF 
2011
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Railroads, 
Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials held a hearing entitled ``A Review of the 
Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011''. 
Testimony was heard from Cynthia L. Quarterman, Administrator, Pipeline and 
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration; and public witnesses.
EXPLORING JOBS FOR VETERANS IN THE ENERGY SECTOR
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held a 
hearing entitled ``Exploring Jobs for Veterans in the Energy Sector''. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on 
current hospital issues in the Medicare program, with an emphasis on the 
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) two-midnights policy, short 
inpatient stays, outpatient observation stays, auditing and appeals. 
Testimony was heard from Sean Cavanaugh, Deputy Administrator and Director, 
Center of Medicare, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Jodi 
Nudelman, Regional Inspector General for Evaluation and Inspections, NY 
Region, Office of the Inspector General, Department of Health and Human 
Services; and public witnesses.
Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.
F