[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 120 (Tuesday, July 29, 2014)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D875-D878]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
COORDINATING FUTURE INVESTMENTS IN BROADBAND
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Livestock, Rural Development, 
and Credit held a hearing on coordinating future investments in 
broadband. Testimony was heard from John Padalino, Administrator, Rural 
Utilities Service, Department of Agriculture; and public witnesses.
SECURITY SITUATION IN IRAQ AND SYRIA: U.S. POLICY OPTIONS AND 
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE REGION
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Security Situation in Iraq and Syria: U.S. Policy Options and 
Implications for the Region''. Testimony was heard from Duncan Hunter, 
Former Chairman, House Armed Services Committee; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a markup on H. Res. 
644, condemning and disapproving of the Obama administration's failure 
to comply with the lawful statutory requirement to notify Congress 
before releasing individuals detained at United States Naval Station, 
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and expressing national security concerns over 
the release of five Taliban leaders and the repercussions of 
negotiating with terrorists. The resolution was ordered reported, as 
amended.
FERC PERSPECTIVES: QUESTIONS CONCERNING EPA'S PROPOSED CLEAN POWER PLAN 
AND OTHER GRID RELIABILITY CHALLENGES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held 
a hearing entitled ``FERC Perspectives: Questions Concerning EPA's 
Proposed Clean Power Plan and other Grid Reliability Challenges''. 
Testimony was heard from the following Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission officials: Cheryl A. LaFleur, Acting Chairman; Philip D. 
Moeller, Commissioner; John R. Norris, Commissioner; Tony Clark, 
Commissioner; and Norman C. Bay, Commissioner.
NANOTECHNOLOGY: UNDERSTANDING HOW SMALL SOLUTIONS DRIVE BIG INNOVATION
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, 
Manufacturing, and Trade held a hearing entitled ``Nanotechnology: 
Understanding How Small Solutions Drive Big Innovation''. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Full Committee began a markup on the 
following legislation: H.R. 3522, the ``Employee Health Care Protection 
Act''; H.R. 4701, the ``Lyme and Tick-borne Diseases Act of 2014''; 
H.R. 4067, to provide for the extension of the enforcement instruction 
on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in 
critical access and small rural hospitals through 2014; H.R. 5214, to 
require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for 
recommendations for the development and use of clinical data registries 
for the improvement of patient care; H.R. 3670, the ``Anti-Spoofing Act 
of 2013''; H.R. 5161, the ``E-LABEL Act''; and H.R. 1575, the ``Kelsey 
Smith Act''.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee began a markup on the 
following legislation: H.R. 5018, the ``Federal Reserve Accountability 
and Transparency Act of 2014''; H.R. 4329, the ``Native American 
Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 
2014''; H.R. 3240, the ``Regulation D Study Act''; H.R. 3913, to amend 
the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to require agencies to make 
considerations relating to the promotion of efficiency, competition, 
and capital formation before issuing or modifying certain regulations; 
H.R. 4042, the ``Community Bank Mortgage Service Asset Capital 
Requirements Study Act of 2014''; and H.R. 5148, the ``Access to 
Affordable Mortgages Act of 2014''. H.R. 3240 was ordered reported, 
without amendment.
THE SHOOTDOWN OF MALAYSIAN FLIGHT 17 AND THE ESCALATING CRISIS IN 
UKRAINE
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and 
Emerging Threats; and Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and 
Trade held a joint subcommittee hearing entitled ``The Shootdown of 
Malaysian Flight 17 and the Escalating Crisis in Ukraine''. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
IRAN NUCLEAR NEGOTIATIONS: FROM EXTENSION TO FINAL AGREEMENT?
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a hearing entitled 
``Iran Nuclear Negotiations: From Extension to Final Agreement?''. 
Testimony was heard from Wendy R. Sherman, Under Secretary for 
Political Affairs, Department of State; and David S. Cohen, Under 
Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Department of the 
Treasury.

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EXAMINING TSA'S MANAGEMENT OF THE SCREENING PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Transportation Security 
held a hearing entitled ``Examining TSA's Management of the Screening 
Partnership Program''. Testimony was heard from William Benner, 
Director, Screening Partnership Program, Office of Security Operations, 
Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland 
Security; Jennifer A. Grover, Acting Director, Homeland Security and 
Justice, Government Accountability Office; and public witnesses.
PROTECTING THE HOMELAND FROM NUCLEAR AND RADIOLOGICAL THREATS
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, 
Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies held a hearing 
entitled ``Protecting the Homeland from Nuclear and Radiological 
Threats''. Testimony was heard from Huban Gowadia, Director, Domestic 
Nuclear Detection Office, Department of Homeland Security; and David C. 
Trimble, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, Government 
Accountability Office.
OVERSIGHT OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES
Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a hearing on oversight 
of U.S. citizenship and immigration services. Testimony was heard from 
Leon Rodriguez, Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 
Resources held a hearing on the following legislation: H.R. 596, the 
``Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act of 2013''; H.R. 1363, 
the ``Exploring for Geothermal Energy on Federal Lands Act''; and H.R. 
2004, the ``Geothermal Production Expansion Act of 2013''. Testimony 
was heard from Michael Nedd, Assistant Director, Minerals and Realty 
Management, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior; Eric 
Fitzer, Senior Energy Programs Manager, Arizona Governor's Office of 
Energy Policy; and public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Public Lands and 
Environmental Regulation held a hearing on the following legislation: 
H.R. 445, the ``National Heritage Area Act of 2013''; H.R. 1785, the 
``Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area Act''; H.R. 4119, 
the ``West Hunter Street Baptist Church Study Act''; H.R. 4901, the 
``Advancing Conservation and Education Act of 2014''; H.R. 4979, the 
``Red River Private Property Protection Act''; H.R. 5086, to amend the 
National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to 
conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Chief Standing 
Bear National Historic Trail, and for other purposes; S. 311, the 
``Lower Mississippi River Area Study Act''; S. 476, to amend the 
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Development Act to extend to the Chesapeake 
and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Commission; and S. 609, the 
``San Juan County Federal Land Conveyance Act''. Testimony was heard 
from the following Representatives: Thornberry, Reichert, Johnson of 
Georgia, Fortenberry, Clyburn, Mullin, Tonko, and Dent; Steve Ellis, 
Deputy Director, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior; 
Vanessa P. Hickman, Land Commissioner, Arizona State Land Department, 
State of Arizona; Mary Abrams, Director, Department of State Lands, 
State of Oregon; Pat Canan, Captain Game Warden, Wichita Falls, TX; 
Stephanie Toothman, Associate Director, Cultural Resources, 
Partnerships and Science, National Park Service, Department of the 
Interior; and public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska 
Native Affairs held a hearing on the following legislation: H.R. 3608, 
the ``Grand Portage Band Per Capita Adjustment Act''; H.R. 4534, the 
``Native American Children's Safety Act''; H.R. 5020, the ``Indian 
Tribal Self-Determination in Land Consolidation Act of 2014''; H.R. 
5049, the ``Blackfoot River Land Exchange Act of 2014''; and H.R. 5050, 
the ``May 31, 1918 Act Repeal Act''. Testimony was heard from Larry 
Roberts, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, 
Department of the Interior; Representative Simpson; and public 
witnesses.
EXAMINING ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION AT THE EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Economic 
Growth, Job Creation and Regulatory Affairs held a hearing entitled 
``Examining Allegations of Corruption at the Export-Import Bank''. 
Testimony was heard from Fred P. Hochberg, Chairman and President, 
Export-Import Bank of the United States; and a public witness.
EXAMINING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S FAILURE TO CURB WASTEFUL STATE 
MEDICAID FINANCING SCHEMES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Energy 
Policy, Health Care and Entitlements held a hearing entitled 
``Examining the

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Federal Government's Failure to Curb Wasteful State Medicaid Financing 
Schemes''. Testimony was heard from Katherine M. Iritani, Director, 
Health Care, Government Accountability Office; John Haag, Director of 
Medicaid Audits, Department of Health and Human Services; and Cindy 
Mann, Deputy Administrator and Director, Centers for Medicare and 
Medicaid Services.
FEDERAL REAL PROPERTY: ELIMINATING WASTE AND MISMANAGEMENT OF REAL 
PROPERTY ASSETS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Government Operations held a hearing entitled ``Federal Real Property: 
Eliminating Waste and Mismanagement of Real Property Assets''. 
Testimony was heard from David Mader, Controller, Office of Federal 
Financial Management, Office of Management and Budget; Michael Gelber, 
Deputy Commissioner, Public Buildings Service, General Services 
Administration; David J. Wise, Director, Physical Infrastructure Team, 
Government Accountability Office; and James M. Sullivan, Director, 
Office of Enterprise Office Management, Department of Veterans Affairs.
PROVIDING FOR AUTHORITY TO INITIATE LITIGATION FOR ACTIONS BY THE 
PRESIDENT OR OTHER EXECUTIVE BRANCH OFFICIALS INCONSISTENT WITH THEIR 
DUTIES UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES; REDUCING REGULATORY 
BURDENS ACT OF 2013
Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on H. Res. 676, 
providing for authority to initiate litigation for actions by the 
President or other executive branch officials inconsistent with their 
duties under the Constitution of the United States; and H.R. 935, the 
``Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2013''. The committee granted, by 
record vote of 7-4, a closed rule for H. Res. 676. The rule provides 
one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and 
ranking minority member of the Committee on Rules. The rule waives all 
points of order against consideration of the resolution. The rule 
provides that the amendment recommended by the Committee on Rules now 
printed in the resolution shall be considered as adopted. The rule 
provides that the resolution, as amended, shall be considered as read 
and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question. 
Additionally, the rule grants a closed rule for H.R. 935. The rule 
provides one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair 
and ranking minority member of the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure. 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 on any legislative day during the period from August 1, 
2014, through September 5, 2014: the Journal of the proceedings of the 
previous day shall be considered as approved; and 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. In section 4, 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 
3 of the resolution. In section 5, the rule provides that each day 
during the period addressed by section 3 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 6, the rule provides that each 
day during the period addressed by section 3 of the resolution shall 
not constitute a legislative day for purposes of clause 7 of rule XIII 
(resolutions of inquiry).
REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS REDUCTION PROGRAM
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Research 
and Technology held a hearing entitled ``Review of the National 
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program''. Testimony was heard from John 
R. Hayes, Jr., Director, National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, 
National Institute of Standards and Technology; Pramod P. Khargonekar, 
Assistant Director, Directorate of Engineering, National Science 
Foundation; David Applegate, Associate Director for Natural Hazards, 
U.S. Geological Survey; Roy E. Wright, Deputy Associate Administrator 
for Mitigation, Federal Emergency Management Agency; Jonathon Monken, 
Director and Homeland Security Advisor, Illinois Emergency Management 
Agency; and public witnesses.
WHAT WORKERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY AS THEY PLAN FOR 
RETIREMENT
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security held a 
hearing on what workers need to know about Social Security as they plan 
for retirement. Testimony was heard from Charles P. Blahous III, Public 
Trustee, Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees; and public 
witnesses.
ADVANCING THE U.S. TRADE AGENDA: TRADE WITH AFRICA AND THE AFRICAN 
GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade held a hearing on 
advancing the U.S. trade agenda: trade with Africa and the African 
Growth

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and Opportunity Act. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
INCREASING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
increasing economic opportunity for African Americans, focusing on 
local initiatives that are making a difference, after receiving 
testimony from Angela Glover Blackwell, PolicyLink, Oakland, 
California; Eva Moskowitz, Success Academy Charter Schools, New York, 
New York; Bill Bynum, Hope Enterprise Corporation/Hope Federal Credit 
Union, Jackson, Mississippi; and Aparna Mathur, American Enterprise 
Institute, Washington, DC.
VETERANS' ACCESS TO CARE THROUGH CHOICE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND 
TRANSPARENCY ACT
Conferees agreed to file a conference report on the differences between 
the Senate and House passed versions of H.R. 3230, to improve the 
access of veterans to medical services from the Department of Veterans 
Affairs.