[House Report 113-23]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                  Union Calendar No. 11

113th Congress, 1st Session -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - House Report 113-23


                            OVERSIGHT PLANS

                                FOR ALL

                            HOUSE COMMITTEES


                               __________

                                 by the

              COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM

                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

               (Required by House Rule X, Clause 2(d)(2))




                                     


 March 25, 2013.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed
                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                    Washington, DC, March 25, 2013.
Hon. John A. Boehner,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: In accordance with clause 2(d)(2) of Rule 
X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, I respectfully 
submit the oversight plans of each committee.
            Sincerely,
                                           Darrell E. Issa,
                                                          Chairman.
                                                  Union Calendar No. 11
113th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                     113-23

======================================================================


                OVERSIGHT PLANS FOR ALL HOUSE COMMITTEES

                                _______
                                

 March 25, 2013.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

  Mr. Darrell E. Issa, from the Committee on Oversight and Government 
                    Reform, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                    OVERSIGHT IN THE 113TH CONGRESS

    [The oversight plans of all House committees follow:]
                        COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                                 February 13, 2013.
To: LThe Honorable Darrell Issa, Chairman, House Committee on Oversight 
        and Government Reform
      LThe Honorable Candice S. Miller, Chairman, Committee on House 
        Administration
From: LThe Honorable Frank D. Lucas, Chairman, House Committee on 
        Agriculture
Date: February 13, 2013
Subject: LOversight Plan for the House Committee on Agriculture for the 
        113th Congress
    Pursuant to Rule X, clause 2(d)(1) of the Rules of the U.S. 
House of Representatives for the 113th Congress, I submit the 
following plan to fulfill the General Oversight 
Responsibilities reporting requirements. This outline was 
prepared in consultation with the Ranking Member, was presented 
to the full committee for its consideration, and is now offered 
for your consideration relative to your responsibilities under 
the rules.
    The following agenda constitutes the oversight plan of the 
Committee on Agriculture for the 113th Congress. It includes 
areas in which the committee and its subcommittees expect to 
conduct oversight or investigation of additional matters or 
programs as they arise. The committee will consult, as 
appropriate, with other committees of the House that may share 
subject matter interest. If you have any questions regarding 
this outline, do not hesitate to contact me.
                                            Frank D. Lucas,
                                                          Chairman.

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

    The committee expects to exercise appropriate oversight 
activity with regard to the following issues:
2008 FARM BILL AND CURRENT AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS
     Review the current state of the U.S. farm economy;
     Review the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) 
implementation of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 
2008 (FCEA) as extended;
     Review policy proposals regarding farm bill 
development;
     Review programs that may be inefficient, 
duplicative, outdated or more appropriately administered by 
State or local governments for possible cuts or elimination;
     Review programs for waste, fraud and abuse;
     Review USDA's initial and subsequent 
implementation of FCEA payment limit and adjusted gross income 
provisions;
     Review the state of credit conditions and 
availability in rural America;
     Review the impact of weather conditions on crop 
production;
     Review USDA's activities regarding implementation 
of the U.S. Warehouse Act;
     Review USDA's implementation of actively-engaged 
rules;
     Review of market situation, including impact of 
crop reports and projections;
     Review USDA's implementation of the U.S. Grain 
Standards Act;
     Review USDA's implementation of the Fair and 
Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004;
     Review the impact of the potential sequestration 
order on programs and activities authorized by the Agriculture 
Committee;
     Review how Administrative Pay-Go is affecting 
Department actions; and
     Review discretionary actions by USDA that are not 
directly authorized by legislation.
ENERGY
     Assess energy programs authorized by FCEA;
     Review administration of the Biomass Crop 
Assistance Program (BCAP);
     Review activities funded by the Biomass Research 
and Development Act (BRDA) and input from the external BRDA 
Advisory Board;
     Review availability of agriculture and forestry 
feedstocks for renewable energy production;
     Review current status of research on energy crops 
and feedstocks;
     Review RUS electric loan program;
     Review electricity reliability in rural America;
     Review current provisions in existing law that 
support agriculture-based energy production and use;
     Review the implementation of the Renewable Fuels 
Standard (RFS);
     Review programs that may be inefficient, 
duplicative, outdated or more appropriately administered by 
State or local governments for possible cuts or elimination;
     Review renewable fuel programs and their impact on 
agriculture; and
     Review USDA's energy infrastructure initiative.
CONSERVATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT
     Review the impact of regulatory activities by the 
EPA and its effect on agriculture productivity;
     Review the impact of regulatory activities carried 
out pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), or any 
proposed legislative changes to such Act, on agricultural 
producers;
     Review the impact of the Administration's 
regulatory activity relative to methyl bromide on production of 
agriculture in the U.S.;
     Review any proposed legislation to implement the 
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the 
Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants to the Convention on 
Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, and the Rotterdam 
Convention on the Prior
    Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals 
and Pesticides in International Trade;
     Review the International Treaty on Plant Genetic 
Resources for Food and Agriculture;
     Review budget and program activities of the NRCS;
     Review implementation of all of USDA's 
conservation programs;
     Review NRCS's efforts to streamline program 
delivery and field operations;
     Review conservation streamlining initiatives to 
eliminate duplicative and overlapping programs;
     Review programs that may be inefficient, 
duplicative, outdated or more appropriately administered by 
State or local governments for possible cuts or elimination;
     Review EPA's jurisdiction under the Clean Water 
Act (CWA) and its impact to U.S. agriculture;
     Review of potential impacts of EPA's Clean Air Act 
(CAA) regulatory program on U.S. agriculture;
     Review ongoing discussions and potential 
consequences for American agriculture under the United Nations 
Climate Change Conference;
     Review EPA's implementation of the Food Quality 
Protection Act (FQPA), FIFRA and Pesticide Registration 
Improvement Renewal Act (PRIA III);
     Review the impact of litigation and rulemaking 
concerning FIFRA, ESA, CAA, CWA, the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) 
and the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act 
(EPCRA) and for impacts agricultural operations;
     Review the EPA's regulatory actions in regard to 
pesticide evaluations;
     Review EPA's regulation of Animal Feeding 
Operations;
     Review the non-emergency haying and grazing 
provisions of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP); and
     Review Total Maximum Daily Load strategies and 
impacts on production agriculture.
FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT
     Review USDA's implementation of crop insurance 
provisions of the FCEA;
     Review the role and effectiveness of Federal Crop 
Insurance;
     Review USDA's and the Risk Management Agency's 
(RMA) administration and oversight of Federal Crop Insurance;
     Review the availability of crop insurance as a 
risk management tool;
     Review of the adequacy and availability of risk 
management tools for the livestock and dairy industries;
     Review programs that may be inefficient, 
duplicative, outdated or more appropriately administered by 
State or local governments for possible cuts or elimination;
     Review USDA's activities designed to find and 
reduce crop insurance waste, fraud, and abuse;
     Review USDA's crop insurance rating methodology 
and management of the Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA) 
process;
     Review RMA's combination of revenue protection 
crop insurance products;
     Review RMA's progress in approving crop insurance 
products for underserved commodities;
IMPLEMENTATION OF TITLE VII OF THE DODD-FRANK WALL STREET REFORM AND 
        CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT
     In its review of rulemakings required by Title VII 
of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection 
Act (P.L. 111-203)(Dodd-Frank Act), the Committee will continue 
to ensure:
        (1) LThe U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission 
        (CFTC) and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission 
        (SEC) rulemaking process is transparent and that 
        meaningful comment is allowed by the public;
        (2) LAn adequate cost-benefit analysis is performed by 
        the CFTC for each proposed or finalized rule;
        (3) LThe CFTC and SEC properly coordinate with both 
        domestic and international financial regulators;
        (4) LPast exemptive relief orders or no action letters 
        issued by the CFTC and SEC provide the proper relief 
        for market participants;
        (5) LAny final or proposed regulations have not harmed 
        or adversely impacted the U.S. economy or financial 
        markets, including the impact on jobs and 
        competitiveness; and
     The Committee will examine how Title VII 
rulemakings have impacted U.S. market structure.
     The Committee will also examine the developing 
impact of pending CFTC, SEC, and Prudential Regulator 
regulations, such as the imposition of new margin and capital 
requirements, and how they affect the ability of many ``end-
users'' to utilize swaps to hedge against legitimate business 
risks.
     The Committee will examine the level of 
coordination between U.S. and international regulators for 
potential impacts on U.S. financial institutions compared to 
their foreign counterparts.
     The Committee will examine the feasibility of 
timetables established by the Dodd-Frank Act in building the 
data, technology and connectivity necessary to meet regulatory 
objectives.
THE U.S. COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION AND OVERSIGHT OF THE 
        DERIVATIVES MARKETS
     Review the operations of the Commodity Futures 
Trading Commission (CFTC);
     Review the growing consolidation and 
internationalization of futures exchange trading;
     Review market machinations for exchange traded 
energy and agricultural future products;
     Review enforcement and oversight capabilities of 
the CFTC both domestically and internationally;
     The Committee will continue to examine how the 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and futures 
industry as a whole has addressed the MF Global and PFGBest 
bankruptcies from both an enforcement and regulatory reform 
standpoint to ensure that proper remedial action is taken to 
prevent future losses to segregated funds of customers.
     In light of the Commodity Exchange Act statutory 
authorization of the CFTC expiring at the end of FY2013, the 
Committee will continue to examine all sectors of the U.S. 
derivatives and futures markets, including, but not limited to: 
exchange or swap execution facility trading; the roles of 
dealers, inter-dealer brokers, data repositories, and 
clearinghouses; trade and price reporting; and proposals aimed 
at protecting the segregated funds of futures customers.
     The Committee will continue to examine the ongoing 
investigation and enforcement action by the CFTC and other 
federal regulators with respect to the manipulation of the 
London Interbank Offer Rate (LIBOR).
     The Committee will review all operations of the 
CFTC, including: a continued examination whether the cost-
benefit analysis required by section 15a of the CEA is adequate 
with respect to proposed and finalized rules; the efficiency of 
internal Commission actions; and the enforcement and oversight 
capabilities of the CFTC both domestically and internationally.

AGRICULTURE TRADE AND INTERNATIONAL FOOD AID

     Review domestic subsidies and protection currently 
applied by agricultural product producing countries around the 
world;
     Review ongoing multilateral, regional, and 
bilateral trade negotiations (including WTO accession 
agreements) to assess their potential impact on U.S. 
agriculture;
     Review implementation of existing trade agreements 
and commitments as well as proposed new trade agreements and 
commitments to determine--
        (1) whether they are consistent with current U.S. law;
        (2)  whether they will promote economic development in 
        rural areas of the U.S.;
        (3)  their impact or potential impact on current 
        production of import sensitive agricultural 
        commodities, and on exports of U.S. agricultural 
        products;
        (4)  their impact or potential impact on the overall 
        competitiveness of the U.S. agricultural sector, 
        including the production, processing and distribution 
        of agricultural products; and
        (5)  whether they provide adequate, enforceable 
        provisions to minimize non-tariff barriers to U.S. 
        exports.
     Monitor existing trade agreements to ensure 
trading partners are meeting obligations and enforcing trade 
commitments;
     Review farm export programs to determine how well 
they are promoting the interests of U.S. agriculture and 
examine proposals to improve, modify or expand such programs;
     Review U.S. food aid programs to determine their 
impact or potential impact on the reduction of world hunger. In 
particular, the committee will examine the potential impact of 
multilateral trade negotiations on the effectiveness of U.S. 
food aid programs;
     Review monitoring and evaluation activities 
carried out by USDA and USAID; and
     Review sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) barriers 
and other technical barriers to U.S. agricultural exports and 
examine USDA efforts to eliminate such barriers.

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND PROMOTION

     Review implementation of biosecurity protocols at 
USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) laboratories;
     Review USDA's implementation of research, 
education and extension programs authorized in FCEA;
     Review the administration of the ARS research 
stations and worksites;
     Review USDA's continuing ability to conduct 
foreign animal disease research, training and diagnostic 
programs at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility 
following the transfer of the center to the Department of 
Homeland Security;
     Assess federal efforts to facilitate research and 
development of aquacultural enterprises, specifically focusing 
on the activities of the Joint Committee on Aquaculture;
     Review USDA's regulation on organic standards;
     Review USDA's collection of organic production and 
market data;
     Review administration of National Institute of 
Food and Agriculture (NIFA);
     Review the administration of the Agricultural Food 
Research Initiative;
     Review efforts to leverage Federal research 
investment with state, local, and private sources of funding;
     Review coordination between ARS, Economic Research 
Service (ERS), NIFA and action agencies in USDA--such as NRCS 
and FSA--in order to prevent duplicative research;
     Review operation of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board;
     Review USDA's efforts to expand research and 
development of pathogen reduction technologies;
     Review the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) 
findings regarding cloned animal products;
     Evaluate the current mix of research funding 
mechanisms to ensure maximum benefits from these investments to 
producers, processors and consumers;
     Review administration of USDA's agricultural 
marketing and promotion programs;
     Review coordination between USDA and DOE on energy 
research programs;
     Review congressional appropriation process and 
implications on research funding under ARS, ERS, NASS and NIFA;
     Review ARS, ERS, NASS and NIFA national program 
priorities;
     Oversight of research grant process to coordinate 
and prevent overlapping research; and
     Review the potential for research and technology 
transfer to address the needs of both the biofuels and 
livestock industries.

BIOTECHNOLOGY

     Review current regulations and research regarding 
animal and plant biotechnology;
     Review the FDA's regulatory activities regarding 
genetically engineered animals;
     Assess USDA's efforts to develop and promote 
benefits of biotechnology for increasing agricultural 
productivity and combating hunger globally;
     Review USDA's management and controls over 
biotechnology-derived material; and
     Review the impact of litigation on USDA's 
timeliness in resolving petitions to deregulate products of 
biotechnology.

U.S. FOREST SERVICE ADMINISTRATION

     Review U.S. Forest Service (USFS) strategy for 
dealing with wildfire for coming years, including the impact of 
hazardous fuels management, forest health efforts and fire 
preparedness;
     Continue to monitor the effectiveness and 
efficiency of the Forest Service fire management program;
     Review the impact of fire expenses on other USFS 
program delivery;
     Assess the USFS strategy for timber harvesting on 
federal lands;
     Review impacts of environmental regulations on 
National Forest land management;
     Review economic impacts of National Forest land 
management on rural communities ; and
     Review USFS efforts to promote utilization of 
National Forest timber for renewable energy purposes.

DAIRY

     Review options to improve the efficiency and 
effectiveness of dairy programs; and
     Review efficiency of federal market order system.

OUTREACH AND CIVIL RIGHTS

     Review implementation of Section 14012 of the 
FCEA;
     Review the operations of the Office of Advocacy 
and Outreach;
     Monitor USDA's outreach efforts to beginning, 
small and minority farmers/ranchers;
     Review of the operations of the office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights;
     Review USDA's process for settling discrimination 
claims and evaluating individual claims submitted pursuant to 
such settlements;
     Review the delivery of USDA services and outreach 
efforts on Indian reservations and tribal lands;
     Review implementation of Section 14003 of the 
FCEA;
     Review current status of Agricultural Census and 
efforts to reach undercounted farmers and ranchers; and
     Review participation of minority farmers in FSA 
County/Local Committees as well as outreach to increase 
participation in County Committee elections.

USDA GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

     Review confidentiality of information provided to 
USDA by agricultural producers;
     Review USDA's implementation of field office 
consolidation for the purpose of effectively and efficiently 
delivering commodity, conservation, energy and rural 
development programs;
     Review agency appeals process and granting of 
equitable relief as well as operation of the National Appeals 
Division;
     Review USDA's efforts to modernize its Information 
Technology (IT) systems; and
     Review the administrative structure of USDA for 
effectiveness and additional efficiencies.

FARM CREDIT, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, AND THE RURAL ECONOMY

     Review Farm Credit Administration's (FCA) 
regulatory program and activities regarding the Farm Credit 
System (FCS) to assure the its safety and soundness;
     Review Farmer Mac activities and programs;
     Review FSA's direct and guaranteed loan programs 
and graduation efforts;
     Review the Rural Electrification Act (REA);
     Review the farm economy and access to credit;
     Review implementation of rural development 
policies and authorities contained in FCEA and the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act;
     Review programs that may be inefficient, 
duplicative, outdated or more appropriately administered by 
State or local governments for possible cuts or elimination;
     Conduct oversight of the USDA's Rural Broadband 
Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program;
     Review USDA Rural Development application 
processes and internal controls related to both the Farm Bill 
and P.L. 111-5 (Recovery Act) Programs;
     Review administration of the Rural 
Microentrepreneur Assistance Program;
     Conduct oversight of the implementation of the 
USDA's Telecommunications Programs;
     Review the status of the Rural Telephone Bank;
     Assess state of rural water systems and 
effectiveness of federal funding to build and upgrade those 
systems;
     Assess effectiveness of USDA programs targeted 
towards rural infrastructure;
     Review agriculture lending practices;
     Review public-private partnerships in lending 
through guaranteed loans;
     Review definition of ``rural'' under rural 
development programs; and
     Review rural development loan programs and default 
rates.

USDA FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS

     Review food and nutrition programs including the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), fruit and 
vegetable initiatives, the Emergency Food Assistance Program 
(TEFAP), the Food Distribution on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) 
and other commodity distribution programs;
     Assess the level of participation by states in 
SNAP and examine state options for administering SNAP;
     Review participant eligibility criteria for SNAP;
     Review the interaction between SNAP and other low-
income assistance programs such as the Temporary Assistance for 
Needy Families (TANF) program, the Low-Income Home Energy 
Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and with provisions in the 
Affordable Care Act;
     Review SNAP work requirements and the efficiency 
and accountability of the SNAP Employment & Training program;
     Review efforts by USDA and the states to combat 
waste, fraud and abuse within nutrition programs;
     Review buying patterns of SNAP recipients and 
methods for encouraging balanced lifestyles;
     Review programs that may be inefficient, 
duplicative, outdated or more appropriately administered by 
State or local governments for possible cuts or elimination;
     Review efforts by state SNAP administrators to 
modernize and streamline their programs;
     Review the Community Food Project Program to 
ensure cooperative grants are working;
     Review the SNAP retailer approval process; and
     Review the implementation of changes made to the 
SNAP Nutrition Education Program.

SPECIALTY CROPS

     Review implementation of the Specialty Crop 
Competitiveness Act;
     Assess operation of the Fruit and Vegetable (FAV) 
planting prohibition pilot program;
     Review the Specialty Crop Block Grant program to 
ensure that the grants awarded are enhancing the specialty crop 
industry;
     Review farmers market programs;
     Review implementation and effectiveness of 
cooperative plant health programs, including Plant Pest and 
Disease Management and Disaster Prevention and the Clean Plant 
Network; and
     Review the Specialty Crop Research Initiative.

FOOD SAFETY

     Review implementation of the FDA Food Safety 
Modernization Act;
     Review implementation of the recent FDA Egg Safety 
Rule;
     Review USDA's administration of meat and poultry 
inspection laws and the FDA's food inspection activities to 
ensure the development of scientifically sound systems for food 
safety assurance;
     Review USDA's implementation of the catfish 
inspection program;
     Review USDA's efforts to educate consumers 
regarding safe food handling practices and streamline the 
assessment and approval of food safety technologies;
     Review implementation of new protocols for meat, 
poultry, eggs, or seafood safety inspection;
     Review USDA's enforcement of the Humane Methods of 
Slaughter Act and humane handling regulations; and
     Review the mechanisms to establish scientifically 
based international food safety standards.

PLANT AND ANIMAL HEALTH

     Review enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act;
     Assess federal efforts to reduce threats to human, 
animal, and plant health due to predatory and invasive species;
     Review efforts of the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) to manage wildlife conflicts in 
order to protect public health and safety;
     Assess USDA's Animal Disease Traceability Plan; 
and
     Review implementation of Sec. 10201--Plant pest 
and disease management and disaster prevention.

LIVESTOCK MARKETING

     Assess the effectiveness of the Grain Inspection, 
Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) in determining 
market manipulation in the livestock industry;
     Review structural changes in agribusiness and the 
potential cost and benefits for agricultural producers; and
     Review the USDA's mandatory livestock price 
reporting system.

HOMELAND AND AGRICULTURAL SECURITY

     Oversight of USDA's preparedness against terrorist 
threats to agriculture production;
     Review cooperative efforts between the Department 
of Homeland Security and USDA to prevent against foreign animal 
disease; and
     Review agriculture inspection activities under the 
Department of Homeland Security.

MISCELLANEOUS

     Review the implementation and impact of The 
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) on USDA 
programs;
     Review the impact of transportation infrastructure 
issues on agriculture and forestry; and
     Review USDA's implementation and enforcement of 
the country of origin labeling rule including actions taken by 
USDA to implement measures necessary to comply with the 
recommendations and rulings of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body 
on Certain Country of Origin Labeling Requirement.

CONSULTATION WITH OTHER COMMITTEES TO REDUCE DUPLICATION

     With Natural Resources Committee on forestry 
issues, ESA issues and other public land issues;
     With Science Committee on Research;
     With Ways and Means and Education and the 
Workforce on nutrition programs;
     With Ways and Means on trade issues;
     With Homeland Security on importation of animal 
and plant material and on research related to agroterrorism;
     With Judiciary on immigrant agricultural labor;
     With Energy and Commerce on food safety and 
biomass energy programs both existing and new;
     With Transportation and Infrastructure on CWA 
compliance issues;
     With Financial Services Committee on Dodd-Frank 
Act issues;
     With Foreign Affairs on food aid and trade issues;
     With Small Business on addressing economic 
opportunities for rural America; and
     With any other committee as appropriate.
                      COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                  Washington, DC, January 23, 2013.
Hon. Darrell E. Issa,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Chairman Issa: On behalf of the Committee on 
Appropriations, I hereby transmit the Committee's plan for 
Oversight activities for the 113th Congress, adopted by the 
Committee on January 23, 2013.
    If you have any questions concerning this transmittal, 
please contact Mr. Dale Oak on my staff at 225-2771.
    The Committee looks forward to working with all Members of 
the House of Representatives in order to fulfill our 
responsibilities under the Rules.
            Sincerely,
                                             Harold Rogers,
                                                          Chairman.


                      COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                  Washington, DC, January 16, 2013.
Hon. Darrell E. Issa,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to rule X of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, I am forwarding to you an electronic 
and paper copy of the Committee on Armed Services' Oversight 
Plan for the 113th Congress, as adopted by the committee on 
Tuesday, January 15, 2012.
    Thank you for your attention to this important matter, and 
I look forward to working with you in the 113th Congress.
            Sincerely,
                                 Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
                                                          Chairman.

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

    This oversight plan is filed pursuant to clause 2(d) of 
rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives that 
requires that, not later than February 15 of the first session 
of a Congress, each standing committee of the House shall adopt 
its oversight plan for that Congress.

                           TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Introduction.....................................................    27
Oversight Agenda.................................................    28
Policy Issues....................................................    30
  National Defense Strategy, National Military Strategy, and 
    Related Defense Policy Issues................................    30
  The War in Afghanistan.........................................    31
    Force Protection.............................................    32
  Global War on Terrorism........................................    33
    The Greater Middle East......................................    33
    The Continent of Africa......................................    35
  Asia...........................................................    36
  Central and South America......................................    37
  Europe.........................................................    37
  Addressing Emerging Threats....................................    38
  Detainee Policy, Military Commissions, and Related Matters.....    39
  Intelligence...................................................    39
  National Guard and Reserves....................................    40
Fiscal Responsibility and Efficiency.............................    41
  Overview.......................................................    41
  Organization and Management of the Department of Defense.......    41
  Financial Management...........................................    42
  Acquisition Issues.............................................    43
    The Acquisition System and Acquisition Policy................    43
    Defense Industrial Base and Technology Transfers.............    44
    Information Technology and Business Systems..................    44
Readiness........................................................    45
  Reset..........................................................    45
  Force Readiness................................................    45
  Life-Cycle Sustainment.........................................    45
  Depot and Arsenal Capability...................................    46
  Civilian Personnel.............................................    46
  Energy and Environment.........................................    47
Military Construction and Infrastructure.........................    47
  Basing.........................................................    47
  Military Construction Programming..............................    47
  Real Property Acquisition, Maintenance, and Disposal...........    47
Total Force, Personnel, and Health Care Issues...................    47
  Manpower Sufficient in Quantity and Quality to Meet Global 
    Commitments..................................................    47
  Morale, Welfare and Recreation Programs and Military Resale 
    Programs.....................................................    48
  Military Benefits..............................................    48
  Mental Health Services for Members of the Armed Forces.........    49
  Sexual Assault in the Military.................................    49
  Military Health Care System....................................    49
  Wounded Warrior Care...........................................    50
  Military Family Readiness......................................    50
  Prisoner of War and Missing in Action..........................    50
Modernization and Investment Issues..............................    51
  Overview.......................................................    51
  Army and Marine Corps Armored Vehicle Modernization............    51
  Army and Marine Corps Tactical Wheeled Vehicles................    51
  Army Aviation Programs.........................................    52
  Army Communications Programs...................................    52
  Organizational Clothing and Individual Equipment...............    53
  Tactical Aircraft Force Structure..............................    53
  F-35/Joint Strike Fighter......................................    53
  Bomber Force Structure.........................................    54
  Aerial Refueling Aircraft......................................    54
  Intertheater and Intratheater Airlift..........................    54
  Shipbuilding Programs..........................................    55
  Military Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance 
    Programs.....................................................    56
  Directed Energy Programs.......................................    56
  Nuclear Deterrence.............................................    56
  Missile Defense................................................    57
  National Security Space........................................    57
Emerging Threats and Capabilities................................    58
  Investment in Future Capabilities Science and Technology.......    58
  Cyber Operations Capabilities..................................    58
  Information Operations.........................................    59

                              Introduction

    The oversight responsibilities of the Committee on Armed 
Services are conducted throughout the calendar year. They are 
instrumental in the committee's consideration of the annual 
defense authorization bill, which covers the breadth of the 
operations of the Department of Defense as well as the national 
security functions of the Department of Energy and other 
related areas. The annual national defense budget involves 
millions of military and civilian personnel, thousands of 
facilities, and hundreds of agencies, departments, and commands 
located throughout the world. The wars in the Islamic Republic 
of Afghanistan, as well as contingency operations related to 
the global war on terrorism, will continue to expand the range 
of topics requiring committee oversight including strategic, 
operational, and budgetary issues of great scope and 
complexity.
    The committee has jurisdiction over laws, programs, and 
agencies under permanent authority in numerous titles of the 
United States Code, including titles 10 (Armed Forces), 32 
(National Guard), 37 (Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed 
Services), 41 (Public Contracts), 42 (Atomic Energy), 46 
(Shipping), and 50 (War and National Defense).
    The jurisdiction of the committee, pursuant to clause 1(c) 
of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives is as 
follows:
        1.  Ammunition depots; forts; arsenals; Army, Navy, and 
        Air Force reservations and establishments.
        2. Common defense generally.
        3.  Conservation, development, and use of naval 
        petroleum and oil shale reserves.
        4.  The Department of Defense generally, including the 
        Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force generally.
        5.  Interoceanic canals generally, including measures 
        relating to the maintenance, operation, and 
        administration of interoceanic canals.
        6.  Merchant Marine Academy, and State Merchant Marine 
        Academies.
        7.  Military applications of nuclear energy.
        8.  Tactical intelligence and intelligence related 
        activities of the Department of Defense.
        9.  National security aspects of merchant marine, 
        including financial assistance for the construction and 
        operation of vessels, the maintenance of the U.S. 
        shipbuilding and ship repair industrial base, cabotage, 
        cargo preference, and merchant marine officers and 
        seamen as these matters relate to national security.
        10.  Pay, promotion, retirement, and other benefits and 
        privileges of members of the armed services.
        11.  Scientific research and development in support of 
        the armed services.
        12. Selective service.
        13.  Size and composition of the Army, Navy, Marine 
        Corps, and Air Force.
        14. Soldiers' and sailors' homes.
        15.  Strategic and critical materials necessary for the 
        common defense.
        16.  Cemeteries administered by the Department of 
        Defense.
    In addition to its legislative jurisdiction and general 
oversight function, the committee has special oversight 
functions with respect to international arms control and 
disarmament and the education of military dependents in schools 
pursuant to clause 3(b) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives.

                            Oversight Agenda

    The committee will continue its oversight and assessment of 
threats to U.S. national security as it considers the fiscal 
year 2014 and fiscal year 2015 defense budget requests. This 
effort will involve appropriate oversight hearings with the 
Secretary of Defense; the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff; the individual service secretaries and chiefs of staff; 
combatant commanders; other officials of the Department of 
Defense and the military departments; officials from the Office 
of the Director of National Intelligence, Central Intelligence 
Agency, and other defense-related intelligence agencies; and 
the Secretary of Energy, the Under Secretary for Nuclear 
Security, and other officials of the Department of Energy. In 
addition, the committee will invite the views and perspectives 
of outside experts in academia, industry, associations and 
advocacy organizations, and those in private life with 
expertise on these matters. Finally, the committee will 
continue its aggressive outreach program to seek the views and 
perspectives of service members and their families to include 
Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve members across the 
United States and at deployed locations overseas.
    The committee carries out its oversight of the Department 
of Defense and its subordinate departments and agencies as well 
as portions of the Department of Energy through activities 
involving the full committee and its standing subcommittees. 
Each subcommittee conducts oversight of the programs within its 
jurisdiction as specified in the committee's rules, with the 
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations pursuing 
coordinated and constructive oversight that will identify best 
practices, areas of potential savings, as well as those areas 
in need of correction and reform within the Department of 
Defense.
    The oversight agenda below, unless otherwise noted, is 
designed to support the consideration by the committee and, 
ultimately, the House of Representatives of the annual defense 
authorization bill, as well as the committee's broader 
oversight responsibilities. The issues identified are expected 
to be ongoing areas of oversight activity throughout the 113th 
Congress. In addition, the committee will continue to pay 
particular attention to the mandates placed on executive 
departments and agencies by the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-62). The committee will 
examine closely the progress of the Department of Defense, the 
military departments, and the Department of Energy in 
implementing Public Law 103-62 to include the use of 
performance-based budgeting techniques and five-year strategic 
planning documents, for programs within its jurisdiction. In 
this context, pursuant to clause 2(d)(1) of rule X of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the committee will continue to 
emphasize the examination of relevant rules, regulations, 
statutes, and court decisions affecting the Department of 
Defense and the Department of Energy for their effects on 
efficiency and good management practices.
    Given the unique nature of national security issues and 
related oversight of the Armed Forces, the committee believes 
that a qualifier is once again necessary with regard to the 
ability to plan comprehensively and predict all oversight 
activities. Much of the committee's most demanding oversight 
will be, by definition, event-driven and not subject to prior 
planning. Such events significantly complicate the ability to 
prescribe with great accuracy or specificity the committee's 
entire oversight agenda. For instance, the oversight of defense 
activities by the committee has historically involved in-depth 
assessments of military operations and other major events that 
are generally difficult to predict in advance, such as of the 
war in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and responses to 
catastrophic events. In the 112th Congress, a significant 
portion of the committee's oversight agenda was dedicated to 
assessing the effects of defense sequestration, as a result of 
the Budget Control Act of 2011, which could not have been 
foreseen at the time the oversight plan for the 112th Congress 
was adopted. These reviews can dominate committee and staff 
resources, sometimes at the expense of other planned 
activities. The committee fully expects that this type of 
event-driven oversight will continue to be required.
    The committee has a long tradition of translating oversight 
activities into prescriptive legislative action as reflected in 
past comprehensive efforts such as: providing for concurrent 
receipt of retirement and disability benefits for veterans with 
qualifying combat-related disabilities; the Goldwater-Nichols 
Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 (Public Law 
99-433); the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act of 
1991 (Public Law 101-510); the Federal Acquisition Streamlining 
Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-355); the establishment of the 
National Nuclear Security Administration and related reform of 
the management of the national security programs of the 
Department of Energy; the Military Commissions Act of 2006 
(Public Law 109-366); the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 
2007 included in the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181); the Weapon System 
Acquisition Reform Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-23); the 
Implementing Management for Performance and Related Reforms to 
Obtain Value in Every Acquisition Act of 2010 (IMPROVE 
Acquisition Act of 2010), as included in the Ike Skelton 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (Public 
Law 111-383); the Small Business Innovative Research and Small 
Business Technology Transfer Reauthorization Act of 2011, as 
included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2012; and the application of additional sanctions against 
the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as included in 
both the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2012 and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2013. The committee will continue to oversee these and other 
prior legislative provisions in the 113th Congress. In general, 
the committee will continue to maintain a strong linkage 
between formal oversight efforts and legislative initiatives.
    As previously noted, the committee has dedicated 
significant oversight to the examination of the implications of 
the Budget Control Act of 2011 for national defense. The 
committee will continue to oversee the Department of Defense's 
implementation of these budget cuts to ensure the military is 
responsibly applying cuts and continuing to invest in high 
priority national security requirements. Likewise, the 
committee will assess the effects of declining defense 
resources on the health of the force and risk associated with 
executing the national military strategy. H.R. 8, the American 
Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, delayed the implementation of 
sequestration by two months, changing the effective date to 
March 1, 2013. The committee agrees with the statement of the 
acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget who 
testified before the committee in 2012 that, ``Sequestration, 
by design, is bad policy . . .'' The committee continues to 
oppose the sequester of national defense funding, but will 
conduct additional oversight in the 113th Congress to ensure 
the effects on the military and the defense industrial base are 
known, that appropriate planning is occurring to ensure the 
negative effects of sequestration are not exacerbated, and 
should sequestration go into effect, that the damage to U.S. 
national security is mitigated to the greatest extent possible.
    In addition to the above, the following specific areas and 
subjects are identified for special attention during the 113th 
Congress.

                             Policy Issues


  NATIONAL DEFENSE STRATEGY, NATIONAL MILITARY STRATEGY, AND RELATED 
                         DEFENSE POLICY ISSUES

    The committee is committed to ensuring that the U.S. 
military is properly postured to meet the complex security 
demands of the 21st century. This will involve closely 
reviewing how the Department of Defense postures itself to meet 
the demands of the war in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, 
the renewed focus on the Asia-Pacific, and dispersed special 
operations in support of the global war on terrorism, while 
also ensuring that the Department invests in modernization and 
remains capable of addressing new conventional and 
unconventional challenges. Therefore, the committee will 
provide oversight to ensure that all Department activities, 
capabilities and functions, including doctrine, organization, 
training, education, exercises, materiel, leadership, 
personnel, facilities, and planning, appropriately reflect the 
necessity to meet the full range of security requirements.
    Furthermore, when considering the overall posture of the 
Department, the committee will consider the recommendations 
delineated in the forthcoming 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review 
(QDR) and the associated National Defense Panel. In addition, 
the committee will consider these findings and recommendations 
in the context of the new defense strategic guidance that was 
released in January, 2012, and the findings of prior QDRs and 
independent panels.
    Through its constitutional responsibility arising from 
article I, section 8, to raise and support armies and to 
provide and maintain a Navy, the committee has a responsibility 
to ensure that the military can meet its future missions, as 
well as today's operational requirements. The committee's 
examination of strategic risk, in simple terms, will look to 
ensure that these joint forces retain the ability, regardless 
of present operational pressures and budgetary constraints, to 
deter any potential foe, respond to any contingency that 
threatens U.S. interests, and defeat any adversary who might 
threaten America's interests, in the worst case. In this 
regard, the committee will closely examine the Department of 
Defense's range of assumptions about future threats made in 
strategy documents to assess the adequacy of forces, the 
resources available, and the likely level of strategic risk. 
The committee will continue to monitor strategic risk and take 
action to mitigate it when necessary.

                         THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN

    The war in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has evolved 
since the nascent stages of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001, 
and it continues to embody vital U.S. national interests--to 
include ensuring that Afghanistan is not a sanctuary for 
terrorist groups or a launching pad for terrorist attacks 
against the United States and its allies.
    The surge in U.S. military troops and resources has 
improved security in Afghanistan; yet, these security gains are 
fragile and reversible. Given the recovery of approximately 
33,000 U.S. surge forces in September 2012, coupled with the 
continuing transition of lead responsibility to Afghan security 
forces, the next two years will be critical to ensuring U.S. 
security for years to come. U.S. forces in Afghanistan must 
continue to receive the resources necessary to conduct the 
missions that will be set forth by President Obama in 2013. 
Consequently, the committee will continue to conduct robust 
oversight activities during the 113th Congress on the North 
Atlantic Treaty Organization's International Security 
Assistance Force (NATO-ISAF) and Operation Enduring Freedom 
missions, more broadly. In addition, the committee will 
maintain a focus on the decisions and activities that will 
shape the operational environment in 2014 and the military 
presence beyond December 31, 2014.
    The committee will continue to examine the progress made in 
the execution of NATO-ISAF's counterinsurgency strategy and the 
security transition in Afghanistan. The committee will track 
the performance metrics for measuring operational and strategic 
success and will provide focused oversight on the mission set 
established by the President as well as the associated force 
levels authorized by the President. The safety and security of 
U.S. and allied forces will remain paramount in the committee's 
oversight approach--as discussed in greater detail below.
    The committee also will continue to monitor efforts to deny 
sanctuary in the border area between Afghanistan and the 
Islamic Republic of Pakistan as well as provide oversight on 
other critical efforts in Afghanistan such as the continued 
development and sustainment of the Afghan National Security 
Forces (ANSF) as they assume full responsibility for security. 
The committee also will continue oversight of reconstruction 
activities to ensure that appropriate accountability measures 
are taken.
    Finally, the committee will monitor and conduct oversight 
of the redeployment equipment and handover of facilities that 
will occur throughout 2013, 2014, and beyond--including the 
redeployment of the equipment, rolling stock, and other combat 
vehicles out of Afghanistan.

Force Protection

    The committee will continue to emphasize force protection 
as a high priority issue for special oversight--with a 
particular focus on areas having a direct impact on the safety 
of military personnel engaged in operations in the Islamic 
Republic of Afghanistan. The committee will seek to expedite 
the promulgation of policies and the fielding of technology and 
equipment that prevents and/or reduces combat casualties.
    In Afghanistan, as well as other overseas contingency 
operations, focus areas will continue to include but are not 
limited to: the policies for management and acquisition of 
counter improvised explosive device (CIED) equipment throughout 
the force to include attacking the network, defeating the 
device, and training the force; persistent surveillance, 
particularly prevention of IED emplacement; actionable tactical 
intelligence processing, exploitation, and dissemination 
capabilities in support of ground operations; capabilities to 
counter indirect fire; adequate, effective, and properly 
resourced quantities of body and vehicle armor to include 
survivability improvements to the combat and tactical vehicle 
fleets; and improving current biometric systems.
    Finally, the committee will continue to provide robust 
oversight and monitoring of the ``insider attacks'' perpetrated 
by Afghan security forces and private security contractors 
against U.S. and coalition personnel in Afghanistan. The 
committee will focus its oversight on the full range of the 
actions that the Department took before, during, and after an 
``insider attack.'' Moreover, the committee will provide 
oversight on the steps the Department is taking to continue to 
understand, and gain precise clarity into, the motive of the 
attacks; the tactics, techniques, and procedures leveraged by 
the attacker; the strategic effects of the attacks to the 
mission in Afghanistan; and the procedures being taken to 
mitigate for and prevent, to the maximum extent possible, 
future ``insider attacks.'' Lastly, the committee will pay 
close attention to the certification requirements for the 
Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF) set forth in the Afghan 
Security Forces Fund authority in the National Defense 
Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2013 in order to 
ensure that APPF personnel conducting static force protection 
for U.S. military personnel on bases in Afghanistan meet key 
professional and recruiting standards, such that potential 
``insider attacks'' perpetrated by the APPF are sufficiently 
mitigated.

                        GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM

    Since the 9/11 attacks, the United States has dealt Al 
Qaeda repeated and significant blows during the Global War on 
Terrorism. Despite many notable successes, Al Qaeda remains 
potent in Afghanistan and Pakistan and the organization's 
affiliates have expanded in countries like Somalia, Yemen, and 
Mali. The committee will continue to conduct extensive 
oversight, often in classified form, over terrorism issues, 
with particular attention given to special operations 
capabilities, the changing nature of Al Qaeda's organization 
and operations, and efforts to build partner nation 
counterterrorism capability. As the U.S. strengthens and builds 
partnership capacity with key allies around the globe, the 
committee will remain focused on the Department of Defense's 
efforts in aggressively fighting the Global War on Terror and 
countering radicalism in places of concern such as the Islamic 
Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Yemen, and the Horn of 
Africa. Ensuring security and stability in volatile regions 
that cannot adequately govern themselves or secure their own 
territory will remain a top priority for the committee.

The Greater Middle East

    The greater Middle East remains an area of particular focus 
for the committee in the 113th Congress. This geographic area 
includes countries in which the United States has invested 
significant military resources. Moreover, some countries in the 
greater Middle East embody historic significance for global 
jihad and continue to serve as operational platforms for global 
jihadist groups such as Al Qaeda and its affiliated and 
associated groups. As a result, the committee will continue to 
apply its resources towards oversight and evaluation of U.S. 
defense policies, readiness, and military programs in this part 
of the globe.
            Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    The committee will continue its oversight of the broad 
range of security issues involving the Islamic Republic of 
Pakistan and will carefully review the use of Coalition Support 
Funds (CSF), which are provided to reimburse Pakistan for its 
support to U.S. military operations and security assistance. 
Also, the committee will monitor any transfers of funds into, 
or out of, the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Fund (PCF). The 
committee will monitor the security and stability of Pakistan, 
including the security of Pakistan's nuclear weapons; 
Pakistan's on-going and future nuclear weapon projects; and its 
partnerships and operational capacity to combat key terrorist 
groups such as Al Qaeda, the Taliban, the Haqqani Network, and 
other terrorist organizations. Moreover, the committee will 
evaluate the terrorist activity emanating from the border area 
between Pakistan and Afghanistan and will provide oversight of 
the Department of Defense's efforts to combat that threat.
            Republic of Iraq
    The committee will conduct oversight of the Office of 
Security Cooperation in Iraq (OSC-I). The committee will 
monitor and evaluate the execution of the authority to train 
Iraqi security forces in an institutional, non-operational 
environment.
    The security situation in Iraq is part of a complex and 
evolving political landscape in the region. The committee will 
monitor political developments in Iraq to gauge the state of 
the security situation, including the increasingly 
transnational capacity of Al Qaeda in Iraq, and to understand 
the nature of the partnership with the Government of Iraq and 
the state of security in the region.
    The committee also will focus attention on Foreign Military 
Sales (FMS)--as the FMS system remains an important effort to 
further strengthen and sustain the security forces in Iraq. 
While primary oversight jurisdiction lies with the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs, Foreign Military Sales are complementary to 
the training provided by U.S. military trainers in Iraq under 
the OSC-I authority.
            Islamic Republic of Iran
    The committee will continue to monitor and provide inquiry 
into the development of nuclear weapons, and/or nuclear weapon 
capability, by the Government of Iran. During the 113th 
Congress, the committee will strive to gain both a greater 
conceptual clarity as well as a more detailed understanding of 
the threat posed by a nuclear, or nuclear-capable, Iran and the 
potential effects for the United States, its interests, and its 
allies in the region through public hearings, Department 
briefings, reports (such as the Iran Military Power Report), 
and oversight trips to the region.
    The committee will continue to monitor the sanctions 
already in place, as well as the sanctions established in the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. 
Additionally, the committee will conduct oversight of the full 
range of potential military activities, prepositioning of 
military assets, and operations to counter threats posed by 
Iran.
    Finally, the committee will continue to monitor the 
strategic orientation, operational capacity, and goals of the 
Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). Furthermore, the 
committee also will focus its attention towards the Iranian 
Quds Force, a special mission wing of the IRGC. In particular, 
the committee will work to understand the activities of the 
Quds Force as well as their actions and activities in post-
strike scenarios on Iran's nuclear sites.
            Syrian Arab Republic
    The committee will continue its inquiry into the evolving 
security and humanitarian situation inside Syria, as well as 
effects on its neighbors, including Turkey, Iran, Jordan, Iraq, 
and Lebanon. Additionally, the committee will monitor the 
diplomatic negotiations with President Assad, as well as the 
support of the Russian Federation to the Syrian regime. 
Furthermore, the committee will continue to focus on the influx 
of the jihadists in Syria, including the capacity and relative 
strength of the terrorist group, Jabhat al-Nusra, and the 
interplay of the jihadists within the Sunni population and the 
opposition groups, more broadly. Finally, the committee will 
continually examine the security of the chemical and biological 
stockpiles and associated weapon delivery mechanisms, and it 
will monitor the deployment and prepositioning of military 
personnel and resources to the region to address this issue 
set.
            Republic of Yemen
    The security situation in Yemen also will continue to be a 
significant focus for the committee. The committee will 
maintain its oversight on the U.S. military support and 
counterterrorism activities in Yemen. The committee will 
examine the strategic orientation of Al Qaeda in the Arabian 
Peninsula (AQAP) and Ansar al-Sharia. Additionally, AQAP's 
capacity for transnational terrorism will be a critical focus. 
Finally, the committee will monitor any activities of the 
Government of Iran in Yemen and whether those activities 
undermine U.S. activities in Yemen.

The Continent of Africa

    The committee will maintain its oversight focus on defense 
issues and Department of Defense activities in the Continent of 
Africa. Additionally, the committee remains interested in the 
Department's coordination within the interagency to address the 
range of activities that are occurring in Africa and to prevent 
terrorist activity emanating from the continent.
            North Africa
    The committee will continue to provide focused inquiry into 
the attack that occurred on September 11, 2012, in Benghazi, 
Libya. The committee will focus on the Department's continuing 
institutional response to the attack, as well as the 
implementation of the lessons learned from the attack; 
including, but limited to, interagency coordination, 
positioning of military assets, threat perception, threat 
analysis, intelligence cycle, intelligence sharing, operational 
coordination, and crisis response. Additionally, the committee 
will further its inquiry into Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb 
(AQIM), including the evolving nature of the group and its 
foothold in countries such as Algeria, Mauritania, and Mali. 
Also, the committee will provide inquiry into the steps the 
Department is taking to gather intelligence on this group and 
prevent this group from launching transnational terrorist 
attacks on the United States, its allies, or its interests.
            East Africa
    The committee will continue to provide robust oversight of 
the Department's efforts to counter the terrorist threats that 
are continuing to manifest in East Africa. In particular, the 
committee will remain focused on the evolution of Al Shabaab 
and its affiliated entities in Somalia, and the Horn of Africa 
(HOA) more broadly, as well as the steps that the Department is 
taking to counter this group and prevent it from launching 
transnational terrorist attacks on the United States, its 
allies, or its interests.
    Moreover, the committee will continue to monitor the 
overlapping ideological, strategic, and operational 
coordination between HOA terrorist groups, such as Al Shabaab, 
and terrorist groups on the Arabian Peninsula such as Al Qaeda 
in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
            West Africa
    The committee will continue its oversight of the 
Department's analysis of the terrorist group Boko Haram (BH), 
located primarily in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The 
committee will pay particular attention to the continuing 
ideological, strategic, and operational evolution of BH. The 
committee also will concentrate its attention on the geographic 
overlap and operational coordination with other terrorist 
groups on the Continent of Africa, such as AQIM and Al Shabaab.
            Central Africa
    Finally, the committee will provide oversight of the 
Department's activities to support the Uganda Peoples' Defense 
Force (UPDP) and other national militaries with approximately 
100 special operation forces to counter the Lord's Resistance 
Army (LRA) and apprehend or remove Joseph Kony, which has been 
occurring for over one year. In addition, the committee will 
continue its inquiry into the evolving security situation in 
the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the instability and 
humanitarian issues that are manifesting due to the activities 
of various rebel and anti-government militias, including the 
March 23rd (M23) rebel group.

                                  ASIA

    The new defense strategic guidance, released in January 
2012, stated that the United States military would rebalance to 
the Asia-Pacific region in recognition of the economic and 
security interests of the United States that are tied to the 
region. The region is home to more than fifty percent of the 
world's population; three thousand different languages; several 
of the world's largest militaries; five countries allied with 
the United States through mutual defense treaties (the 
Commonwealth of Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the 
Republic of the Philippines, and the Kingdom of Thailand); 2 of 
the world's 4 largest economies (Japan and the People's 
Republic of China); and 10 of its 14 smallest economies. Given 
the size and importance of the region, the committee will 
monitor the Department of Defense's strategy, force posture, 
and readiness, to ensure that U.S. forces are properly 
resourced and postured to protect U.S. national security 
interests.
    Efforts by China to expand regional influence may offer 
challenges. International tensions in the South China and East 
China Seas could affect regional and global stability. China's 
military modernization efforts have focused on investments to 
enable China to conduct a wide range of missions, including 
deterring, delaying, and denying international access within 
the Asia-Pacific region. These possibilities remain concerning 
to regional allies and partners.
    The committee will continue to oversee international 
efforts to contain the North Korean threat to regional 
stability. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea tested 
missile launch capabilities twice in 2012 in defiance of 
applicable United Nations resolutions. Despite chronic economic 
shortages leaving the civilian population malnourished, North 
Korea continues to devote limited resources to maintaining the 
world's fourth largest armed force with 1.2 million active-duty 
personnel, 5 million to 7 million reserves, 1,700 aircraft, 800 
naval vessels and more than 13,000 artillery systems. More than 
70% of North Korea's ground forces remain stationed within 90 
kilometers of the Demilitarized Zone, within striking distance 
of the greater Seoul metropolitan area and U.S. forces 
stationed in the Republic of Korea.
    The region's evolving security environment requires 
increased engagement with allies and partners. The committee 
will monitor key operational control transition initiatives 
between U.S. Forces Korea and the Republic of Korea, as well as 
the Yongsan Relocation Plan and the Land Partnership Plan. With 
respect to Japan, the committee will focus on the continued 
realignment of U.S. forces that are based in Japan. The 
committee will also evaluate U.S. military engagement with 
other regional allies and partners, including the Republic of 
India, Australia, the Philippines, and several other countries.

                       CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

    The committee will examine the issues affecting the United 
States military in Central and South America, as many nations 
in this region increasingly face the dangers of illicit 
trafficking, political turmoil, and instability that pose a 
potential threat to the homeland. The committee will oversee 
the execution of the military's security assistance programs in 
the Republic of Colombia, as this country continues to improve 
its national security and peace talks with the Revolutionary 
Armed Forces of Colombia. The committee remains concerned about 
the political situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela 
and the instability it brings to the region. The committee 
continues to monitor potential threats from global terrorist 
organizations such as Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, and the Iranian 
Revolutionary Guards Corps, who have increasing influence in 
the region. Additionally, the committee will focus on the 
growing economies in the region such as the Federative Republic 
of Brazil, the region's largest and fastest-growing economy, 
and its influence both in the Western Hemisphere and globally.
    The committee recognizes the importance of the United 
States' relationship with its Central and South American 
neighbors and the ability as a hemisphere to bring safety and 
security to the region.

                                 EUROPE

    While the stability and security of Europe remain core U.S. 
national interests, the U.S. military force presence maintained 
in Europe has declined dramatically since the end of the cold 
war. The planned withdrawal of two of four Army Brigade Combat 
Teams will further reduce U.S. military presence. Nevertheless, 
there are significant advantages that come from European-based 
U.S. troops, including the opportunity to train regularly with 
ally and partner forces at U.S. training centers in Europe and 
the ability to plan and launch operations elsewhere in the 
region, as was demonstrated recently by Operation Odyssey Dawn 
and Operation Unified Protector in Libya and the U.S. military 
response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2012 in 
Benghazi. The committee will examine all overseas basing, 
including that in Europe, to determine what is the most 
effective overseas force posture for our national security at 
the lowest possible cost.
    European allies are strong partners with the U.S. military, 
contributing to a range of regional and global missions, 
including approximately 50% of the International Security 
Assistance Force (ISAF) training teams in the Islamic Republic 
of Afghanistan. However, the continuing constrained fiscal 
environment has created pressures on the region's militaries, 
their defense budgets, and investments in future capabilities. 
To deal with the financial impact on the region's militaries, 
the members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 
agreed to a ``Smart Defense'' initiative, a series of projects 
designed to pool and share resources in order to better set 
priorities and encourage members to specialize. The May 2012 
NATO Chicago Summit focused on other issues affecting the 
future of the alliance, including missile defense and nuclear 
deterrence, development in the Middle East, and the transition 
of NATO forces in Afghanistan. The committee will focus on the 
U.S. military's engagement in NATO's activities.
    While the Cold War has been over for more than 20 years, 
the U.S. military's relationship with the Russian Federation is 
focused on building and maintaining cooperative military-to-
military relations while also reassuring U.S. allies wary of 
Russia's intentions. Russia remains focused on reforming and 
modernizing their forces, with specific emphasis on improving 
the recruitment, training and retention of its troops. However, 
since December 2007, Russia has ceased implementing its 
obligations to the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty, 
which included annual notification and data of military forces 
and basing. The committee will examine U.S. military's 
engagement with the Russian military. In 2012, Russia announced 
it wanted changes to the umbrella agreement with the United 
States. Set to expire in June 2013, the agreement helped the 
U.S. Government secure and dismantle Soviet-era nuclear weapons 
and contained key liabilities for U.S. personnel. The committee 
will continue to monitor Department of Defense and National 
Nuclear Security Administration efforts to secure Russian 
nuclear materials.

                      ADDRESSING EMERGING THREATS

    Terrorism, insurgency, and weapons of mass destruction 
proliferation are some of the emerging threats that challenge 
global peace and stability. These threats directly impact the 
National Military Strategy and require the Department of 
Defense to work effectively and efficiently with other Federal 
agencies and the security forces of other nations. The 
committee will conduct oversight of numerous cross-cutting 
Department activities central to addressing these emerging and 
unforeseen threats, including counterinsurgency, 
counterterrorism, security force assistance, and building 
partnership capacity (BPC), all of which received renewed 
emphasis in the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review.
    The committee will focus attention on how the Department 
addresses these broad threats in its strategic planning 
processes, how resources are arrayed to meet these threats, and 
how existing authorities are consistent with operational 
requirements. While there are roughly a dozen authorities that 
fall into the BPC category, the ones the committee considers 
most significant include train and equip ``1206'' and the new 
Global Security Contingency Fund. Since 2006, the committee has 
been increasingly active in this area, and the last several 
National Defense Authorization Acts have reflected what 
Congress considered to be the appropriate balance of providing 
sufficient authority for the most pressing needs of the 
Department of Defense while encouraging a more integrated 
interagency approach to building partnership capacity. 
Furthermore, the committee will continue to closely monitor and 
assess the execution of these BPC authorities, both during the 
initial congressional notification process and those programs 
in progress.
    The full committee, as well as the Subcommittee on 
Intelligence, Emerging Threats and Capabilities (given the key 
role Special Operations Forces play in this area), will 
continue their oversight of the full range of emerging threats 
to national security and U.S. military forces, and the 
capabilities needed to respond.

       DETAINEE POLICY, MILITARY COMMISSIONS, AND RELATED MATTERS

    The Department of Defense continues to be the custodian of 
detainees who are being held in the Islamic Republic of 
Afghanistan and United States Naval Station (GTMO), Guantanamo 
Bay, Cuba.
    With regard to detainee operations in Afghanistan, the 
committee will primarily focus on: the transfer and release of 
detainees held in the Bagram detention facility; cases of 
recidivism; and the continued transition of detainees into 
Afghan custody. The committee will specifically focus on the 
disposition of detainees who pose a continuing national 
security threat to the United States.
    With respect to detention operations at United States Naval 
Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the committee will continue to 
monitor transfer and release policies and practices, as well as 
the use of the Military Commissions Act (Public Law 109-366; 
Public Law 111-84) that established the current legal framework 
governing the operation of military tribunals to try detainees 
for war crimes and codified some of the procedural rights of 
GTMO detainees.
    The committee will also focus on issues relating to 
detention policy for future captures, detainee interrogations, 
prioritization of intelligence collection, procedures for 
detainee reviews, conditions of confinement, and the 
Department's role in the High Value Interrogation Group. The 
committee will also take other necessary actions and conduct 
related oversight.

                              INTELLIGENCE

    In the 113th Congress, the committee will continue to 
monitor the reorganization of the intelligence community 
through implementation of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism 
Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-458) and the creation of 
the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence position as 
authorized by the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-314). The committee will 
also place particular attention on: resource allocation for 
intelligence-related programs both for effectiveness and 
affordability; defense intelligence strategies and policies in 
consideration of current and anticipated future threats; 
organization and management of the elements of the Department 
of Defense that are part of the intelligence community; and the 
consideration and prioritization of defense intelligence 
requirements across the intelligence community. Additionally, 
the committee will monitor the Department's security practices, 
audit capabilities, and information-sharing policies following 
recent extensive unauthorized disclosures of classified 
information. All of the committee's efforts will be focused on 
ensuring the highest possible quality of intelligence support 
to the warfighter. Finally, the committee will continue to 
coordinate with the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence 
on intelligence and counterintelligence matters of the 
Department of Defense, and intelligence and counterintelligence 
activities of the Department of Energy in the course of its 
annual oversight of the intelligence community and the 
authorization of appropriations for intelligence activities 
shared by the two committees.

                      NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVES

    The debate that began during the 112th Congress about the 
most appropriate force structure mix of active and reserve 
components, about the proper roles and missions of the reserve 
components--be they an operational or strategic reserve--and 
about the affordability of the required force to meet national 
security requirements will intensify in the 113th Congress. 
Competition among the active and reserve components for 
diminishing resources will serve as a catalyst for that debate. 
As evidenced by the debate about the Air Force's active and 
reserve component force structure recommendations submitted 
with the Fiscal Year 2013 President's budget and subsequent 
Congressional action, reaching a consensus will be most 
challenging.
    During the 112th Congress, the National Defense Act for 
Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112-239) included provisions 
(title III, subtitle G) establishing a National Commission on 
the Structure of the Air Force to undertake a comprehensive 
study of the structure of the Air Force to determine whether, 
and how, the structure should be modified to best fulfill 
current and anticipated mission requirements for the Air Force 
in a manner consistent with available resources. The Commission 
will evaluate a structure that: meets current and anticipated 
requirements of the combatant commands; achieves an appropriate 
balance between the Regular and Reserve Components of the Air 
Force, taking advantage of the unique strengths and 
capabilities of each; ensures that the Regular and Reserve 
Components of the Air Force have the capacity needed to support 
current and anticipated homeland defense and disaster 
assistance missions in the United States; provides for 
sufficient numbers of regular members of the Air Force to 
provide a base of trained personnel from which the personnel of 
the Reserve Components of the Air Force could be recruited; 
maintains a peacetime rotation force to support operational 
tempo goals of 1:2 for regular members of the Air Forces and 
1:5 for members of the Reserve Components of the Air Force; 
and, maximizes and appropriately balances affordability, 
efficiency, effectiveness, capability, and readiness. The 
Commission will submit a report to the congressional defense 
committees not later than February 1, 2014, at which time the 
committee will evaluate any legislative or administrative 
recommendations made by the Commission as a result of the 
study.
    In the 113th Congress, the committee, building on the 
outcomes of the Commission report, will continue its review of 
the various recommendations and proposals and monitor proposed 
changes to ensure the recommendations will meet the National 
Military Strategy requirements, as well as homeland security 
and disaster requirements. Furthermore, the committee will 
continue to monitor and evaluate the obligation and execution 
rates of funds provided as part of a separate procurement 
account, entitled the National Guard and Reserve Equipment 
Account (NGREA) that would be used to address equipment 
shortfalls for the National Guard and Reserve Components. The 
committee will also focus oversight efforts on current 
equipment investment strategies for the National Guard and 
Reserve Components with particular emphasis on affordability 
and modernization of critical dual-use equipment platforms that 
are essential to the National Guard's Title 32 mission, defense 
support to civil authorities.

                  Fiscal Responsibility and Efficiency


                                OVERVIEW

    The committee is responsible not only for ensuring that the 
United States military has the capabilities required to 
preserve our national security, but also to ensure that the 
Department of Defense is operated efficiently and with fiscal 
discipline in order to maximize the return on the taxpayers' 
investments. To that end, the committee will conduct oversight 
of the organization and management of the Department of 
Defense, its business operations, and the means by which the 
Department acquires goods and services. Acquisition programs 
that no longer represent the best value for the taxpayer, due 
to a changing security environment, mismanagement, or the time 
required to deliver a useful capability to the warfighter, will 
be re-evaluated by the committee as part of the annual defense 
authorization process.
    Moreover, the committee will continue to examine the 
application of $451 billion in cuts to the Fiscal Year 2012 
Future Years Defense Plan over 10 years, as a result of the 
Budget Control Act of 2011 and H.R. 8, the American Taxpayer 
Relief Act of 2012. These cuts will reduce military end 
strength, force structure, and significantly alter planned 
procurements. Pursuant to clause 2(d)(1)(F) rule X of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, as the committee examines the 
impact of these funding reductions, the committee will cut or 
eliminate programs, including mandatory spending programs, that 
are deemed inefficient, duplicative, outdated, or more 
appropriately administered by State or local governments.
    Additional plans for oversight in this area during the 
113th Congress follow below.

        ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

    The committee will review the organization and management 
of the Department of Defense to ensure that it is properly 
postured to meet the complex and evolving security threats of 
the 21st century. The committee anticipates that the 
organization of the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the 
military departments will be modified, perhaps substantially 
so, as the Administration implements funding cuts imposed by 
the Budget Control Act of 2011 and the American Taxpayer Relief 
Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-240). The committee will carefully 
review any proposed organizational changes and work to ensure 
that the missions of the Department are appropriately aligned 
with organizations that have the core competency to perform 
them, as well as ensure that Department's enterprise, including 
the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the 
military departments, the combatant commands, and the defense 
agencies operate efficiently, cutting out organizational waste 
and redundancy. To that end, the committee will seek to ensure 
that any reductions in personnel are made in a balanced manner 
that considers total workforce management. Pursuant to clause 
(2)(p) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
the committee will also carefully review issues raised by the 
Comptroller General of the United States indicating that 
programs or operations that the committee may authorize are at 
high risk for waste, fraud, and mismanagement, known as the 
``high-risk list'' or the ``high-risk series''.

                          FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

    The committee will continue to oversee military 
effectiveness in this era of declining budgets. The Department 
of Defense has already identified a decrease of $487.0 billion 
over a 10 year period based on fiscal constraints. Additional 
reductions to defense resources, to include mechanisms such as 
sequestration, could affect the quality of our military force 
as the Department looks to successfully perform its role in the 
National Security Strategy.
    The Comptroller General of the United States has 
consistently identified the Department of Defense's financial 
management as a high-risk area since 1995. The Department's 
inability to track and account for billions of dollars in 
funding and tangible assets continues to undermine its 
financial management systems. It also creates a lack of 
transparency that significantly limits congressional oversight.
    Measures to reform defense acquisition or to find 
efficiencies within the Department are undermined by the 
Department's inability to produce auditable financial 
statements. Without these objective tools, neither the 
Department nor Congress can fully verify that greater value is 
being created.
    The committee will continue to review the Department's 
efforts to implement the Financial Improvement and Audit 
Readiness (FIAR) plan and to monitor closely the 
interdependencies between FIAR and the hundreds of millions of 
dollars per year being spent on business systems modernization 
programs that the Department has proposed to address its 
financial management problems.
    The committee looks forward to receiving notification that 
the Statement of Budgetary Resources will be audit ready during 
the 113th Congress, as the current projected date for that 
certification is September 30, 2014.

                           ACQUISITION ISSUES

The Acquisition System and Acquisition Policy

    The committee will continue to provide oversight of the 
defense acquisition system and address continuing concerns 
about cost growth in major defense acquisition programs and the 
responsiveness of the system to compelling military needs. In 
recent years, the committee has been especially active in the 
area of acquisition reform including: reforming the process for 
reviewing and certifying requirements for major defense 
acquisition programs; reforming contingency contracting; 
improving the acquisition workforce; protecting strategic 
materials; and establishing greater standards and transparency 
for services contracting.
    Nevertheless, the committee is still aware of and concerned 
about significant shortcomings in the acquisition system. The 
committee will continue to monitor the implementation of 
recently enacted acquisition reforms, to include implementation 
of legislation based on the findings and recommendations of the 
Commission on Wartime Contracting. The committee will also 
review the application of regulatory frameworks, such as cost 
accounting standards, to contracts entered into and performed 
overseas. As part of its oversight, the committee will continue 
to examine in-depth the military requirements process that is 
the foundation of the acquisition system. Weapon system 
programs begin with the validation of a military requirement. 
The process by which this occurs, while lengthy and filled with 
multi-service consultation, continues to produce outcomes which 
do not reflect the jointness that the military has achieved at 
the operating level. The committee will also continue to 
examine the process for developing the cost estimates for 
weapon systems. Unrealistic cost estimates are a significant 
cause of cost growth in DOD acquisitions. The absence of more 
realistic cost estimates makes it difficult to develop a well-
conceived acquisition plan that weighs competing strategic and 
budget priorities.
    Service contracting represents an increasingly important 
and large proportion of the acquisition expenditures of the 
Department of Defense. The committee will continue to work to 
reform appropriately the acquisition process to reflect this 
reality by: reviewing the management structure for these 
contracts; increasing the visibility and transparency of these 
contracts by reviewing service contract inventories; and 
monitoring efforts to prevent personal and organizational 
conflicts of interest. The committee will also monitor the 
Department's phasing out of the use of contractors to perform 
inherently governmental functions, such as serving as the lead 
system integrator on major defense acquisition programs.
    The committee has done a significant amount of work to 
improve the ability to contract in a contingency environment. 
The committee will seek to ensure that requirements development 
and planning for operational contract support is sufficient to 
enable rapid deployment and sustained response when and where 
it is needed. Over the past several years, the committee has 
maintained active oversight on the Department's urgent 
operational needs and rapid acquisition processes, most 
recently, in section 902 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112-239), that required 
the Secretary of Defense to designate a senior official to be 
the focal point within the Department to lead all efforts 
related to urgent operational needs and rapid acquisition. In 
addition to monitoring this effort, the committee will remain 
committed to diligent oversight and investigation into the many 
challenges facing the Department in the consolidation and 
management of the organizations involved in rapid acquisition 
and urgent operational needs and will continue to ensure the 
Department maintains and uses all necessary authorities to 
rapidly meet urgent warfighter requirements.
    The committee recognizes that a fundamental component in 
addressing most of the problems in the acquisition process is 
improving the composition and quality of the acquisition 
workforce. The committee will provide oversight to efforts to 
enhance career paths for military personnel working in 
acquisition, to the Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce 
Development Fund, and to other efforts by the Department to 
expand and improve the acquisition workforce. In addition, the 
committee will continue to ensure the protection of the 
Government's interest in technical data.

Defense Industrial Base and Technology Transfers

    The committee will continue to closely examine the health, 
security and innovative capacity of the defense industrial 
base, especially in light of changes to the defense strategy, 
the needs for recapitalization and modernization after 10 years 
of war, and looming budget pressures. The industrial base for 
complex major weapons systems has shrunk dramatically in the 
last decade, limiting the ability of the Department of Defense 
to control costs and encourage innovation through the use of 
competition. Industry has also struggled in many cases to make 
the long-term investments that are vital to the health of the 
defense industrial base, notably so in the shipbuilding 
industry. The committee will examine the policies and funding 
tools available to the Department to ensure the health of the 
defense industrial base.
    The committee will also monitor implementation of recent 
changes to the U.S. export control regime in order to determine 
its effectiveness in preventing the transfer of sensitive 
military-related technologies to potential adversaries. The 
consolidation of the defense industry and its increasingly 
global nature will increasingly challenge the capabilities of 
current systems for industrial security. The committee will 
monitor the Department's plans and statutory authorities for 
industrial security to ensure their adequacy. In addition to 
overseeing the effectiveness of the Defense Security Service to 
carry out this mission, the committee will review traditional 
mechanisms for industrial security, such as the security 
clearance process and the National Industrial Security Program, 
as well other areas where adversaries could exploit 
vulnerabilities or loop holes in the acquisition process to 
undermine the U.S. defense industrial base.

Information Technology and Business Systems

    Information technology (IT) systems are critical enablers 
for the Department of Defense. As the IT budget represents 
nearly $33 billion of the Department of Defense's total budget, 
it also represents a major investment area requiring the same 
rigorous planning and oversight as any other complex major 
weapon system. The Department recognized this area as a source 
of greater efficiencies and has managed to reduce spending in 
IT by several billion dollars across the Future Years Defense 
Program. The committee will continue to review the Department's 
IT investment planning and acquisitions to reduce unwarranted 
duplication and eliminate programs of little value to the 
warfighter. The committee will pay particular attention to the 
various IT business systems of the Department where egregious 
programmatic failures such as the Air Force's Expeditionary 
Combat Support System have occurred, but which are also 
critical components in the Department's strategy to achieve 
auditability.

                               Readiness


                                 RESET

    The committee will continue to monitor the services' reset 
strategies to repair, recapitalize, and replace equipment used 
in ongoing operations and will also closely monitor progress 
toward complete reconstitution of prepositioned stocks. The 
committee believes that full reset remains at risk in a 
constrained budget environment. Subsequently, the committee 
will provide rigorous oversight of ongoing property 
accountability and retrograde efforts aimed at returning 
equipment with remaining military value to home station. 
Further, the committee will continue to monitor the disposition 
of non-standard equipment returning from the Islamic Republic 
of Afghanistan to ensure that important items are incorporated 
into units' tables of equipment, are budgeted for and sustained 
properly, and that items no longer of military utility are 
disposed of in the most cost-effective manner possible.

                            FORCE READINESS

    The committee will hold force readiness as one of its 
highest priorities and will continue rigorous oversight in this 
area, focusing not only on the readiness of deployed personnel 
supporting ongoing operations in the Islamic Republic of 
Afghanistan, but on the ability of the services to conduct 
full-spectrum combat missions should the need arise. Shortfalls 
in full-spectrum readiness have improved as operational tempo 
has slowed with the end of combat operations in the Republic of 
Iraq, equipment and personnel shortfalls have been addressed, 
and dwell time has increased, allowing for a return to full-
spectrum training. However, challenges in key areas still 
exist, and the committee will be closely monitoring how planned 
end strength reductions acutely impact these areas. Further, 
the committee will continue its oversight of the Department of 
Defense's efforts to prepare for a wider range of possible 
contingencies and its efforts to restore readiness in key 
support areas such as logistics, prepositioned stocks, and 
contracted service support.

                         LIFE-CYCLE SUSTAINMENT

    Without appropriate and timely input from the logistics 
community, decisions made during system design can create 
unnecessary sustainment problems that drive millions of dollars 
in depot-level maintenance once the system is fielded. The 
committee will focus on reducing the total-ownership costs of 
weapons systems and equipment by ensuring the Department of 
Defense is developing, procuring and modernizing weapons 
systems and equipment with consideration of life-cycle support 
and sustainment requirements and cost. In its oversight of the 
Department's life-cycle sustainment efforts, the committee will 
monitor the implementation of section 2337 of title 10, United 
States Code, which requires that each major weapons system be 
supported by a product support manager and section 832 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Public 
Law 112-81) which requires additional visibility of the 
operation and support of major weapon systems. Furthermore, the 
committee will continue its oversight of the Department's 
corrosion control efforts and will monitor resourcing of 
corrosion prediction and prevention efforts with a focus on 
increasing the service life of weapons systems while reducing 
long-term sustainment costs.

                      DEPOT AND ARSENAL CAPABILITY

    A critical piece of equipment sustainment is the capability 
provided by the nation's organic arsenals and depots, including 
air logistics centers and shipyards. The committee is concerned 
about the health of the organic industrial base in a declining 
workload environment with the end of combat operations in the 
Republic of Iraq and as combat operations continue to decrease 
in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. While the committee 
notes that some military departments have completed an organic 
industrial base sustainment plan, it is concerned that that the 
Department of Defense continues to lack a comprehensive 
strategy to ensure U.S. military depots and arsenals are viably 
positioned and have the workforce, equipment, and facilities 
for efficient operations to meet the nation's current 
requirements, as well as those in the future. The committee 
will continue oversight of depot and arsenal operations and 
management, focusing on capital investment in facilities and 
equipment, the implementation methodology and use of 
sustainment concepts such as performance-based logistics, the 
role of public-private partnerships, the use of working capital 
funds for timely product improvement, and the services' 
logistics enterprise resource planning systems. Furthermore, 
the committee will examine how recent efficiency initiatives 
and workforce reductions impact depot and arsenal capability as 
well as programs and initiatives designed to assure 
availability of critical organic manufacturing capabilities.

                           CIVILIAN PERSONNEL

    The Department of Defense has long relied on the Federal 
civilian workforce to support its missions around the world, 
often requiring civilians to serve in active combat zones. It 
is clear that the Department's civilian workforce plays a 
critical role in the readiness of United States military 
forces. In its oversight of the 113th Congress, the committee 
will assess continuing efforts to transition from the National 
Security Personnel System (NSPS) and ensure that the Department 
implements a fair and transparent performance management 
system. The committee will also continue to closely monitor the 
implementation of each military department's efficiencies 
initiatives and related impacts on the civilian workforce, 
including the ability of the Department to carry out its 
mission, particularly in light of pending personnel cuts and 
budget reductions.

                         ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

    An effective energy strategy for the Department of Defense 
will increase the operational effectiveness of the military and 
will enhance our national and energy security. Therefore, the 
committee will review the energy strategies promulgated by the 
Department of Defense and will monitor trends in the 
Department's energy use on military installations and for 
military operations.
    The committee will also continue its oversight of the 
Department of Defense and military services' environmental 
restoration program and will monitor Department of Defense 
funding and adherence to federal, state, and local requirements 
for cleanup, compliance, and pollution prevention.

                Military Construction and Infrastructure


                                 BASING

    The Department of Defense is undergoing a significant 
change in force structure both in the United States and 
overseas. These changes are being implemented to enhance 
operational efficiencies and ensure access to future 
contingency operations. The committee will continue to review 
all significant domestic and overseas basing proposals to 
ensure that these proposals rigidly adhere to existing 
statutory limitations.

                   MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMMING

    The committee will review the Department's military 
construction program to manage the overall capacity of the 
Department's infrastructure and to ensure prudent long-term 
military construction investments are provided.

          REAL PROPERTY ACQUISITION, MAINTENANCE, AND DISPOSAL

    The real property management process requires extensive 
oversight to maintain almost $850.0 billion in infrastructure 
at an annual cost of nearly $45.0 billion. The committee is 
concerned that infrastructure inefficiencies result in 
duplicative operations and uncoordinated investment decisions, 
and will seek to apply best practices across the Department in 
order to efficiently maintain the services' taxpayer funded 
infrastructure.

             Total Force, Personnel, and Health Care Issues


 MANPOWER SUFFICIENT IN QUANTITY AND QUALITY TO MEET GLOBAL COMMITMENTS

    Some argue that military personnel have become or are 
becoming too expensive. The committee rejects that assertion 
because such a budget-oriented focus misses the fundamental 
questions that the committee will assess: What does the Nation 
need in terms of the quantity of manpower and the quality of 
that manpower to meet its current and future global military 
commitments, without undue risk to the Nation? In this context, 
the Fiscal Year 2013 President's budget request proposed to 
reduce the end strengths of the Army and Marine Corps by 
100,000 over a five-year period, bringing both services down to 
approximately pre-9/11 levels. The committee remains concerned 
with such reductions while those services are still engaged in 
major combat operations in Afghanistan and smaller engagements 
throughout the world. Reflecting that concern, Congress, in the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public 
Law 112-239) limited the personnel reductions the Army and 
Marine Corps could execute each year between Fiscal years 2014 
and 2017, thereby seeking to prevent a hollowing of the force. 
The committee will continue to provide aggressive oversight of 
military manpower levels and force structure to ensure they 
meet the National Military Strategy. This oversight will seek 
to provide Active, Guard and Reserve forces that have manpower 
levels sufficient to sustain varying degrees of conflict, while 
maintaining deployment ratios at or above Department of Defense 
objectives. Within this focus, the committee will examine 
closely trends in force structure requirements, end strength, 
recruiting, retention and compensation.

  MORALE, WELFARE AND RECREATION PROGRAMS AND MILITARY RESALE PROGRAMS

    Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) and military resale 
programs (commissary and exchange stores) have been criticized 
as being unnecessary and wasteful and targeted for reductions 
in appropriated funding. The committee rejects such assertions 
and believes cost efficient sustainment of MWR and military 
resale programs (commissaries and exchanges) is required to 
protect quality of life in military communities and maintain 
the combat readiness of the force. The committee will provide 
oversight efforts directed toward that end.
    Additionally, the committee believes that MWR and military 
resale programs must remain competitive with private sector 
entities to ensure that service members and their families 
benefit fully from these programs. The committee must monitor 
current practices and policies to ensure that MWR and military 
resale programs are employing the full range of strategies 
available to private sector competitors to inform authorized 
patrons about the benefits associated with these programs and 
attract them to participate. This is especially true for 
commissaries that are restricted from using pricing, product, 
and advertising strategies that are common in the private 
sector because of legislative and policy barriers.

                           MILITARY BENEFITS

    During the 113th Congress the Department of Defense budget 
will remain under considerable stress and military benefits 
will be targeted for reductions. The committee must remain 
vigilant and give close scrutiny to proposals from the 
Department of Defense and other organizations, both 
governmental and private sector, calling for funding reductions 
to military compensation and other benefit programs. For 
example, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2013 authorized a Military Compensation and Retirement 
Modernization Commission to review the full range of 
compensation and benefit programs that could applied to service 
members, families, retirees, and survivors, to include programs 
managed by the Department of Defense, the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Education. The 
Commission's deliberations must be closely monitored and its 
recommendations carefully scrutinized by the committee.

         MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES

    A continued principal focus of the committee during the 
113th Congress will be to assess the adequacy and effectiveness 
of mental health services provided to members of the Armed 
Forces and their families. Particular attention will be given, 
but not limited to, the suicide prevention efforts undertaken 
by each military service and the development of the 
comprehensive Department of Defense policy on prevention of 
suicide among members of the Armed Forces required by the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, 
including mental health resources for members of the Reserve 
Components and implementation of a suicide prevention and 
resilience program specifically for the Reserves and National 
Guard.

                     SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY

    The committee will continue to hold the Department of 
Defense and the military services accountable to address sexual 
assaults in the military and ensure victims are provided the 
appropriate care and support. In that regard, the committee 
will continue rigorous oversight in this area, focusing not 
only on sexual assault prevention and response, but on the 
capability of the military justice system and the Uniform Code 
of Military Justice to prosecute and bring offenders to 
justice. In that regard, the committee looks forward to 
receiving the recommendations of the independent reviews and 
assessments of Uniform Code of Military Justice and judicial 
proceedings of sexual assault cases that were mandated in the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public 
Law 112-239). That act also requires the Department of Defense 
to make significant improvements to their programs and policies 
to prevent and address sexual assaults involving members of the 
Armed Forces. Implementation of these program and policy 
improvements will require close oversight by the committee.

                      MILITARY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

    The committee is committed to a robust military health 
system which provides quality health care for service members, 
retirees, and their families. The cost of providing health care 
to military beneficiaries will remain a particular focus for 
the committee during the 113th Congress. The committee will 
continue to explore innovative strategies to improve the health 
status of beneficiaries and control cost growth within the 
military health care system with particular emphasis the role 
of preventive care. Additionally, to ensure that the military 
health system is efficient and effective, the committee will 
conduct oversight activities on the reforms to the military 
health system described in the memorandum of the Deputy 
Secretary of Defense dated March 2012. Particular attention 
will be focused on health information technology systems and 
the acquisition process for military health related 
procurement. Finally, the committee remains committed to a 
robust medical research and development program focused on 
military heath issues, such as blast injury mitigation and 
treatment, combat trauma care, military infectious diseases, 
and medical biological/chemical defense.

                          WOUNDED WARRIOR CARE

    The committee will continue its efforts to assess the 
adequacy of the Department of Defense policies and programs for 
wounded and disabled service members and their families. In 
this regard, the committee will continue to evaluate the 
Department Defense's ability to integrate and coordinate the 
multitude of services and resources available to assist the 
wounded and disabled, not only from other federal agencies, but 
also from the private sector. In addition, the committee will 
monitor the Department's progress toward establishing uniform 
performance outcome measurements for use by each military 
service in the Warrior in Transition programs. The 
congressionally mandated Department of Defense centers of 
excellence will be reviewed for opportunities to expand 
capabilities and make improvements. The committee will continue 
to closely monitor translational research and treatment 
advances in traumatic brain injury. Particular attention will 
be focused on the Integrated Disability Evaluation System with 
a view to ensuring the fairness, effectiveness, timeliness, and 
efficiency of the program and to simplify the process for 
service members.

                       MILITARY FAMILY READINESS

    We remain a Nation at war. Consequently the families of the 
members of the Armed Forces continue to experience the strains 
associated with repeated deployments. In this regard, the 
committee will continue to focus on the needs of military 
families and to identify the programs and policies that can be 
developed or modified to improve their lives. As end strengths 
of the Armed Forces are reduced and resources shrink, the 
committee will closely examine the Department of Defense and 
military service family support programs to ensure the 
continued viability of these programs to address the needs of 
military families. In addition, the committee will focus on the 
outcomes of the Department of Defense wide review of hiring 
practices at child development centers.

                 PRISONER OF WAR AND MISSING IN ACTION

    Over the past several years, the committee has maintained 
active oversight of the Department of Defense's POW/MIA 
activities, as the committee of jurisdiction. That oversight 
led to the requirement that the Department of Defense reform 
the POW-MIA accounting effort and achieve significantly higher 
levels of identification by 2015. The committee will remain 
committed to diligent oversight and investigation into the 
challenges facing the Department in reaching the new accounting 
objectives, particularly with respect to the recovery, 
identification, and return of remains that have been found.

                  Modernization and Investment Issues


                                OVERVIEW

    The committee will conduct oversight of the full range of 
modernization and investment issues facing the Department of 
Defense. In particular, the committee will seek to ensure the 
military services have the appropriate authorities, 
capabilities, and force structure to defend against any 
potential challenges posed by the advanced anti-access 
capabilities of countries, such as China and Iran, consistent 
with the report of the 2010 Department of Defense Quadrennial 
Defense Review which found that, ``Anti-access strategies seek 
to deny outside countries the ability to project power into a 
region, thereby allowing aggression or other destabilizing 
actions to be conducted by the anti-access power. Without 
dominant capabilities to project power, the integrity of U.S. 
alliances and security partnerships could be called into 
question, reducing U.S. security and influence and increasing 
the possibility of conflict.''

          ARMY AND MARINE CORPS ARMORED VEHICLE MODERNIZATION

    The committee will focus on oversight of the Army and 
Marine Corps' ambitious and evolving plans to recapitalize 
their entire fleets of heavy and medium-weight armored vehicles 
over the next two decades, including the M1 Abrams tank, M2 
Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Stryker Vehicles, the Expeditionary 
Fighting Vehicle, the Marine Personnel Carrier program, 
upgrades for Light Armored Vehicles, upgrades to Paladin 
artillery systems, and replacement of Army M113 series 
vehicles. In particular, the committee will focus on ensuring 
that the existing fleet of armored vehicles is properly 
upgraded and reset after very heavy use in the Republic of Iraq 
and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and that the Army 
continues to field vehicles that stay ahead of the evolving 
anti-vehicle threat posed by improvised explosive devices and 
advances in anti-tank guided missiles.
    In addition to ensuring modernization of existing armored 
vehicles, the committee will also continue aggressive efforts 
to oversee and shape the evolving Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) 
program and the follow-on effort to the Expeditionary Fighting 
Vehicle (EFV). In the 113th Congress, these oversight efforts 
will focus on understanding the basis of these requirements as 
they pertain to the Analysis of Alternatives, containing 
program costs, and ensuring appropriate and thorough testing. 
The committee will also continue to work closely with the 
Government Accountability Office and the Congressional Budget 
Office to conduct continuous oversight and evaluation of major 
development programs as necessary.

            ARMY AND MARINE CORPS TACTICAL WHEELED VEHICLES

    The committee will focus oversight efforts on the Army and 
Marine Corps' tactical wheeled vehicle (TWV) modernization 
strategies for their families of light, medium, and heavy TWVs, 
the family of mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles, 
line haul tractor trailers, and construction equipment. In 
particular, the committee will focus on ensuring that the 
existing fleet of TWVs and MRAPs are properly modernized and 
reset after very heavy operational use in the Republic of Iraq 
and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The committee will 
closely monitor TWV fleet size and composition and focus on 
ways to adequately sustain the TWV industrial base given 
significant decreases in overall requirements and the current 
fiscal environment. Of particular interest to the committee 
will be the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program. The 
committee will closely monitor the JLTV budget, cost, schedule, 
and performance outcomes that result from the revised JLTV 
acquisition strategy. The committee will continue to coordinate 
with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) regarding the 
Department's efforts in the long-term management and 
sustainment of the TWV fleet and its associated industrial 
base.

                         ARMY AVIATION PROGRAMS

    Legacy rotorcraft platforms, including the CH-47, UH-60, 
AH-64, and OH-58, will likely continue to be operated at high 
operational tempos, in very challenging environments. These 
high operational tempos will require continued upgrade and 
reset efforts.
    In addition to its oversight of aviation requirements for, 
and performance in, combat operations, the committee will 
closely monitor the Army's future force program for aviation. 
In particular, the committee will focus on the Army's 
restructured acquisition plan resulting from the cancellation 
of the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter, the initiation of 
modernization programs such as the Joint Future Theater Lift 
(JFTL) program, and the need for aircraft survivability 
equipment upgrades to provide warning and protection against 
evolving surface-to-air missile threats.
    With regard to the JFTL program, while the committee has 
supported research efforts to develop next-generation 
rotorcraft capabilities, it is concerned that senior leadership 
of the services and the Office of the Secretary of Defense have 
yet to establish a set of validated, reconciled, tested, and 
achievable technology requirements for the JFTL program.

                      ARMY COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMS

    Given the growing importance of battlefield communications 
networks in global combat operations, the committee will 
continue to aggressively monitor the Army's plans for its 
future battlefield network and the supporting research programs 
now in place. In particular, the committee will focus oversight 
efforts on the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN--T) 
and the follow-on efforts resulting from the restructured Joint 
Tactical Radio System (JTRS) programs. The committee will work 
with the Army to ensure that the future battlefield 
capabilities it creates results in a network-enabled, rather 
than a network-dependent, Army. The committee aims to empower 
soldiers to accomplish their missions, rather than create an 
Army that is dependent on its communications network, so much 
so that it is not able to function without it.

            ORGANIZATIONAL CLOTHING AND INDIVIDUAL EQUIPMENT

    The committee will continue to devote substantial attention 
to the oversight of the research, development, and procurement 
of organizational clothing and individual equipment and other 
complementary personnel protection programs. Focus areas will 
continue to include but are not limited to: advances in weight 
reduction (``lightening the load'') clothing and equipment; 
development of specific body armor systems for military 
servicewomen; small arms and small caliber ammunition 
modernization with particular emphasis on the Army's individual 
carbine program and handgun program; improved combat helmets; 
improved uniforms; and management of these associated niche 
industrial bases. The committee expects the Joint Staff and the 
military services to coordinate requirements for these 
individual equipment programs and will encourage joint programs 
wherever possible.

                   TACTICAL AIRCRAFT FORCE STRUCTURE

    The committee will continue to focus on the size and 
composition of the tactical aircraft force structure. Continued 
delays in the initial operational capability of the F-35 Joint 
Strike Fighter aircraft have the potential to result in future 
tactical aircraft force structure shortfalls if service life 
extensions for legacy aircraft cannot be accomplished.
    With an operational requirement of 1,056 strike fighters, 
the Department of the Navy projects it can manage a strike 
fighter shortfall of 65 aircraft in the 2020s. The committee 
will focus on inventory objectives of F/A-18E/F and EA-18G 
procurement, the effect of delays in the procurement of the F-
35 Joint Strike Fighter, 
F/A-18 A through D service life limits, and mission capability 
of the AV-8B aircraft.
    The Air Force has stated a strike fighter operational 
requirement of 1,900 aircraft, and, under current procurement 
and retirement plans, the Air Force does not project a strike 
fighter shortfall through 2030. However, delays in deliveries 
of the F-35A aircraft and in achieving its initial operational 
capability will affect the Air Force fighter aircraft 
inventory. In the 113th Congress, the committee will continue 
its oversight of: aircraft retirement plans; the F-22 and F-35 
aircraft programs; and life extension and modernization 
programs for the F-15, F-16, and A-10 aircraft.

                       F-35/JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER

    During the 113th Congress, the committee will continue 
oversight of the F-35/Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program, 
particularly issues related to program cost, schedule, and 
performance.
    With the JSF approximately two-thirds of the way through a 
14-year development process, the committee believes that there 
is still risk in completing JSF development within currently 
projected cost, schedule, and performance parameters. The 
committee's primary concerns include software development, 
helmet-mounted sight development, and resolution of issues 
related to the F-35C's arresting hook system. In the 113th 
Congress, the committee will continue to receive JSF annual 
reports and receive testimony and briefings from both the 
Department of Defense and an independent review from the 
Government Accountability Office.

                         BOMBER FORCE STRUCTURE

    The committee understands that the Air Force will continue 
investments of significant fiscal resources for technology 
development and engineering, manufacturing and design of a 
next-generation, long-range strike bomber aircraft during the 
next few years. While many details regarding the specific 
requirements and capabilities of the new bomber remain highly 
classified, the committee will maintain aggressive oversight of 
the new bomber acquisition strategy to ensure that the Air 
Force develops an affordable aircraft to timely meet future 
requirements and recapitalization of the current fleet of B-52, 
B-1 and B-2 long-range strike bomber aircraft.
    During the many years of development, manufacturing and 
eventual fielding of the new bomber aircraft, it will be 
imperative that the Air Force continues to maintain, modernize 
and upgrade the existing fleet of bomber aircraft in order to 
preserve effective capabilities needed to meet current and 
future threat target sets. The committee will continue to 
maintain oversight of current bomber aircraft inventory 
requirements and modernization plans to ensure that the Air 
Force maintains a sufficient, credible and lethal fixed-wing 
aircraft conventional and strategic weapons delivery capability 
to support all aspects of the National Military Strategy.

                       AERIAL REFUELING AIRCRAFT

    The committee will continue to maintain active oversight of 
aerial refueling aircraft modernization and recapitalization 
programs of the Air Force. Currently, the KC-135 and KC-10 are 
the primary providers of U.S. air-refueling critical 
capabilities in executing operations in support of the National 
Military Strategy. Given the limited fiscal resources available 
to the Air Force for recapitalization of the KC-135 fleet of 
395 aircraft, this will result in having to maintain and 
operate KC-135 aircraft that will be in the fleet for over 70 
years. Therefore, timely and efficient recapitalization of the 
Air Force's KC-135 tanker fleet with new KC-46 aerial refueling 
aircraft is critical. Additionally, the Air Force plans to 
perform an avionics modernization program on the KC-10 fleet of 
tankers to maintain relevant and effective aerial refueling 
capabilities until a successor program to the KC-46 aircraft is 
begun to replace the KC-10 aircraft.
    The committee understands and is pleased that the KC-46 
program is currently meeting cost, schedule, and execution 
goals and the committee will maintain sufficient oversight of 
the KC-46 program as it progresses towards meeting its 
projected initial operating capability date during calendar 
year 2018.

                 INTERTHEATER AND INTRATHEATER AIRLIFT

    Regarding intertheater airlift aircraft capabilities, the 
committee continues to remain skeptical of Air Force plans to 
reduce the intertheater airlift aircraft inventory below 301 
total aircraft in support of the defense strategic guidance 
issued in January 2012. The committee notes that the Air Force 
made a recommendation in the fiscal year 2013 budget request to 
reduce the intertheater airlift inventory to 275 aircraft 
total, despite not having performed sufficient and rigorous 
analysis to underpin that recommendation. In Section 141 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, the 
conferees included a provision that would prevent reducing the 
inventory of intertheater airlift aircraft below 301 until the 
Department of Defense conducts, and submits to the 
congressional defense committees, a comprehensive mobility 
capabilities and requirements study that assesses the end-to-
end, full spectrum mobility requirements for all aspects of the 
National Military Strategy derived from the National Defense 
Strategy.
    Regarding intratheater airlift aircraft capabilities, the 
committees believes that a minimum Air Force intratheater 
airlift inventory of 318 general support and 40 direct support 
aircraft contained in Section 1059 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 should be sufficient to 
meet both Air Force and Army operational requirements in 
support of combatant commander operational plans being 
developed to execute the defense strategic guidance issued in 
January 2012. The committee, however, remains skeptical that 
the Air Force has yet to fully embrace and institutionalize 
effective concepts of operations in support of Army direct 
support airlift requirements and will maintain close oversight 
of Air Force implementation of the January 27, 2012, memorandum 
of understanding agreed upon by the Vice Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff and by the Chiefs of Staff of the Air Force and 
the Army.
    The committee will continue to maintain close oversight and 
scrutiny of Air Force intertheater and intratheater airlift 
aircraft inventories and capabilities during the 113th session 
to ensure that a robust and effective fleet of airlift aircraft 
is maintained in the Air Force inventory to meet all mobility 
airlift requirements of the Department of Defense.

                         SHIPBUILDING PROGRAMS

    The committee will continue close oversight of the 
Department of the Navy shipbuilding programs. In particular, 
the committee will conduct hearings, briefings and on-site 
inspection to assess the requirements for the size and 
composition of the nation's battle force fleet. With the 
announcement of a ``pivot'' to place more emphasis on the 
Pacific theater of operations, the committee is concerned that 
instead of a requirement for a larger fleet than the 313 ship 
target, the target has decreased to approximately 300 ships. 
The committee will continue to evaluate the projected 
investment required to maintain maritime dominance and deter 
peer or near-peer maritime aggression. As part of such an 
evaluation, the committee will continue to place a significant 
emphasis on improving affordability in shipbuilding programs 
through: the requirements process; the use of acquisition best 
practices; stability within the overall program; increased 
reliance on common systems; and process and facility 
improvements at construction yards. The committee will conduct 
hearings and briefings to assess the need for legislative 
action to recapitalize infrastructure of public and private 
shipyards constructing or maintaining Navy vessels and vessels 
of the National Defense Sealift Force.

    MILITARY INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE PROGRAMS

    Manned and unmanned intelligence, surveillance, and 
reconnaissance (ISR) system programs have come to constitute a 
significant component of the overall Department of Defense 
force structure. The capability provided by these assets is 
critical to sustaining deterrence and warfighting capability of 
U.S. forces. The committee will focus on the budget, cost, 
schedule, and performance outcomes of major manned and unmanned 
aerial systems programs and examine the ISR enterprise for 
balance in collection and analysis capabilities. Also, close 
scrutiny of Office of the Secretary of Defense ISR policy 
formulation and oversight have been and will continue to be of 
interest to the committee. Long-standing concerns of the 
committee remain: lack of an adequate long-term ISR 
architecture and acquisition strategy; lack of supporting 
analysis for programmatic decisions; failure to balance 
collection programs data output with adequate resources to 
process, exploit, and disseminate data and analysis; and 
unnecessary proliferation of manned and unmanned vehicles and 
sensors. The committee will expect the Joint Staff and Joint 
Requirements Oversight Council to take a more active role in 
coordinating ISR system acquisition and coordinating employment 
with the combatant commanders.

                        DIRECTED ENERGY PROGRAMS

    Each of the military services and the Office of the 
Secretary of Defense within the Department of Defense have 
continued to fund numerous directed energy research and 
development efforts for the last three decades. While some 
limited capabilities have been successfully demonstrated, in 
most cases the results achieved have not lived up to 
expectations. The committee has continued to support these 
efforts, especially as they support missile defense and other 
emerging concepts for countering anti-access and area denial 
threats. In the 113th Congress, the committee will more closely 
examine organizing concepts provided by the military services 
and the Office of Secretary of Defense as demonstration 
projects become viable programs and the respective services 
develop acquisition plans in support of fielding directed 
energy capabilities.

                           NUCLEAR DETERRENCE

    The committee oversees the atomic energy defense activities 
of the Department of Energy (DOE) and nuclear policies and 
programs of the Department of Defense (DOD) to ensure the 
safety, security, reliability, and credibility of the U.S. 
nuclear deterrent. Particular emphasis will be placed on 
oversight of DOE and the DOD nuclear modernization plans, 
including but not limited to infrastructure investments, 
warhead life extension programs, stockpile stewardship and 
management plans, delivery system modernization, nuclear 
command and control, and security. The committee will closely 
watch the Administration's funding of the nuclear enterprise to 
ensure sufficient resources are provided and allocated 
effectively across DOE and DOD requirements.
    The committee will also provide oversight of the 
Administration's nuclear policy and posture, extended 
deterrence policy, arms control activities, nuclear 
nonproliferation activities, and force structure requirements. 
Particular emphasis will be placed on oversight of the 
Administration's nuclear weapons policies, including changes to 
nuclear weapon employment policies and efforts to reduce U.S. 
nuclear forces. The committee will also review the 
effectiveness of DOE and DOD organization and management of the 
nuclear enterprise, including coordination of plans and 
policies via the joint Nuclear Weapons Council, the performance 
and efficiency of the National Nuclear Security Administration, 
laboratory and production site management and operations, 
workforce sustainment, and management of defense nuclear waste.

                            MISSILE DEFENSE

    The committee oversees the Department of Defense's efforts 
to develop, test, and field layered missile defense 
capabilities to protect the United States, its deployed forces, 
and its friends and allies against the full range of ballistic 
missile threats. Particular emphasis will be placed on U.S. 
homeland missile defense capabilities, European Phased Adaptive 
Approach implementation and ensuring an adequate hedging 
strategy for the protection of the U.S. homeland, developmental 
and operational testing, force structure and inventory 
requirements, sensor-to-shooter integration, and science and 
technology investments in areas such as directed energy. The 
committee will be closely watching the Administration's funding 
of the missile defense program, seeking the cost-effective 
application of resources, and looking for opportunities to 
bring greater stability to the industrial base.
    The committee will continue to monitor foreign ballistic 
missile threats and identify opportunities to strengthen 
international missile defense cooperation with allies and 
partners such as the State of Israel, Japan, and North Atlantic 
Treaty Organization member states. Department of Defense 
oversight and management of missile defense activities, 
including the roles, responsibilities, and acquisition policies 
and procedures of the Missile Defense Agency and military 
services will also be reviewed. The committee will also provide 
oversight of the Administration's missile defense policy and 
posture, including close examination of any Administration 
efforts that may limit missile defenses as part of a treaty or 
agreement, and implications for United States, regional, and 
global security.

                        NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE

    The committee oversees the national security space programs 
of the Department of Defense, including combat support agencies 
and elements of the Department of Defense that are part of the 
Intelligence Community. Particular attention will be placed on 
space acquisition strategies that reduce technical risk and 
promote greater stability and predictability in the industrial 
base to maintain or advance capabilities while reducing cost; 
mitigating risks that could create gaps in space capabilities; 
affordability and increasing government buying power; science 
and technology investments and improving the transition of 
technologies to baseline programs; assured access to space, 
including opportunities for competition while maintaining 
mission assurance through our national security space launch 
programs; exploitation of space sensor data to maximize 
effectiveness and efficiency; and improving the synchronization 
between satellite and terminal acquisition programs.
    The committee will continue to monitor foreign space 
threats and assess the Department's space situational 
awareness, space protection, space control, and operationally 
responsive space activities. The committee will also provide 
oversight of the Administration's space policy and posture, 
review efforts to improve governance and management across the 
national security space enterprise, and promote efforts that 
sustain the technical workforce.

                   Emerging Threats and Capabilities


        INVESTMENT IN FUTURE CAPABILITIES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

    The Department of Defense faces difficult choices as it 
balances the competing needs of capabilities for current 
operations and those projected for future conflicts. In order 
to address the latter, investments must be made in the 
Department's Science and Technology (S&T) programs, and aligned 
appropriately with continued development and procurement 
programs to position the Department to meet those future 
challenges. Preparing for the challenges of the future, the 
Department must create a portfolio of technological options 
that can address the perceived threats identified in the 
defense planning process, as well as the emergence of 
unanticipated events or strategic competitors. Overcoming the 
bureaucratic inertia of existing acquisition roadmaps should be 
more properly balanced with capabilities to institutionalize 
adaptability. With the emergence of nontraditional adversaries 
pursuing ``complex irregular warfare,'' the Department of 
Defense recognized that true transformation required investment 
in additional capability areas. The committee will continue to 
encourage the Department to plan and execute a balanced S&T 
program that ensures the U.S. military can retain superiority 
for future generations.

                     CYBER OPERATIONS CAPABILITIES

    Cyber operations have taken on an increasingly important 
role in military operations as well as national security more 
broadly. Accordingly, the committee will continue to closely 
scrutinize the Department's cyber operations, organization, 
manning and funding to ensure the military has the freedom of 
maneuver to conduct the range of missions in the nation's 
defense, and when called upon, to support other interagency and 
international partners. An important oversight role for 
Congress regarding the conduct of defensive and offensive cyber 
operations will be to ensure proper legal and policy frameworks 
are in place and are followed. The committee will also continue 
to scrutinize military cyber operations to ensure they are 
properly integrated into combatant commander's operational 
plans, and to ensure that adequate capabilities exist or are in 
development to employ these cyberspace operational tools with 
rigor and discretion to support a full range of options for 
national decision makers. In the course of monitoring the 
cybersecurity posture of the military, the committee will also 
continue to examine the effects of globalization on the assured 
integrity of microelectronics and software.

                         INFORMATION OPERATIONS

    Engagement with foreign audiences and nuanced understanding 
of the information environment is pivotal in countering violent 
extremists, interrupting the radicalization process, and 
identifying and countering efforts at deception and 
misinformation. As such, strategic engagement is a key element 
to success on the battlefield and an important tool to prevent 
or deter conflict before escalation. The committee will pay 
particular attention to the Department of Defense's information 
operations strategy and how these tools will be further 
developed and adapted to support warfighter needs in a changing 
security environment. These activities enable military 
operations and military support to diplomacy, and the committee 
will continue to conduct oversight of these critical 
capabilities as they transition from a wartime to a peacetime 
security posture.
                        COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET

    Resolved: That the Committee on the Budget, pursuant to 
clause 2(d) of House Rule X, adopts as the Oversight Plan of 
the Committee on the Budget for the 113th Congress the 
following:

                    COMMITTEE JURISDICTION/OVERSIGHT

    Under clause 2(d) of House Rule X, each Committee is 
required to adopt and submit to the Committees on Oversight and 
Government Reform and House Administration an oversight plan by 
February 15 of the first session of each Congress. The Budget 
Committee's oversight responsibilities include both the breadth 
of the Federal budget and its legislative jurisdiction.
    Under clause 1(d)(1) of House Rule X, the primary 
responsibility of the Budget Committee is the development of a 
concurrent budget resolution that sets spending and revenue 
levels in aggregate and across 21 budget functions.
    Although the subject matter of the budget is inherently 
broad, in addition to oversight of the budget and the economy, 
the Committee's formal oversight responsibility includes laws 
governing the budget process and the agencies responsible for 
administering elements of those laws. Under clauses 1(d)(1)-(3) 
of House Rule X, the major laws falling within its oversight 
are the Budget and Accounting Act of 1920, the Congressional 
Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, the Balanced Budget 
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act of 1995, the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 
2010, and the Budget Control Act of 2011. The two agencies with 
primary responsibility for administering elements of these laws 
and hence which fall under the Committee's jurisdiction are the 
Office of Management and Budget [OMB] and the Congressional 
Budget Office [CBO].
    In addition to these general oversight responsibilities, 
the Budget Committee has the special oversight responsibility 
under clause 3(c) of House Rule X to study the effect of budget 
outlays of existing and proposed legislation and to request and 
evaluate continuing studies of tax expenditures.

                   OVERSIGHT PLAN FOR 113TH CONGRESS

                           Budget Priorities

    In the process of developing the annual concurrent budget 
resolution, the Committee will hold hearings and receive 
testimony from Members of Congress, Cabinet-level and other 
Federal officials, State and local officials, and expert 
witnesses to review the budget and economic outlook, the 
President's budget submissions and other budget proposals.
    The Committee will review and pursue budget process reform 
legislation.
    The Committee will assess the performance of Federal 
agencies in both administration and service delivery by 
reviewing performance data in the President's budget 
submissions and the relevant reports and audits of the 
Government Accountability Office and the Offices of the 
Inspectors General.
    The Committee will study the budgetary effect of existing 
law and proposed legislation, as well as government regulation, 
on government spending, and explore ways of reducing waste, 
fraud, and abuse in government agencies.
    The Committee will draw on the authorizing Committee's 
Views and Estimates on the President's Budget, which are 
submitted to it pursuant to section 301(d) of the Congressional 
Budget Act, to coordinate its oversight activities with other 
Committees.
    The Committee will continue to review the budgetary 
treatment of assistance to, and ongoing operations of, Federal 
National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and Federal Home 
Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac).

                           Budget Enforcement

    The Committee will provide ongoing oversight of the Office 
of Management and Budget's implementation of budget submission, 
control, execution, and enforcement procedures under the Budget 
and Accounting Act of 1921, the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974, the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990, and the Balanced 
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, the Statutory 
Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, and other applicable laws.
    The Committee will assess the extent to which both the 
President's budget submissions and the budget resolutions for 
fiscal years 2014 and 2015 comply with applicable budget laws. 
The Committee will also work to ensure compliance of the 
budget-related provisions of H. Res. 5.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\H. Res. 5 (Adopting Rules for the One Hundred Thirteenth 
Congress) Rule #XXIX, Clause 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    As part of these responsibilities, the chair may provide 
authoritative guidance concerning the impact of a legislative 
proposition on the levels of new budget authority, outlays, 
direct spending, new entitlement authority and revenues.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\H. Res. 5 (Adopting Rules for the One Hundred Thirteenth 
Congress) Rule #XXIX, Clause 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Committee will enforce spending limitations and improve 
accountability pursuant to H. Res. 5, prohibiting consideration 
of a bill, joint resolution, amendment or conference report if 
the provisions of such measure have the net effect of 
increasing mandatory outlays.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\H. Res. 5 (Adopting Rules for the One Hundred Thirteenth 
Congress) Rule #XXI, Clause 10.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In addition, the Committee will monitor reclassifications 
of budget accounts, reestimates of the subsidies of credit 
programs, consistency in cost estimates for direct spending and 
tax bills, compliance with the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
Deficit Control Act of 1985 and other relevant laws, in the 
development of budget projections, and changes in spend-out 
rates for discretionary programs, and implementation of 
performance plans.
    The Committee will work with the Appropriations Committee 
and the authorizing Committees to ensure that spending and tax 
legislation does not breach the appropriate levels in the 
budget resolution, as required under sections 302(f) and 311(a) 
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 or violate the budget 
provisions of H. Res. 5.

                  Direct Spending and Tax Expenditures

    The Committee will request and evaluate continuing studies 
of tax expenditures and direct spending by the Federal 
Government, and whether they are the most appropriate and 
efficient means to achieve specified public policy goals.

                            Economic Policy

    The Committee will study how economic policies affect the 
Federal budget. The Committee will also study monetary policy 
and its effects on the Federal budget. The Committee plans to 
take testimony from the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Ben 
Bernanke to review economic conditions, fiscal conditions, and 
monetary policy.

                           OVERSIGHT SCHEDULE

    The following are the Committee's initial plans for 
hearings and other oversight activities.
First Session (2013)
Winter 2013--Hearing on CBO's Economic and Budget Outlook--
Director of CBO.

Winter 2013--Hearing on the President's Fiscal Year 2014 
Budget--Director of OMB.

Winter 2013--Hearing on the President's Fiscal Year 2014 
Budget--Treasury Secretary.

Winter 2013--Hearing on the President's Fiscal Year 2014 
Budget--Members of Congress.

Winter 2013--Possible additional hearings on the President's 
budget and the budget outlook.

Winter 2013--Receive Views and Estimates from other Committees 
to coordinate development of the annual concurrent budget 
resolution.

Winter 2013--Possible hearing on Federal entitlement spending 
and the long-term budget outlook.

Winter-Spring 2013--Possible field hearings.

Spring 2013--Hearing on the economy--Chairman of the Federal 
Reserve Board.

Summer 2013--Hearing on the long-term budget outlook.

Possible additional hearings to review federal spending, taxes, 
deficits, debt, the federal budget process, and the economy.
Second Session (2014)
Winter 2014--Hearing on CBO's Economic and Budget Outlook--
Director of CBO.

Winter 2014--Hearing on the President's Fiscal Year 2015 
Budget--Director of OMB.

Winter 2014--Hearing on the economy.

Winter 2014--Hearing on the President's Fiscal Year 2015 
Budget--Treasury Secretary.

Winter 2014--Hearing on the President's Fiscal Year 2015 
Budget--Members of Congress.

Winter 2014--Receive Views and Estimates from other Committees 
to coordinate in developing the annual concurrent budget 
resolution.

Summer 2014--Hearing on the long-term budget outlook.

Possible additional hearings may include reviewing federal 
spending, taxes, deficits, debt, and the economy.
    The Committee will also conduct research, examine programs, 
and prepare analyses of fiscal and economic issues with an 
emphasis on providing for a more effective and accountable 
Federal government.
                COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND THE WORKFORCE

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                  Washington, DC, February 6, 2013.
Hon. Darrell Issa,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Candice S. Miller,
Chairman, Committee on House Administration,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Chairman Issa and Chairman Miller: The Committee on 
Education and the Workforce considered and adopted its 
Oversight Plan for the 113th Congress on January 22, 2013. In 
accordance with House Rule X, I am pleased to provide the 
attached hardcopy version of the Oversight Plan of the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce for the 113th 
Congress. This is in addition to the electronic copy of the 
oversight plan that has been forwarded to your staff.
            Sincerely,
                                                John Kline,
                                                          Chairman.

                    OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATION PLAN

                    1. Adoption of an Oversight Plan

    Each standing committee of the House is required to 
formally adopt an oversight plan at the beginning of each 
Congress. Specifically, clause 2(d)(1) of Rule X of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives states in part:

        Not later than February 15 of the first session of a 
        Congress, each standing committee shall, in a meeting 
        that is open to the public and with a quorum present, 
        adopt its oversight plan for that Congress. Such plan 
        shall be submitted simultaneously to the Committee on 
        Oversight and Government Reform and to the Committee on 
        House Administration.

    2. Jurisdiction of the Committee on Education and the Workforce

    Rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives vests 
in the Committee on Education and the Workforce (the 
``committee'') jurisdiction over issues dealing with students, 
education, workers, and workplace policy. Specifically, clause 
1(e) of Rule X vests the committee with jurisdiction over the 
following subject-matter:

          (1) Child labor;
          (2) Gallaudet University and Howard University and 
        Hospital;
          (3) Convict labor and the entry of goods made by 
        convicts into interstate commerce;
          (4) Food programs for children in schools;
          (5) Labor standards and statistics;
          (6) Education or labor generally;
          (7) Mediation and arbitration of labor disputes;
          (8) Regulation or prevention of importation of 
        foreign laborers under contract;
          (9) Workers' compensation;
          (10) Vocational rehabilitation;
          (11) Wages and hours of labor;
          (12) Welfare of miners; and
          (13) Work incentive programs.

                 3. General Oversight Responsibilities

    Clause 2 of Rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives provides in part:

    (a) The various standing committees shall have general 
oversight responsibilities as provided in paragraph (b) in 
order to assist the House in--
          (1) its analysis, appraisal, and evaluation of--
                  (A) the application, administration, 
                execution, and effectiveness of Federal laws; 
                and
                  (B) conditions and circumstances that may 
                indicate the necessity or desirability of 
                enacting new or additional legislation; and
          (2) its formulation, consideration, and enactment of 
        changes in Federal laws, and of such additional 
        legislation as may be necessary or appropriate.
    (b)(1) In order to determine whether laws and programs 
addressing subjects within the jurisdiction of a committee are 
being implemented and carried out in accordance with the intent 
of Congress and whether they should be continued, curtailed, or 
eliminated, each standing committee (other than the Committee 
on Appropriations) shall review and study on a continuing 
basis--
          (A) the application, administration, execution, and 
        effectiveness of laws and programs addressing subjects 
        within its jurisdiction;
          (B) the organization and operation of Federal 
        agencies and entities having responsibilities for the 
        administration and execution of laws and programs 
        addressing subjects within its jurisdiction;
          (C) any conditions or circumstances that may indicate 
        the necessity or desirability of enacting new or 
        additional legislation addressing subjects within its 
        jurisdiction (whether or not a bill or resolution has 
        been introduced with respect thereto); and
          (D) future research and forecasting on subjects 
        within its jurisdiction.

    Clause 2 of Rule XI of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives provides:

    (n)(1) Each standing committee, or a subcommittee thereof, 
shall hold at least one hearing during each 120-day period 
following the establishment of the committee on the topic of 
waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement in Government programs 
which that committee may authorize.
    (2) A hearing described in subparagraph (1) shall include a 
focus on the most egregious instances of waste, fraud, abuse, 
or mismanagement as documented by any report the committee has 
received from a Federal Office of the Inspector General or the 
Comptroller General of the United States.
    (o) Each committee, or a subcommittee thereof, shall hold 
at least one hearing in any session in which the committee has 
received disclaimers of agency financial statements from 
auditors of any Federal agency that the committee may authorize 
to hear testimony on such disclaimers from representatives of 
any such agency.
    (p) Each standing committee, or a subcommittee thereof, 
shall hold at least one hearing on issues raised by reports 
issued by the Comptroller General of the United States 
indicating that Federal programs or operations that the 
committee may authorize are at high risk for waste, fraud, and 
mismanagement, known as the ``high-risk list'' or the ``high-
risk series.''

               4. Exercise of Oversight Responsibilities

    Oversight is a constitutional prerogative and 
responsibility of the Congress. Oversight is a core objective 
of the committee. Accordingly, the committee will thoroughly 
oversee and investigate the various agencies, departments, and 
programs within its jurisdiction. In so doing, the committee 
will actively consult with other House committees having 
concurrent or germane jurisdiction. In its oversight 
proceedings, the committee will make full use of hearings in 
Washington, D.C. and of regional field hearings to ensure all 
relevant voices are heard and made part of the official record. 
Among other investigative techniques, the committee will visit 
relevant sites, correspond with affected parties, and review 
audits and investigations by, among others, the Congressional 
Research Service, the Government Accountability Office, the 
United States Attorney General, and the Offices of the 
Inspectors General of the Departments of Labor, Education, and 
Health and Human Services.
    The committee has identified several particular areas for 
oversight and investigation in the 113th Congress. These areas 
are discussed below:
    General Departmental Activities. The committee will 
continue its oversight of all programs and statutes 
administered and enforced by the U.S. Department of Education, 
the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. 
Department of Justice, and independent agencies within its 
jurisdiction. The committee will review Department of Education 
programs to ensure they are consistent with the appropriate 
federal role in education, operating in an effective and 
efficient manner, and following Congressional intent in their 
scope, activities, and operations. Regarding the Department of 
Labor, the committee will closely monitor and review the Office 
of Federal Contract Compliance Programs' newly proposed 
administrative, paperwork, and recordkeeping requirements 
associated with the hiring and advancement of individuals with 
disabilities and veterans; regulations implementing recent 
legislative changes to the Family and Medical Leave Act; 
revisions to the temporary worker programs; and regulations 
relating to the Fair Labor Standards Act. The committee will 
continue to monitor the implementation of the Child Nutrition 
Act, including upcoming and recently released regulations by 
the Department of Agriculture.
    Elementary and Secondary Education. The committee will 
continue to monitor the implementation of new and existing 
projects and programs created independently by the Department 
of Education such as Promise Neighborhoods and Race to the Top-
District competition, and scrutinize the implementation of 
American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) programs such as 
Race to the Top, Investing in Innovation, and School 
Improvement Grants. The committee will examine the actions of 
the department in issuing waivers of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act (ESEA), including scrutinizing the 
department's role in approving state applications. The 
committee will examine federal policies that inhibit or prevent 
students' access to a high-quality elementary and secondary 
education that best meets their individual needs, including 
public, public charter, private, or home school options.
    Higher Education. The committee will continue to monitor 
the regulatory actions of the Department of Education to ensure 
all students have access to postsecondary education programs 
that allow them to enter the workforce ready to work, including 
examining any federal regulations that unfairly target one 
sector of higher education over another. The committee will 
increase its oversight over the William D. Ford Federal Direct 
Loan Program, including examining the ability of the department 
to properly serve all borrowers in a timely and equitable 
fashion.
    Early Childhood. The committee will continue to monitor and 
review the Department of Health and Human Services' 
implementation of early childhood care and education programs. 
Specifically, the committee will examine the department's 
administration of the Head Start program, including its 
implementation of the new Designation Renewal System and other 
efforts to improve program quality in a fair, consistent, and 
transparent manner.
    Child Safety. The committee believes children should have a 
safe and secure learning environment to attend school, from 
early education through higher education, and accordingly will 
conduct appropriate oversight. The committee will scrutinize 
the implementation and effectiveness of the Child Abuse 
Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), the foremost federal law 
to prevent child abuse (last reauthorized in 2010), including 
pressing the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct 
and report on the results for several critical studies about 
program effectiveness. The committee will also examine school 
safety measures to understand what efforts are effective at 
protecting children from harm.
    Job Training. The committee will continue to examine the 
effectiveness of the more than 40 federal workforce training 
programs or activities administered by the Department of 
Labor's Employment and Training Administration and other 
federal agencies to ensure they meet the training needs of both 
employers and job seekers. The committee will actively conduct 
oversight of the Job Corps program, including examining recent 
budget shortfalls in the program, ensuring health and safety 
problems identified at center locations by the Inspector 
General have been resolved in a timely manner, and increasing 
accountability measures to turn around persistently low-
performing centers.
    Retirement Security. The committee will monitor the 
Department of Labor's administrative activity relating to 
employee benefit plans under the Employee Retirement Income 
Security Act (ERISA). The committee will continue to oversee 
regulatory and enforcement actions affecting single-employer 
and multiemployer defined benefit plans and defined 
contribution plans. Furthermore, the committee will continue 
its oversight of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 
including its financial outlook and future solvency, its 
provision of financial assistance to insolvent multiemployer 
plans, and its administration of terminated plans. Finally, the 
committee will examine the administration's reports, required 
by statute, relating to the multiemployer pension system.
    Union Democracy. The committee will conduct oversight and 
investigations, as appropriate, to ensure employee and employer 
rights under the National Labor Relations Act are protected and 
applied consistently and without bias. The committee will work 
to ensure employee freedom when electing and participating in a 
union, and to ensure the National Labor Relations Board 
properly fulfills its responsibilities. Additionally, the 
committee will continue to monitor the Department of Labor's 
enforcement and administration of the Labor-Management 
Reporting and Disclosure Act. The committee will scrutinize 
regulatory proposals and will investigate actions that reduce 
union transparency and accountability to their members.
    Health Care. The committee will continue to perform 
aggressive oversight of the health care matters affecting 
employers and their workers, including the administration's 
implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care 
Act (PPACA). PPACA greatly expanded the role of government in 
the health care system. It made significant changes to the 
health insurance marketplace and the manner in which employers 
provide health insurance to workers and their families. Given 
the central role employers play in the delivery of health care, 
providing coverage to an estimated 160 million people, the 
committee has a responsibility to conduct oversight of the 
law's effects on employers' ability to offer their workers 
affordable health insurance plans. Specifically, the committee 
will continue to examine the extent to which PPACA affects the 
financial and administrative costs of employer-sponsored health 
insurance. Additionally, the committee will carry on its 
ongoing efforts to assess the impact of the law's new taxes on 
employers, workers' wages, hours worked, and job creation.
    Workplace Safety. The committee recognizes that safe 
workplaces are vital to the well-being of our nation's workers 
and the strength of our economy. Accordingly, the committee 
will continue its efforts to ensure that federal workplace 
safety laws, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act 
and the Mine Safety and Health Act, adequately protect American 
workers. The committee will also take steps to ensure that the 
agencies responsible for administering and enforcing these 
statutes do so fairly, effectively, and efficiently.
    In addition, the committee reserves the right to review and 
investigate general legislative, administrative, and regulatory 
issues within the jurisdiction of the committee.
                    COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                 Washington, DC, February 13, 2013.
Hon. Darrell E. Issa,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Chairman Issa: Pursuant to Rule X of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, please find attached the Oversight 
Plan for the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The Committee 
met in open markup session on February 5, 6, and 12, 2013, and 
adopted the oversight plan by a voice vote with no recorded 
opposition.
    I look forward to working with you on oversight matters in 
the 113th Congress.
            Sincerely,
                                                Fred Upton,
                                                          Chairman.

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

    During the 113th Congress, the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce will hold hearings and conduct rigorous oversight over 
matters within its jurisdiction. The Committee will conduct 
thorough oversight, reach conclusions based on an objective 
review of the facts, and treat witnesses fairly. The Committee 
will request information in a responsible manner that is 
calculated to be helpful to the Committee in its oversight 
responsibilities. The Committee's oversight functions will 
focus on: 1) cutting government spending through the 
elimination of waste, fraud, and abuse and 2) ensuring laws are 
adequate to protect the public interest or are being 
implemented in a manner that protects the public interest, 
without stifling economic growth.

                      HEALTH AND HEALTHCARE ISSUES

               Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

    In the 113th Congress, the Committee will continue to 
examine issues related to the Department of Health and Human 
Services implementation of Public Law 111-148, The Patient 
Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the related 
Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, Public 
Law 111-152. This will include the numerous provisions 
contained within the law that affect the private insurance 
market in the United States, the creation of health insurance 
exchanges, and the operation of those exchanges by either the 
states or the federal government. The Committee will also 
examine the regulations and requirements imposed on both small 
and large businesses, and the law's effects on individuals.
    The Committee will also evaluate what controls are in place 
to prevent bias, waste, fraud, and abuse in the management of 
PPACA and its programs. The Committee will monitor deadlines 
imposed on HHS by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care 
Act and examine what procedures HHS has in place for meeting 
those deadlines and/or complying with missed deadlines. The 
Committee will examine what programs HHS has in place to 
improve the availability of reliable, consumer-oriented 
information on the cost and quality of health care goods, 
services, and providers. The Committee will also examine the 
status and future of employer-sponsored health care plans as 
well as the effects of PPACA's enactment on the states. The 
Committee will examine the impact of PPACA and its implementing 
regulations on the economy, consumers, and the health care 
industry as well as the process by which those regulations are 
drafted.

               Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

    The Committee will review the management, operations, and 
activity of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 
(CMS) and the programs it administers. The Committee will 
examine and review Medicare and Medicaid management and 
activity as it relates to ongoing Committee efforts to prevent 
bias, waste, fraud, and abuse in federal health care programs, 
particularly in the implementation of PPACA. The Committee will 
investigate the process by which CMS implements statutory 
formulas to set prices for Medicare payment, as well as the 
effectiveness of those formulas. The Committee will evaluate 
the competitive bidding process for durable medical equipment 
and examine ways to use similar programs in Medicare and 
Medicare Advantage plans. The Committee will examine the 
effects that the Medicaid expansion included in PPACA will have 
on state budgets, the budgets of individuals and families, the 
budgets of providers currently providing uncompensated care, 
and the impact it may have on access to health insurance and 
health care. The Committee will investigate the processes by 
which CMS prevents bias, waste, fraud, and abuse in the award 
of government contracts.

              Food and Drug Administration and Drug Safety

    The Committee will review whether the Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA) is ensuring that regulated drugs are safe, 
effective, and available to American patients in an expeditious 
fashion. The Committee will also explore the interplay between 
these policies and drug innovation, both in the United States 
and abroad. Further, the Committee will examine FDA's 
enforcement of current drug safety laws and the issues involved 
in protecting the nation's supply chains against economically 
motivated and other forms of adulteration. The Committee will 
continue its investigation of FDA's handling of the 2012 fungal 
meningitis outbreak linked to contaminated, compounded drugs.

                             Public Health

    The Committee will examine the roles of various federal 
agencies involved in insuring and protecting the public health, 
including the implementation and management of these programs. 
In particular, the Committee will review federal efforts on 
mental health and pandemic preparedness, including influenza 
preparedness.

                                Tobacco

    The Committee will examine the implementation of the 2009 
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, including 
regulatory actions by the Food and Drug Administration.

                     ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT ISSUES

                         National Energy Policy

    During the 113th Congress, the Committee will examine 
issues relating to national energy policy, including U.S. 
policies that relate to production, supply, and consumption of 
electricity, oil and natural gas, coal, hydroelectric power, 
nuclear power, hydraulic fracturing, and renewable energy. The 
Committee will examine the impact of government policies and 
programs on the exploration, production, and development of 
domestic energy resources, including issues relating to the 
nation's current energy infrastructure. The Committee will also 
continue to examine safety and security issues relating to 
energy exploration, production and distribution.

                          Electricity Markets

    The Committee will review federal electricity policies of 
the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission (FERC) to ensure that those policies 
promote competitive wholesale power markets, transmission, and 
generation infrastructure upgrades, and compliance with 
relevant statutes. It will also examine the activities of the 
DOE and FERC relating to electric industry restructuring, 
protection of consumers, and the development of efficient and 
vigorous wholesale markets for electricity.

  Management of the Department of Energy and its National Laboratories

    The Committee will oversee management and operations issues 
at the Department of Energy (DOE), including oversight, 
management, and operations of the National Nuclear Security 
Administration (NNSA) and the national laboratories. The 
Committee's oversight work will include a review of the 
implementation of security and safety reforms at NNSA and DOE 
facilities, ongoing safety and security matters, the Office of 
Environmental Management's cleanup program, and DOE's 
implementation of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act.

                             Yucca Mountain

    The Committee will examine the financial and other 
implications of DOE's decision to abandon licensing for Yucca 
Mountain as a nuclear waste repository, and the potential 
impact of this action on the future of nuclear energy in the 
United States. The Committee will also continue to examine the 
actions of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 
connection with its obligations under the Nuclear Waste Policy 
Act.

                   The Nuclear Regulatory Commission

    The Committee will review the activities of the Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission. The Committee will examine NRC's budget 
requests and conduct oversight of the manner in which the 
Commission discharges its various responsibilities, including 
licensing activity, the safety and security of nuclear power 
facilities, and the agency's post-Fukushima regulatory changes.

                             Clean Air Act

    The Committee will continue to review significant 
rulemakings under the Clean Air Act and the potential economic 
and job impacts of those rulemakings on the energy, 
manufacturing and construction industries and other critical 
sectors of the U.S. economy, as well as any public health and 
environmental benefits of the regulations. The Committee's 
review will include oversight of the Environmental Protection 
Agency's (EPA) decisions, strategies and actions to meet Clean 
Air Act standards, and the current role of cost, employment and 
feasibility considerations in Clean Air Act rulemakings.

                             Climate Change

    The Committee will continue to monitor international 
negotiations on efforts to control greenhouse gas emissions in 
connection with concerns about global climate change. In 
addition, the Committee will examine the EPA's efforts to 
regulate domestic greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air 
Act based on its endangerment finding. The Committee will 
consider whether such agreements and regulatory efforts are 
scientifically well grounded. The Committee will also review 
the activities undertaken in this area by the Department of 
Energy (DOE), the Department of Health and Human Services 
(HHS), and other agencies within the Committee's jurisdiction, 
including efforts to prepare for and respond to weather events 
and natural disasters in the future.

                     EPA Management and Operations

    The Committee intends to conduct general oversight of the 
EPA, including review of the agency's funding decisions, 
resource allocation, grants, research activities, enforcement 
actions, relations with State and local governments, public 
transparency, and respect for economic, procedural, public 
health, and environmental standards in regulatory actions. The 
oversight will also include EPA program management and 
implementation, including efforts to reduce fraud and abuse in 
the renewable fuels program.

                 Investment in the Green Energy Sector

    The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, or the 
stimulus) provided $84.6 billion in new spending for the green 
energy sector, as well as $21.6 billion in tax credits for 
energy, transport, and climate science. The Committee will 
continue to review how this money was spent; the development of 
new technologies, products, and businesses focused on green 
energy; and how this spending has impacted the domestic 
suppliers or manufacturers of alternative energy products.

                  COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY ISSUES


        A Modern Communications Framework for the Innovation Age

    The Committee will exercise its jurisdiction over wired and 
wireless communications to ensure our nation's policies 
governing voice, video, audio and data services are promoting 
investment, innovation and job creation. The country's current 
regulatory regime takes a siloed approach in which different 
technological platforms--such as wireline, wireless, broadcast, 
cable, and satellite--are regulated differently based on 
regulations that may be decades old. As we move deeper into the 
Internet era, however, providers are increasingly using these 
platforms to offer the same or similar services. The committee 
will examine whether these regulations should be updated to 
better meet the communications needs of the country and ensure 
its citizens enjoy cutting edge services, as well as the 
economic benefits they bring.

                   Federal Communications Commission

    During the 113th Congress, the Committee will conduct 
oversight of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 
including the effect of the FCC's decisions on innovation and 
the U.S. economy. Among other things, the Committee will 
evaluate the impact generally of FCC actions on voice, video, 
audio, and data services, and on public safety. The Committee 
will pay particular attention to whether the FCC conducts cost-
benefit and market analyses before imposing regulations. The 
Committee will also conduct oversight to improve FCC procedures 
and transparency.

                          Spectrum Management

    The Committee will conduct oversight of the Federal 
Communications Commission's and the National Telecommunications 
and Information Administration's (NTIA) management and 
allocation of the nation's spectrum for commercial and 
government use. Spectrum is increasingly being used to provide 
voice, video, audio, and data services to consumers. The 
Committee will evaluate spectrum-management policies to ensure 
efficient use of the public airwaves for innovative 
communications services. The Committee will also examine 
whether plans for allocating spectrum maximizes broadband 
deployment and encourages investment. The Committee will pay 
particular attention to FCC and NTIA implementation of the 
Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, which is 
intended to make more spectrum available for mobile broadband 
services as well as raise as much as $7 billion in spectrum 
auction proceeds to help build a nationwide, interoperable 
public safety broadband network.

                               Broadband

    The Committee will investigate whether regulatory policies 
are helping or hindering broadband deployment. For example, the 
Committee will conduct oversight of the $7 billion dollars 
allocated by the ARRA to the National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration and the Rural Utility Service (RUS) 
for broadband grants and loans. In particular, the Committee 
will examine what procedures are in place to control waste, 
fraud, and abuse of broadband stimulus funds, whether the funds 
were appropriately targeted, and the impact of the funding on 
jobs and the economy.

                          Internet Governance

    The Committee will exercise its jurisdiction over wired and 
wireless communications to ensure continued growth and 
investment in the Internet. In particular, the Committee will 
monitor efforts to replace the successful multi-stakeholder 
model of Internet governance--in which non-governmental 
entities develop best practices for the management of Internet 
networks and content--with regulation.

                      Public Safety Communications

    The Committee will examine whether the communications needs 
of first responders are being met. The Committee will examine 
the progress being made to ensure that first responders have 
interoperable communications capabilities with local, state, 
and federal public safety officials. The Committee will also 
consider whether first responders have an adequate amount of 
spectrum for voice, video, and data transmissions. In addition, 
the Committee will conduct oversight regarding the 
implementation of legacy 911 and Next Generation 911 (NG911) 
services. NG911 relies on IP-based architecture rather than the 
PSTN-based architecture of legacy 911 to provide an expanded 
array of emergency communications services that encompass both 
the core functionalities of legacy E911 and additional 
functionalities that take advantage of the enhanced 
capabilities of IP-based devices and networks.

               COMMERCE, MANUFACTURING, AND TRADE ISSUES


                       Privacy and Data Security

    In the 113th Congress, the Committee will examine issues 
relating to the privacy and security of information and data 
collected by businesses about consumers and the potential for 
improving protection without undercutting innovative uses that 
benefit consumers and the economy. Further, the Committee will 
continue to review the manner in which fraud and other criminal 
issues affect e-commerce.

                        Manufacturing and Trade

    The Committee will explore the state of manufacturing in 
the United States to identify factors that are hampering or 
furthering U.S. competitiveness. The Committee will review the 
issues presented by the globalization of production and 
manufacturing networks, including the integrity of products and 
components assembled overseas and the impact on national 
security.

            Department of Commerce Management and Operations

    The Committee will conduct oversight of the Commerce 
Department and complementary or conflicting federal efforts to 
promote U.S. manufacturing, exports, and trade, including 
efforts to lower or eliminate non-tariff barriers and harmonize 
regulation of products sold internationally where other 
countries share our health, safety, and consumer protection 
goals.

      Consumer Product Safety Commission Management and Operations

    The Committee will continue oversight of the CPSC and its 
implementation and enforcement of laws and regulations relating 
to the safety of consumer products, including the agency's 
implementation of Public Law No. 112-28 and determination of 
priorities.

                    NHTSA Management and Operations

    The Committee intends to conduct oversight of the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, including the costs and 
benefits of its regulations, research activities, 
investigations, and enforcement actions pertaining to motor 
vehicle and motor coach safety.

           Federal Trade Commission Management And Operations

    The Committee will conduct oversight of the Federal Trade 
Commission's management and operations, including the impact of 
its decisions and actions on the general public and the 
business community, its determination of priorities and the 
need, if any, for refinement of its authorities.

                             MISCELLANEOUS


                             Cybersecurity

    The Committee will exercise its jurisdiction over 
cybersecurity to ensure the country is well protected while at 
the same time avoiding one-size-fits all approaches that hinder 
the flexibility of commercial and governmental actors need to 
combat the rapidly evolving threats. The Committee will also 
review the efforts of agencies within its jurisdiction to 
secure their networks consistent with the Homeland Security Act 
of 2002. This Act included a separate legislative provision 
entitled the Federal Information Security Management Act, which 
reauthorized and enhanced a government-wide cyber security 
program under the direction of the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB).

                           Stimulus Spending

    In the 113th Congress, the Committee will continue to 
monitor issues of waste, fraud, abuse, and effectiveness of 
spending related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment.

                 Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response

    The Committee continues its investigation of the BioWatch 
program, the nation's first early detection and warning 
capability for biological attacks, and its impact on the 
nation's public health system. Among the goals of this 
investigation are to determine how the BioWatch program is 
performing and whether it is meeting public protection goals. 
The Committee will continue to review the implementation of the 
Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and 
Response Act of 2002 by HHS, and the extent of the coordination 
between HHS and the Department of Homeland Security.

         Federal Oversight of High-Containment Bio Laboratories

    The Committee will examine issues related to high-
containment bio laboratories, which handle some of the world's 
most exotic and dangerous diseases, including anthrax, 
smallpox, foot and mouth disease and Ebola virus. Among the 
issues under review are whether Federal plans or efforts to 
oversee high-containment bio laboratories are adequate, and 
whether some of these efforts are duplicative and overlapping.

            Anti-Terrorism Security for Chemical Facilities

    The Committee will continue its oversight of the Department 
of Homeland Security's implementation of the Chemical 
Facilities Ant-Terrorism Program, originally authorized in 
Section 550 of P.L. 109-295, the Homeland Security 
Appropriations Act of 2007. The Committee will continue to 
examine whether taxpayer funds are spent prudently and the 
extent to which the Department is advancing the purpose of 
securing chemical facilities against terrorist threats.

           Government Scientific and Risk Assessment Programs

    During the 113th Congress, the Committee will examine 
issues relating to the numerous federal science programs 
assessing public health risks, including the Integrated Risk 
Information System at the Environmental Protection Agency, the 
Report on Carcinogens produced by the National Toxicology 
Program at the Department of Health and Human Services, and 
assessments proposed or ongoing in other federal departments 
and agencies. The Committee will review programs to assess the 
objectives, transparency, and integrity of scientific 
assessments that inform regulatory and public health policies.

                          Controlling Spending

    The Committee will examine Departments and agencies under 
its jurisdiction to assure adequate and prompt implementation 
of recommendations from the Administration, the Offices of 
Inspectors General, the GAO or other sources to achieve cost 
savings or eliminate wasteful spending.

                        Critical Infrastructure

    In June 2006, the Bush Administration issued a National 
Infrastructure Protection Plan. This plan created a process by 
which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is to identify 
critical assets and assess their vulnerabilities and risks due 
to loss or natural disaster. During the 113th Congress, the 
Committee will review the Department's activities with respect 
to identifying high-priority assets and implementing plans to 
protect these assets in areas within the Committee's 
jurisdiction.

                           Nuclear Smuggling

    The Committee will continue to monitor Federal government 
and private sector efforts at border crossings, seaports, and 
mail facilities. The Committee's review will analyze and assess 
Customs' and DOE's efforts and the utility of equipment aimed 
at detecting and preventing the smuggling of dangerous 
commerce, particularly nuclear and radiological weapons of mass 
destruction.
                          COMMITTEE ON ETHICS

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                  Washington, DC, February 7, 2013.
Hon. Darrell E. Issa,
Chairman, Oversight and Government Reform Committee,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to House Rule X, Clause 
(2)(d)(1), we are enclosing the Committee's Oversight Plan for 
the 113th Congress.
            Sincerely,
                                        K. Michael Conaway,
                                                          Chairman.
                                             Linda Sanchez,
                                                    Ranking Member.

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

    The oversight plan of the Committee on Ethics (Committee) 
for the 113th Congress, adopted pursuant to clause 2(d)(1) of 
House Rule X, is as follows.
    The Committee is in the unusual circumstance that while its 
legislative jurisdiction is confined to the House Code of 
Official Conduct (House Rule XXIII),\1\ the Committee itself 
administers a range of ethics laws, rules and standards for 
House Members, officers and employees, as well as, in some 
instances, certain other legislative branch officials. A brief 
summary of the various provisions of law and rules that confer 
such responsibility and authority upon the Committee is 
provided below. In addition, among the functions assigned to 
the Committee in the House Rules are--
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\House Rule X, cl. 1(g).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
     LTo recommend to the House ``such administrative 
actions as it may consider appropriate to establish or enforce 
standards of official conduct'' for Members and staff, and
     LTo investigate alleged violations by Members or 
staff of the House Code of Official Conduct or other law, rule 
or standard of conduct applicable to official conduct.\2\
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    \2\House Rule XI, cl. 3(a)(1), (2).
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    Furthermore, under the Ethics Reform Act of 1989, the 
Committee is charged with providing to House Members and staff, 
through its Office of Advice and Education, information and 
guidance on the applicable ethics laws and rules, and 
responding to their questions on the application of the laws 
and rules in particular circumstances.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\2 U.S.C. 29d(i).
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    In fulfilling its responsibilities as summarized above, the 
Committee, on a daily basis, deals directly with the various 
laws, rules and regulations in its jurisdiction. These include 
rules on acceptance of gifts, the limitations on outside earned 
income and employment, the prohibition against private subsidy 
of official House activities, applications of the Foreign Gifts 
and Decorations Act and the rules on proper use of official 
House resources and proper use of campaign resources.
    Accordingly, in the fulfillment of its regular duties, 
there may be instances in which a change in a law, rule or 
Committee interpretation may be in order related to a matter 
within the Committee's jurisdiction. When such instances arise, 
the Committee's practice is to propose appropriate amendments 
to statutory law or the House Rules, or, where the change is 
one that can be made by the Committee on its own authority, to 
effect an appropriate change.
    In performing its duties under law and House Rules, the 
Committee will continue to be alert for instances in which a 
change in a law, rule or standard of conduct may be in order. 
When such instances arise, the Committee will seek information 
on, study and discuss the matter and develop appropriate 
changes. The Committee will itself effect those changes that 
are within its authority, but where a change would require 
amendment of statutory law or House Rules, the Committee will 
bring the matter to the attention of the House leadership and 
other committees as appropriate.
Provisions of the House Rules and Statutory Law that Confer Specific 
        Authorities on the Committee
     The House gift rule (House Rule XXV, cl. 5) 
provides, in paragraph (h), that its provisions are to be 
interpreted and enforced solely by the Committee.
     House Rule XI, cl. 3(b)(7) provides that the 
Committee is to have the functions designated in titles I and V 
of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (relating to financial 
disclosure and the outside earned income and employment 
limitations), 5 U.S.C. Sec. Sec. 7342 (the Foreign Gifts and 
Decorations Act), 7351 (on gifts to superiors), and 7353 (on 
gifts to Federal employees), and House Rule X, cl. 11(g)(4) (on 
unauthorized disclosure of intelligence).
     Provisions of the financial disclosure statute 
designate the Committee as the ``supervising ethics office'' 
for House Members, officers and employees and certain other 
Legislative Branch officers and employees (5 U.S.C. app. 4 
Sec. 109(18)(B)) and state that the statute is to be 
administered by the Committee with regard to those Members, 
officers and employees (id. Sec. 111(2)). The Committee also 
reviews the financial disclosure statements filed by candidates 
for the House.
     A provision of the statute establishing the 
outside earned income and employment limitations states that 
those limitations are to be administered by the Committee with 
respect to House Members and staff, as well as certain 
Legislative Branch officers and employees (5 U.S.C. app. 4 
Sec. 503(1)).
     For certain purposes under the Foreign Gifts and 
Decorations Act, the Committee is designated as the ``employing 
agency'' of House Members and staff (5 U.S.C. Sec. 7342(a)(6)).
     Both the Committee and the House of 
Representatives are designated as the ``supervising ethics 
office'' of House Members, officers and employees in the 
statute that governs gifts to Federal employees (5 U.S.C. 
Sec. 7353(d)(1)(A)), as well as the statute on gifts to 
superiors (id. Sec. 7351(c)). Those statutes also designate the 
Committee as the supervising ethics office for certain other 
Legislative Branch officers and employees (id. 
Sec. 7353(d)(1)(E)).

                                        K. Michael Conaway,
                                                          Chairman.
                                           Linda T. Sanchez
                                                    Ranking Member.
                    COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

  February 15, 2013.--Approved by the Committee on Financial Services

                              ----------                              

    Mr. Hensarling, from the Committee on Financial Services, 
submitted to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
and the Committee on House Administration the following

                              R E P O R T

    Clause 2(d)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives for the 113th Congress requires each standing 
committee, not later than February 15 of the first session, to 
adopt an oversight plan for the 113th Congress. The oversight 
plan must be submitted simultaneously to the Committee on 
Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on House 
Administration.
    The following agenda constitutes the oversight plan of the 
Committee on Financial Services for the 113th Congress. It 
includes areas in which the Committee and its subcommittees 
expect to conduct oversight during this Congress, but does not 
preclude oversight or investigation of additional matters or 
programs as they arise. Any areas mentioned in the oversight 
plan may be considered by the Financial Services Committee, the 
four subcommittees of jurisdiction or the Subcommittee on 
Oversight and Investigations. The Committee will consult, as 
appropriate, with other committees of the House that may share 
jurisdiction on any of the subjects listed below.

     THE DODD-FRANK WALL STREET REFORM AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT

    Enacted in response to the financial crisis of 2008 and the 
bailouts of large Wall Street firms at taxpayer expense, the 
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (P.L. 
111-203) represents the most extensive change in the regulation 
of financial institutions since the Great Depression. The 
implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act will affect not only every 
financial institution that does business in the United States 
but also non-financial institutions and consumers as well. The 
Dodd-Frank Act holds out the promise that it will ``promote the 
financial stability of the United States by improving 
accountability and transparency in the financial system,'' 
``end too big to fail,''' ``protect the American taxpayer by 
ending bailouts,'' and ``protect consumers from abusive 
financial services practices.'' One of the primary tasks of the 
Committee in the 113th Congress will therefore be to continue 
to oversee the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act to ensure 
that these objectives are being met. The Committee will conduct 
careful oversight and monitoring of the financial regulators 
charged with implementing the Dodd-Frank Act to ensure that 
they prudently exercise the new authority conferred upon them 
under the Act without unduly hampering the ability of consumers 
and businesses to obtain credit, or the ability of capital 
market participants to allocate capital to productive uses, 
mitigate risk, and grow the economy. In particular, the 
Committee will seek to ensure that regulators carefully and 
transparently assess the costs and benefits of regulations 
called for by the Dodd-Frank Act in order to strike an 
appropriate balance between prudent regulation and economic 
growth. The Committee will also examine the extent to which a 
lack of global coordination on financial reforms could place 
the United States financial services industry at a competitive 
disadvantage. As part of this review, the Committee will 
examine the ``living wills'' process provided in the statute, 
and whether that process has enhanced the regulators' ability 
to understand risks posed by large institutions and to 
facilitate the orderly liquidation of a large institution.

                 SPECIFIC DODD-FRANK OVERSIGHT MATTERS

    Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC). Created by 
the Dodd-Frank Act, the Financial Stability Oversight Council 
is an interagency body charged with identifying, monitoring and 
addressing potential threats to U.S. financial stability. The 
Dodd-Frank Act requires the FSOC to report annually to 
Congress, to be followed by testimony by the Secretary of the 
Treasury in his capacity as FSOC Chairman. The Committee will 
conduct significant oversight over the FSOC, monitoring among 
other things the extent to which its designation of 
``systemically significant'' firms may create an expectation 
among market participants that the government will not permit 
these firms to fail, as well as the effectiveness of the FSOC 
in making financial markets more stable and resilient.
    Office of Financial Research (OFR). Created by the Dodd-
Frank Act and housed within the Department of the Treasury, the 
Office of Financial Research is charged with collecting and 
analyzing financial transaction and position data in support of 
the FSOC. The OFR has broad powers to compel the production of 
information and data from financial market participants, and it 
will use this information to conduct research designed to 
improve the quality of financial regulation, and to monitor and 
report on systemic risk. Section 153 of the Dodd-Frank Act 
requires the OFR to report annually to Congress on the state of 
the U.S. financial system, and requires the Director of the OFR 
to testify annually before the Committee on the OFR's 
activities and its assessment of systemic risk. The Committee 
will conduct oversight of the OFR to ensure that the office is 
transparent and accountable, that it makes progress towards 
fulfilling its statutory duties, that its requests for data are 
not unduly burdensome or costly, and that the confidentiality 
of the data that it collects is strictly maintained. The 
Committee will also assess whether the OFR duplicates data 
collection efforts already being undertaken by other regulatory 
bodies.
    Volcker Rule. Section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Act, popularly 
known as the ``Volcker Rule,'' prohibits U.S. bank holding 
companies and their affiliates from engaging in ``proprietary 
trading'' and from sponsoring hedge funds and private equity 
funds. The Committee will oversee the Federal regulators' 
implementation of the Volcker Rule to ensure that it does not 
result in unintended consequences for U.S. economic 
competitiveness and job creation, depress the value of pension 
plans and retirement accounts, or drain substantial amounts of 
liquidity from the U.S. capital markets.
    ``Too Big to Fail.'' The Committee will oversee the 
implementation of Titles I and II of the Dodd-Frank Act, which 
authorize the Federal government to designate large, complex 
financial institutions for heightened prudential standards and 
supervision and to exercise so-called ``orderly liquidation 
authority'' to resolve any firm whose failure the government 
decides could destabilize the financial system. The purpose of 
this review will be to test the claims by the proponents of the 
Dodd-Frank Act that these provisions have effectively ended 
``Too Big to Fail,'' as well as the claims of those who contend 
that they have instead further entrenched that doctrine, 
leaving in place a system that subverts market discipline and 
confers competitive advantages on the nation's largest 
financial institutions at the expense of institutions deemed 
``too small to save.''

               FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND CONSUMER CREDIT

    Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB). The 
Committee will oversee the activities of the Consumer Financial 
Protection Bureau, which was created by the Dodd-Frank Act and 
charged with ``regulating the offering and provision of 
consumer financial products or services under the Federal 
consumer financial laws.'' The Committee will seek to ensure 
that the CFPB's regulatory, supervisory and enforcement 
initiatives protect consumers against unfair and deceptive 
practices without stifling economic growth, job creation, or 
reasonable access to credit. In particular, the Committee will 
review CFPB enforcement actions to determine whether such 
actions are based on clearly articulated rules and the extent 
to which such actions are based on discretionary, arbitrary and 
undefined standards. The Committee will also review how the 
CFPB collaborates and coordinates with other Federal and State 
financial regulators, and how the CFPB is fulfilling its 
statutory duty to ensure that ``outdated, unnecessary, or 
unduly burdensome regulations are regularly identified and 
addressed in order to reduce unwarranted regulatory burdens.'' 
The Committee will continue to examine whether the CFPB's 
budget and its source of funding is appropriate as well as 
whether the CFPB's budget should be subject to Congressional 
appropriations. The Committee will evaluate the powers of a 
presidentially appointed, non-Senate confirmed Director to 
write rules, supervise compliance, and enforce consumer 
protection laws. The Committee will monitor the impact of CFPB 
actions on small businesses and on financial institutions of 
all sizes, and in particular, on those with fewer than $10 
billion of assets. The Committee will receive the statutorily 
required semiannual testimony of the Director.
    Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). The Committee will 
continue to examine the operation of the Troubled Asset Relief 
Program, authorized by the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act 
(EESA), to ensure that the program is being administered 
properly and that any instances of waste, fraud or abuse are 
identified and remedied. The Committee will analyze the 
unwinding of TARP facilities and programs to ensure that 
taxpayer recoveries are maximized and remaining funds are used 
for deficit reduction, as contemplated by EESA. The Committee 
will also examine the extent to which other government 
programs, such as the Small Business Lending Fund, are used by 
recipients of TARP funds for repayment of such funds.
    Financial Supervision. The Committee will continue to 
examine Federal regulators' safety and soundness supervision of 
the banking, thrift and credit union industries, to ensure that 
systemic risks or other structural weaknesses in the financial 
sector are identified and addressed promptly. The Committee may 
also ask each financial regulatory agency to review its 
promulgated rules and identify those which may be unnecessarily 
burdensome or outdated. Additionally, the Committee's 
examination of the regulatory system will encompass the trend 
toward consolidation in the banking industry, which requires 
Federal regulators to maintain the expertise and risk 
evaluation systems necessary to oversee the activities of the 
increasingly complex institutions under their supervision. As 
an extension of this examination, the Committee will assess the 
degree to which the increasing concentration of bank assets in 
the largest institutions may contribute to a regulatory 
environment that discriminates against the smaller but much 
more numerous community banks.
    Capital Standards and Basel III. The Committee will 
continue to examine new global bank capital and liquidity rules 
being developed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. 
In particular, the Committee will call upon the Federal banking 
regulators to explain how their implementing regulations 
balance safety and soundness concerns against the needs of 
consumers and businesses for continued access to credit, and 
how standards adopted in Basel will be tailored to meet the 
unique features of the U.S. financial system, and particularly 
the specific needs of community banks. The Committee will also 
examine the Financial Stability Oversight Council's study on 
the effects of limits on the size and complexity of financial 
institutions on capital market efficiency and economic growth. 
The Committee will seek to ensure that the rules maintain the 
stability of the financial system yet preserve the ability of 
that system to pursue responsible risk-taking.
    Mortgages. The Committee will closely review recent 
rulemakings by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and 
other agencies on a variety of mortgage-related issues. The 
Committee will monitor the coordination and implementation of 
these rules and the impact they will have on the cost and 
availability of mortgage lending for consumers and creditors. 
Of particular interest to the Committee will be recently 
proposed or finalized rules on the Dodd-Frank Act's ability-to-
repay and Qualified Mortgage requirements, mortgage servicing, 
escrows, high-cost ``HOEPA'' loan restrictions, negative 
amortization, points and fees on open-end credit, appraisals, 
and origination disclosures. Recognizing that the foreclosure 
crisis continues to hold back the recovery and plague 
communities, the Committee will oversee efforts to encourage 
cooperation between government and the private sector to 
provide overdue relief to struggling families.
    Deposit Insurance. The Committee will monitor the solvency 
of the Deposit Insurance Fund and changes to the assessments 
charged by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as 
mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act to ensure that deposit insurance 
continues to serve its historic function as a source of 
stability in the banking system and a valued safety net for 
depositors.
    Bank Failures. The Committee will examine the process the 
FDIC uses to supervise and, if necessary, resolve community 
banks and the procedures followed by the FDIC and other bank 
supervisors in making this determination. Some observers have 
noted there are inconsistencies in the application of FDIC 
practices as a bank moves into prompt corrective action and 
towards a failure. The Committee will consider the findings 
contained in a recent study by the United States Government 
Accountability Office (GAO) entitled ``Modified Prompt 
Corrective Action Framework Would Improve Effectiveness,'' and 
whether its recommendations should be adopted. Further, the 
Committee will study the costs and benefits of loss share 
agreements to the Deposit Insurance Fund and the American 
taxpayer. The Committee will also study how the FDIC's 
resolution procedures, including but not limited to loss share 
agreements, affect access to credit for small business 
customers of a failed bank, as well as the findings in the 
GAO's report entitled ``Management Report: Opportunities for 
Improvements in FDIC's Shared Loss Estimation Process.''
    Community Banks. The Committee will review issues related 
to the health and growth of community banks, including their 
role in providing small business lending, local employment, and 
national economic growth. The Committee will review the impact 
of the Dodd-Frank Act reforms to FDIC Deposit Insurance Fund 
Assessments and CFPB oversight of non-depository consumer 
lending institutions on community bank competitiveness. The 
Committee will also examine the traditional lack of 
representation for community banks at the Department of the 
Treasury and the feasibility of creating an Assistant Secretary 
for Community Banks.
    Credit Unions. The Committee will review issues relating to 
the safety and soundness and regulatory treatment of the credit 
union industry, including monitoring the solvency of the 
National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund and overseeing the 
activities of the National Credit Union Administration.
    Regulatory Burden Reduction. The Committee will continue to 
review the current regulatory burden on banks, thrifts, and 
credit unions with the goal of reducing unnecessary, 
duplicative, or overly burdensome regulations, consistent with 
consumer protection and safe and sound banking practices.
    Credit Scores and Credit Reports. The Committee will 
continue to monitor the accuracy and completeness of 
information reported to and contained in consumers' credit 
files, with a specific focus on their impact on the 
availability of consumer credit. The Committee will explore the 
use of credit information in making non-credit decisions such 
as employment and insurance purposes. In addition, the 
Committee will monitor the related rulemaking, supervisory, and 
enforcement activities of the CFPB in this area.
    Access to Financial Services. The Committee will continue 
to explore ways to expand access to mainstream financial 
services by traditionally underserved segments of the U.S. 
population, particularly those without any prior banking 
history. The Committee will consider the impact that the 
policies, rules and actions of the CFPB have on the ability of 
alternative providers of credit to offer their products and 
services.
    Payment Cards. The Committee will continue its review of 
payment card industry practices, particularly those relating to 
marketing, fees and disclosures. The Committee will also review 
efforts by the CFPB to regulate credit cards and prepaid cards, 
and the impact such efforts have on credit availability and the 
cost of credit for consumers and small businesses alike.
    Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI 
Fund). The Committee will continue to oversee the operations of 
the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, which 
was created in 1994 to promote economic revitalization and 
community development. The Committee will examine the CDFI 
Fund's contributions to community revitalization and measure 
its impact on rural, urban, suburban, and Native American 
communities. The Committee will also monitor the CDFI Fund's 
administration of its various programs, such as the Bond 
Guarantee Program and the Bank Enterprise Award.
    Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The Committee will 
continue to review developments and issues related to the 
Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, including recommendations 
for updating or eliminating CRA requirements in light of 
changes in the financial services sector.
    Financial Literacy. The Committee will continue its efforts 
to promote greater financial literacy and awareness among 
investors, consumers, and the general public, particularly with 
respect to the best methods for promoting and improving 
financial education among children and young adults. As part of 
these efforts, the Committee will evaluate the efficacy of the 
CFPB's Office of Financial Education and the Treasury 
Department's Financial Literacy and Education Commission, and 
will receive updates on their ongoing activities, goals, and 
accomplishments. The Committee will also continue to review the 
credit counseling industry, which provides financial education 
and debt management services to consumers seeking to address 
excessive levels of personal indebtedness.
    Discrimination in Lending. The Committee will examine the 
effectiveness of Federal fair lending oversight and enforcement 
efforts. In particular, the Committee will monitor operations, 
and evaluate the efficacy of, the CFPB's Office of Fair Lending 
and the Justice Department's Fair Lending Program.
    Diversity in Financial Services. The Committee will 
continue to monitor Federal regulators' efforts to implement 
the diversity requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act.
    Cyber Security and Identity Theft. Building on the 
Committee's long-standing role in developing laws governing the 
handling of sensitive personal financial information about 
consumers, including the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and the Fair 
and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act), the Committee 
will continue to evaluate best practices for protecting the 
security and confidentiality of such information from any loss, 
unauthorized access, or misuse. The scope of this review will 
encompass the data security policies and protocols of the 
Federal agencies within the Committee's jurisdiction. The 
Committee will also examine the effectiveness of current 
strategies being employed by the private sector and government 
agencies to prevent or disrupt financial crimes involving the 
use of the Internet, computers, or other access methods.
    Payment System Innovations/Mobile Payments. The Committee 
will review government and private sector efforts to achieve 
greater innovations and efficiencies in the payments system. 
The Committee will examine payment system alternatives, 
including prepaid credit cards, the use of mobile devices to 
transfer value, web-based value-transfer systems, remote check 
deposit, and informal money transfer systems, businesses or 
networks, to determine both the efficiencies they can provide 
to customers, businesses and financial institutions, and their 
susceptibility to fraud, money laundering and terrorism 
financing, and other financial crimes.
    Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism. The 
Committee will review the application and enforcement of anti-
money laundering and counter-terrorist financing laws and 
regulations. The Committee's work in this area will include an 
examination of (1) the costs and benefits of ongoing regulatory 
and filing requirements, (2) opportunities to decrease the 
burden of complying with these and similar statutes without 
impairing the operations of law enforcement, (3) the impact of 
these laws and regulations on immigrant communities that remit 
money to their countries of origin, and (4) emerging threats in 
the financing of terrorist activities and the use of informal 
methods of transferring value.
    Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The 
Committee will examine the operations of Financial Crimes 
Enforcement Network and its ongoing efforts to implement its 
regulatory mandates pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), to 
combat money laundering and terrorist financing activities. The 
Committee will examine the confidentiality of BSA reports and 
examine the guidance issued by FinCEN to BSA examiners to 
foster more uniform examination and enforcement practices, and 
facilitate greater understanding among regulated financial 
institutions of the government's use of the information 
contained in BSA filings. The Committee shall further review 
the extent to which banking regulators work in cooperation with 
the Department of Justice to ensure that fraudulent and 
criminal conduct is immediately reported. The Committee shall 
also review recent consent orders and other enforcement actions 
taken against non-compliant financial institutions and whether 
those actions have resulted in improved BSA, anti-money 
laundering, and counter-terrorist financing programs. The 
Committee shall further consider whether aggressive enforcement 
action or criminal prosecution of a ``significantly important 
financial institution,'' or employees therein, would compromise 
the financial stability of the U.S. economy.
    Money Services Businesses (MSBs) and their Access to 
Banking Services. The Committee will examine the operations of 
Money Services Businesses and assess the effectiveness of 
FinCEN and Internal Revenue Service regulation of MSBs. The 
Committee will examine impediments to the availability of 
account services to MSBs, and of FinCEN regulatory guidance to 
both MSBs and financial institutions that might affect the 
provision of such account services.
    Banking Services for Americans Living Abroad. The Committee 
will examine the contentions of U.S. citizens living in foreign 
countries that they are being denied banking services by both 
U.S.-based and foreign financial institutions. The Committee 
will also review the extent to which certain U.S. laws have 
exacerbated the termination of bank accounts for U.S. citizens 
living abroad.

                            CAPITAL MARKETS

    Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Committee 
will monitor all aspects of the Securities and Exchange 
Commission's operations, activities and initiatives to ensure 
that it fulfills its Congressional mandate to protect 
investors, maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and 
facilitate capital formation. The Committee will carefully 
examine the SEC's budget request to ensure that the agency 
deploys its resources effectively, and will specifically review 
the SEC's use of and commitments made to the $100 million 
``Reserve Fund'' created by Section 991 of the Dodd-Frank Act. 
The Committee will consider the impact of separating the SEC's 
examination and policy functions and whether such functions 
should be consolidated, as well as the SEC's oversight of self-
regulatory organizations (SROs) and how to improve SRO 
operations. The Committee will review the SEC's compliance, 
inspection, examination, and enforcement functions to ensure 
that adequate mechanisms exist to prevent and detect securities 
fraud and that there are suitable civil penalties available to 
the SEC to deter wrongdoing. As part of this review, the 
Committee will monitor the SEC's implementation of the reforms 
recommended by the SEC's Office of Inspector General resulting 
from the Commission's failure to detect either the Bernard 
Madoff or Allen Stanford Ponzi schemes. The Committee will 
continue to review the various reports and studies of the SEC's 
organizational structure and management mandated by Title IX of 
the Dodd-Frank Act. The Committee will also monitor and review 
the SEC's development of a consolidated audit trail to actively 
track all activity in national market systems (NMS) securities 
throughout the U.S. The Committee will examine the impact that 
sequestration could have on the SEC's ability to meet its 
statutory obligations.
    Capital Formation. The Committee will examine the SEC's 
efforts to fulfill its Congressional mandate of facilitating 
capital formation. The Committee will continue to survey 
regulatory impediments to capital formation and seek 
legislative, regulatory and market-based incentives to increase 
access to capital, particularly for small public companies and 
those small companies that have recently completed or are 
contemplating an initial public offering as well as increasing 
investment opportunities for all investors while preserving 
investor protection.
    The JOBS Act. The Committee will monitor the impact of the 
``Jumpstart Our Business Startups'' or ``JOBS'' Act (P.L. 112-
106) on the capital markets, investor protections, and the 
SEC's implementation of the law to ensure that the Commission 
fulfills Congressional intent and does not unnecessarily stifle 
the capital formation initiatives included in the law or delay 
the promulgation and adoption of rules required for the law's 
successful implementation.
    Derivatives. The Committee will continue to review the 
impact of Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act on the operations, 
growth, transparency, and structure of the over-the-counter 
(OTC) derivatives market. The Committee will explore how the 
SEC, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the 
prudential regulators, and the Department of Treasury are 
implementing the regulations mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act to 
govern the OTC marketplace, including how U.S. regulators are 
coordinating their efforts with foreign counterparts, given the 
global and interconnected nature of that marketplace. The 
Committee will closely examine how completed rules are 
functioning in the marketplace and consider potential 
legislative and regulatory solutions to clarify the law's 
intent without impeding regulatory oversight. The Committee 
will also examine proper transparency and clarity for 
derivatives markets, which have previously been marked by 
opacity. The Committee will closely monitor Dodd-Frank 
implementation so that the new regulations foster market 
efficiency, provide price transparency through the increased 
use of swap execution facilities and clearing organizations, 
and provide consumers with important market information.
    Credit Rating Agencies. The Committee will examine the 
continuing role that credit rating agencies, also known as 
Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organizations 
(NRSROs), play in the U.S. capital markets, the SEC's oversight 
of NRSROs, NRSRO compensation models, and whether NRSRO 
methodologies accurately reflect the risks associated with 
different debt instruments. The Committee will examine the 
impact of the Dodd-Frank Act on competition among current 
NRSROs, and on new and prospective NRSROs. The Committee will 
examine the implementation by Federal regulators of provisions 
found in Section 939A of the Dodd-Frank Act requiring them to 
establish new standards for evaluating credit-worthiness that 
do not include references to ratings issued by NRSROs. The 
Committee will also closely examine any SEC initiatives to 
insert the government into the assignment of ratings.
    Regulation and Oversight of Broker-Dealers and Investment 
Advisers. The Committee will review the SEC's regulation and 
oversight of broker-dealers and investment advisers, including 
the SEC's consideration of proposals to impose a harmonized 
standard of care applicable to broker-dealers and investment 
advisers when providing personalized investment advice to 
retail customers. The Committee will also review proposals that 
would harmonize the frequency of examinations of broker-dealers 
and investment advisers. The Committee will also monitor the 
coordination between the SEC and the Department of Labor 
regarding rules governing the provision of advice related to 
retirement accounts.
    Equity/Option Market Structure. The Committee will review 
recent developments in the U.S. equity and option markets and 
the SEC's response to those developments. The Committee will 
closely monitor the SEC's responses to ensure that the 
Commission follows its mandate to promote fair, orderly and 
efficient markets, and that any new regulations foster market 
efficiency, competition and innovation, and are based on 
economic and empirical market data. The Committee will review 
the growth and impact of algorithmic trading and the impact 
that market structure has on retail investors, small public 
companies, and the impact of decimalization on market quality 
and capital formation.
    Corporate Governance. The Committee will review 
developments and issues concerning corporate governance at 
public companies and the SEC's proposals that seek to modernize 
corporate governance practices. The Committee will examine how 
the Dodd-Frank Act impacts the corporate governance practices 
of all issuers, particularly small public companies. The 
Committee will also examine the services provided by proxy 
advisory firms to shareholders and issuers to determine whether 
conflicts of interest exist. The Committee will continue to 
monitor the effect that the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has on 
the capital markets and capital formation; the impact of the 
permanent exemption from Section 404(b) for public companies 
with less than $75 million in market capitalization; and 
proposals to further modify this exemption.
    Employee Compensation. The Committee will monitor the 
implementation of provisions in Title IX of the Dodd-Frank Act 
governing the compensation practices at public companies and 
financial institutions.
    Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). The 
Committee will review the operations, initiatives, and 
activities of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, 
as well as the application of the Securities Investor 
Protection Act (SIPA). In light of SIPC's exposure to the 
failures of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, Lehman 
Brothers, and MF Global, the Committee will examine SIPC's 
existing reserves, member broker-dealer assessments, access to 
private and public lines of credit, and coverage levels, as 
well as proposals to improve SIPC's operations and management. 
The Committee will also review the impact of the provisions of 
the Dodd-Frank Act that amend the SIPA, and the work and 
recommendations of the SIPC Modernization Task Force.
    Mutual Funds. The Committee will continue to examine the 
state and operation of the U.S. mutual fund industry, including 
pending regulatory proposals by the SEC and the FSOC to reform 
money market mutual funds, and private sector initiatives to 
improve investor understanding of money market fund valuations.
    Advisers to Private Funds. The Committee will examine the 
functions served by advisers to private funds in the United 
States financial marketplace and their interaction with 
investors, financial intermediaries, and public companies.
    Securitization and Risk Retention. The Committee will 
monitor the joint risk retention rule-making mandated by 
Section 941 of the Dodd-Frank Act to ensure that the 
development and implementation of the risk retention rules 
promote sound underwriting practices without constricting the 
flow of credit and destabilizing an already fragile housing 
market, and that those rules appropriately differentiate among 
multiple asset classes. The Committee will focus particular 
attention on the joint rulemaking to define a class of 
qualified residential mortgages (QRMs) that will be exempt from 
risk retention requirements.
    Covered Bonds. The Committee will review the potential for 
covered bonds to increase mortgage and broader asset class 
financing, improve underwriting standards, and strengthen 
United States financial institutions by providing a new funding 
source with greater transparency, thereby fostering increased 
liquidity in the capital markets. The Committee will also 
review whether existing regulatory initiatives, including the 
Department of the Treasury's Best Practices for Residential 
Covered Bonds--and the FDIC's covered bond policy statement to 
facilitate the prudent and incremental development of the U.S. 
covered bond market--are sufficient to foster the creation of a 
covered bond market in the United States, or whether additional 
regulatory or legislative initiatives are necessary.
    Libor. The Committee will assess the conditions that gave 
rise to the manipulation of the London Interbank Offered Rate 
(Libor) and the effect of that manipulation on financial 
markets, including the effects on consumers, businesses, 
financial institutions, and the financial system. The Committee 
will also examine whether U.S. financial regulators and 
supervisory authorities knew about the manipulation, and 
whether a more timely and aggressive intervention by these 
regulators might have prevented the manipulation or mitigated 
its effects. The Committee will continue to monitor the efforts 
of prudential and market regulators to address the conditions 
that gave rise to the manipulation of Libor as well as their 
efforts to create an alternative to Libor that can serve as a 
benchmark interest rate.
    MF Global. As part of its continuing examination of the 
causes and consequences of the October 2011 collapse of MF 
Global, the Committee will review legislative proposals and 
regulatory recommendations to improve the operations and 
oversight of entities that are both broker-dealers and futures 
commission merchants.
    Municipal Securities. The Committee will monitor the health 
of the United States municipal securities markets and evaluate 
proposals to increase transparency in that segment of the 
capital markets. The Committee will also examine provisions 
included in Titles VII and IX of the Dodd-Frank Act that are 
designed to strengthen municipal securities industry oversight 
and broaden municipal securities market protections to cover 
unregulated market participants and their financial 
transactions with municipal entities.
    Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB). The Committee 
will review the operations, initiatives and activities of the 
Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board. The Committee will 
review the changes imposed by Title IX of the Dodd-Frank Act, 
which altered the MSRB's governance to include the protection 
of state and local government issuers, public pension plans, 
and others whose credit stands behind municipal bonds, in 
addition to protecting investors and the public interest. The 
Committee will also review the MSRB's regulation of municipal 
advisors.
    Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). The 
Committee will review the operations, initiatives and 
activities of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. 
The Committee will also monitor the PCAOB's exercise of its new 
authority to register, inspect and discipline the auditors of 
broker-dealers, and the impact that this increased oversight 
may have on the PCAOB's operations. The Committee will also 
review the extent to which the PCAOB's new authority to share 
information with its foreign counterparts is sufficient to 
permit PCAOB inspectors to examine non-U.S. auditors.
    Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The Committee 
will review the initiatives of the Financial Accounting 
Standards Board and its responsiveness to all segments of the 
capital markets; the FASB's relationship with the SEC; and 
proposals to enhance Congressional oversight of the FASB. The 
Committee will monitor and review the FASB's specific projects, 
including its private company accounting standard project, to 
ensure that any revisions to accounting standards provide 
useful information to investors without disrupting the capital 
markets, capital formation or improperly burdening issuers and 
preparers.
    Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB). The Committee 
will review the role of the Government Accounting Standards 
Board, which formulates accounting standards for the voluntary 
use of state and local governments that issue securities. The 
Committee will review the implementation of Section 978 of the 
Dodd-Frank Act, which directs the SEC to require the Financial 
Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to collect fees from its 
members (broker-dealers and other securities professionals) and 
to remit such fees to the Financial Accounting Foundation, 
GASB's parent organization.
    Convergence of International Accounting Standards. The 
Committee will review efforts by the SEC, the FASB, and the 
International Accounting Standards Board to achieve robust, 
uniform international accounting standards. The Committee will 
also monitor the SEC's plans to incorporate those standards as 
part of United States financial reporting requirements.
    Securities Litigation. The Committee will examine the 
effectiveness of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act 
of 1995 in protecting issuers from frivolous lawsuits while 
preserving the ability of investors to pursue legitimate 
actions.
    Securities Arbitration. The Committee will examine 
developments in securities arbitration, including the impact of 
the arbitration-related provisions contained in section 921 of 
the Dodd-Frank Act, which provide the SEC with the authority to 
restrict mandatory pre-dispute arbitration, and the impact that 
the exercise of that authority could have on existing 
arbitration agreements and on issuers and investors generally.
    Business Continuity Planning. The Committee will continue 
its oversight of the implementation of disaster preparedness 
and business continuity measures by the financial services 
industry, including equity and option markets and financial 
market utilities, and the regulatory oversight of those plans 
in order to minimize the disruptions to critical operations in 
the United States financial system resulting from natural 
disasters, terrorist attacks, or pandemics.

                    GOVERNMENT SPONSORED ENTERPRISES

    Charter Restructuring for Government Sponsored Enterprises 
(GSEs). On September 7, 2008, the Federal Housing Finance 
Agency (FHFA) placed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into 
conservatorship. To date, Fannie Mae has tapped $116.1 billion 
and Freddie Mac has used nearly $71.3 billion in taxpayer 
funds, although the GSEs have also paid the Treasury 
approximately $50 billion in dividends, making the GSE 
conservatorship the costliest of all the taxpayer bailouts 
initiated during the crisis. The cost of this bailout has 
raised fundamental questions about the viability of the GSEs' 
hybrid public-private organizational model, the market effects 
of their implicit-turned-explicit government guarantees, and 
the structure of the U.S. housing finance system. The Committee 
will examine proposals to modify or terminate Fannie Mae's and 
Freddie Mac's statutory charters, harmonize their business 
operations, and wind down any legacy business commitments. The 
Committee will also examine proposals that would allow the GSEs 
to repay taxpayers the funds they are owed.
    Reducing GSE Market Share. The Committee will examine the 
overall size of the GSEs' footprint in various aspects of the 
housing finance system and ways to reduce or constrain their 
large market share and develop a vibrant, innovative and 
competitive private mortgage market. The Committee is 
interested in the extent to which access to affordable and safe 
housing finance options, including the 30-year fixed rate 
mortgage, can be preserved for a broad range of qualified 
borrowers, while preserving competition between lenders and 
protecting taxpayers. Areas of interest for the Committee will 
include the calculation of FHFA's House Price Index, the 
determination of the conforming loan limits in conventional and 
high-cost areas, the pricing of guarantee fees to reflect the 
risk of the mortgages purchased by the GSEs, and the size of 
the GSEs' retained investment portfolios.
    Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). The Committee will 
monitor the activities and initiatives of the Federal Housing 
Finance Agency, which was established in 2008 to oversee Fannie 
Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks, and since 
September 2008 has served as Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's 
conservator. The Committee will pay particular attention to the 
FHFA's discharge of its duties as conservator to promote the 
long-term stability of the housing market and to ensure that 
taxpayer losses are minimized and private sector participation 
in the housing finance market is encouraged. The Committee will 
also consider the appropriate role, if any, for the Federal 
government in the secondary mortgage market, including the 
harmonization of existing GSE business operations and the 
development of new securitization platforms and alternative 
mortgage financing options.
    Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) System. The Committee will 
monitor the capital requirements and financial stability of the 
Federal Home Loan Bank System, as well as the FHLB System's 
ability to fulfill its housing and community economic 
development mission and provide liquidity to the cooperative's 
member banks in a safe and sound manner. The Committee will pay 
particular attention to concerns regarding insufficient 
retained earnings and the quality of private label securities 
portfolios maintained by individual Federal Home Loan Banks.
    GSE Contracting with Non-Profits. To ensure that the GSEs 
are not engaging in risky activities that undermine the 
conservatorships, the Committee will examine the relationships 
that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac maintain with non-profit 
organizations that provide services, including housing 
counseling, to potential homeowners. The Committee will also 
examine whether the payments nonprofits receive for services 
provided to the GSEs are appropriate; whether GSE funds 
provided to non-profits are used for political activities; and 
whether adequate procedures are in place to protect the GSEs 
from fraud.
    GSE Foreclosure and Loan Modification Protocols. The 
Committee will review Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's guidance 
to mortgage servicers and participation in government mortgage 
modification programs generally to ensure that undue political 
influence does not result in even greater losses to taxpayers 
from the GSE conservatorships.

                                HOUSING

    Housing and Urban Development, Rural Housing Service, and 
the National Reinvestment Corporation. The Committee will 
review and hear testimony from the Administration on those 
housing agency budgets under its jurisdiction. Specifically, 
testimony is expected from the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development (HUD), the Rural Housing Service (RHS), and the 
National Reinvestment Corporation. HUD, which represents the 
most significant share of housing programs and budget 
authority, has experienced a steady increase in appropriations 
over the past decade, from $34.34 billion in fiscal year 2002 
to $44.24 billion in fiscal year 2012. According to the 
Government Accountability Office, there are twenty different 
entities administering 160 housing programs. The Committee will 
review HUD's study entitled ``Worst Case Housing Needs: A 
Report to Congress,'' which is designed to measure the scale of 
critical housing problems facing low-income and unassisted 
American renting households and the impact the recent recession 
and related joblessness has caused. Accordingly, the Committee 
will also review current HUD and RHS programs with the goal of 
identifying inefficient and duplicative programs for further 
review and potential streamlining.
    Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Increased 
delinquencies and foreclosures across the nation have had a 
detrimental effect on the financial health of the Federal 
Housing Administration. The most recent actuarial report for 
fiscal year 2012, released in November, found that the FHA's 
insurance fund's economic value was negative $16.3 billion, 
which is the projected amount the FHA would lose if it stopped 
insuring new mortgages and covered its projected losses for the 
next 30 years. The FHA is thus vulnerable to further defaults. 
To cover these defaults, the FHA may resort to its ``permanent 
indefinite authority'' to draw funds directly from the U.S. 
Treasury to pay unexpected increases in insurance claims. 
Because the FHA guarantees 100 percent of the loan amount on 
the mortgages it insures and is ultimately backed by the 
Federal government, a large number of defaults could result in 
significant losses to the FHA, and those losses may ultimately 
be borne by taxpayers. The Committee will examine the 
appropriate role for FHA in the mortgage finance system, how to 
encourage more robust private sector participation, and the 
ability of the FHA to continue to take steps to manage its 
mortgage portfolio and mitigate its risk.
    Foreclosure Mitigation. The Committee will continue to 
monitor the performance of the Obama Administration's various 
foreclosure mitigation initiatives, which have fallen far short 
of their stated objectives and been the subject of repeated 
criticism by government watchdog agencies, including the 
Special Inspector General for TARP. The Committee's review will 
encompass the implementation of a 2011 consent order between 
Federal banking regulators and certain mortgage servicers and 
affiliates, which required these firms to identify and 
compensate homeowners who may have been harmed by 
irregularities in the foreclosure process.
    Veterans' Housing. The Committee will continue to monitor 
and promote coordination between HUD and other agencies in 
their work to address veterans' housing issues. The Department 
of Veterans' Affairs (VA) estimates that our nation has 22.2 
million veterans; 2.7 million are elderly veterans and 4.3 
million veteran homeowners have disabilities. Furthermore, HUD 
and VA estimate that there are between 76,329 and 144,842 
homeless veterans in the U.S. Thus, the Committee will continue 
oversight of the HUD-Veterans' Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-
VASH) program that combines rental assistance with case 
management and clinical services provided by the VA to prevent 
homelessness amongst veterans. In addition, the Committee will 
also continue its focus on other matters, such as home 
modifications for disabled veterans, to ensure that all 
veterans have fair and equal housing opportunities.
    Fair Housing. The Committee will continue to promote fair 
housing practices and ensure that the principles of the Fair 
Housing Act of 1968 are upheld and that consumers are not 
receiving adverse treatment based on their race, color, 
religion, sex, familial status, disability, or national origin 
in rentals, real estate sales, and lending practices. According 
to HUD, 27,092 housing discrimination complaints were reported 
in 2011. The Committee will continue monitoring whether unfair 
practices in housing occur and HUD's enforcement of the law.
    Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program and Affordable 
Housing. The Committee will continue its effort to address 
HUD's largest rental assistance program and the government's 
role in the future of affordable rental housing. The Committee 
will review the rising costs of the Section 8 program, as 
funding for the Section 8 program continues to increase and 
consume the bulk of HUD's discretionary budget. Funding for the 
Section 8 program in fiscal year 2012 was $27.60 billion, 
representing a 62 percent share of the entire HUD FY 2012 
budget. The Committee will review whether the rental assistance 
program met its program objectives in a manner that leverages 
taxpayer investments in affordable housing without duplicating 
successful private-sector initiatives.
    Rural Housing Service (RHS). The Committee will review the 
mission, organization and operations of the Rural Housing 
Service, a Federal agency which provides affordable housing for 
low-to-moderate income rural families. Eligible communities are 
determined after each decennial census. According to the 2010 
census findings, 933 communities, including 486 communities 
grandfathered between 10 and 29 years ago, will no longer be 
eligible for housing programs under the RHS after March 27, 
2013. The Committee will review the 2010 census findings to 
ascertain their impact on meeting rural housing needs.
    Reauthorization of the Native American Housing Assistance 
and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA). As the Committee 
considers the statutory authorization for NAHASDA, which 
expires on October 1, 2013, the Committee will examine the need 
for better infrastructure and services, accountability for the 
use of the program, and HUD's administration of NAHASDA funds. 
The fiscal year 2012 budget included $650 million for the 
program. As of January 1, 2013, the program had a $979.7 
million obligated unexpended balance. The Committee also will 
review the effectiveness of NAHASDA, the reasons for the 
backlog of unspent funds, and whether the program is meeting 
its objectives.
    Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The Community 
Development Block Grant program provides Federal funds to 
cities and localities to help them address housing and 
community development. The CDBG program operates like a revenue 
sharing program for the states and localities. CDBG funds are 
allocated by a formula through which 70 percent of the funds 
are directed to entitlement communities, which are central 
cities of metropolitan areas, cities with populations of at 
least 50,000, and urban counties. The remaining 30 percent is 
directed to states for use in small, non-entitlement 
communities. The fiscal year 2012 budget included $3.308 
billion for the program. The Committee will consider ways to 
make the CDBG program more effective and targeted towards 
extremely low-income communities. In addition, the Committee 
will review the eligible activities and oversight and 
administration of the program with the aim of ensuring that 
funds are used in an appropriate manner.
    HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME). The Committee 
will continue to monitor the HOME Investment Partnerships 
Program, which provides grants to states and localities to fund 
affordable housing projects. States and localities can use HOME 
funds to finance home purchases and build or rehabilitate 
housing, which can then be rented or sold. In the 112th 
Congress, the Committee conducted oversight hearings on the 
efficacy of the HOME program and whether its objectives were 
being met.

                               INSURANCE

    National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The Committee will 
monitor the implementation of the Biggert-Waters Flood 
Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-141), paying particular 
attention to the reforms that encourage more private sector 
participation in the flood insurance market. The Committee will 
also review and consider further reforms to the National Flood 
Insurance Program with the goal of ending taxpayer bailouts of 
the program and possibly transitioning to a private, 
innovative, competitive and sustainable flood insurance market. 
Since 2006, the GAO has designated the NFIP as a high-risk 
program because of its potential to incur billions in dollars 
in losses and because the program faces serious financial, 
structural, and managerial challenges. Due to extraordinary 
losses incurred following the hurricanes in 2005 and Superstorm 
Sandy in 2012, the program carries a debt of well over $20 
billion as of January 1, 2013.
    Terrorism Risk Insurance Program. The Committee will 
monitor the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program, which expires on 
December 31, 2014, for its ongoing impact on economic 
development and the private terrorism insurance marketplace. 
The Committee will examine the private sector's capacity to 
assess and price for terrorism risk and consider whether to 
reauthorize the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program as well as 
proposals that would reduce the potential Federal exposure and 
participation in the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program.
    Federal Insurance Office (FIO). The Committee will monitor 
the Federal Insurance Office, which was created by the Dodd-
Frank Act to provide the Federal government with information 
and expertise in insurance matters. The FIO has repeatedly 
missed multiple statutory deadlines imposed by the Dodd-Frank 
Act for reports to Congress on (1) the insurance industry, in 
general; (2) the breadth and scope of the global reinsurance 
market; (3) the ability of state regulators to access 
reinsurance information; and (4) recommendations to modernize 
and improve the system of insurance regulation in the United 
States. The Committee urges the FIO to submit these long 
overdue reports without further delay. The Committee will work 
to ensure that the FIO is focused on developing expertise on 
insurance matters and does not impose unwarranted or excessive 
data collection burdens on the insurance sector or on small 
insurers in particular. The Committee will also monitor 
implementation of the FIO's authority to coordinate policy and 
represent the U.S. on international insurance issues, paying 
particular attention to FIO's role in addressing a number of 
substantive and procedural concerns surrounding the 
International Association of Insurance Supervisors' methodology 
for designating global systemically important insurers.
    Impact of Dodd-Frank Act Implementation on the Insurance 
Sector. The Committee will monitor implementation of various 
provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act for their potential impact on 
the insurance sector including but not limited to the FSOC, the 
Orderly Liquidation Authority, the OFR, and the CFPB, as well 
as new restrictions on proprietary trading and investments 
(Volcker Rule) and revised capital standards for bank and 
thrift holding companies (the Collins Amendment) to ensure that 
new regulations do not impose unwarranted or excessive burdens 
on the insurance sector that might result in higher costs for 
individuals or businesses that purchase insurance products and 
services or result in unintended consequences for U.S. economic 
competitiveness and job creation.

                       MONETARY POLICY AND TRADE

    The Economy and Jobs. In light of efforts to stimulate the 
economy through increased Federal spending and accommodative 
Federal Reserve policies, the Committee will examine the extent 
to which current government policies may have blurred the line 
between monetary and fiscal policy. The Committee will examine 
the effectiveness and consequences of the extraordinary 
measures undertaken by the Federal Reserve on economic growth 
and employment and also will examine the effects of mounting 
Federal debt and annual Federal budget deficits on economic 
recovery and the country's long-term economic health.
    Conduct of Monetary Policy by the Board of Governors of the 
Federal Reserve System. The Committee will thoroughly examine 
the process by which the Federal Reserve sets and executes its 
monetary policy goals, while respecting the independence of the 
Federal Reserve's decision-making. The Committee will review 
the recent history of monetary policy decisions and examine the 
Federal Reserve's plan for removing excess liquidity from the 
economy after recovery is firmly established to prevent 
inflation. The Committee will examine the quality of economic 
data the Federal Reserve uses to make its decisions, the 
accuracy and utility of the Federal Reserve's econometric 
models, and the effect of the Federal Reserve's legislative 
mandates on its decisions. The Committee seeks to ensure that 
the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decisions are based on 
the best data and models, and that it successfully executes 
open market operations to reach its goals. As part of this 
review, the Committee will hold hearings to receive the semi-
annual reports on the conduct of monetary policy and the state 
of the economy from the Chairman of the Board of Governors of 
the Federal Reserve System. The Committee will examine the 
extent to which Federal Reserve policy is conducted in a manner 
that effectively promotes its statutory mandate to pursue 
maximum employment, stable prices, and moderate long-term 
interest rates, taking into account long- and short-term 
effects. This will include evaluating the effectiveness and 
consequences of the extraordinary measures undertaken by the 
Federal Reserve on economic growth and employment.
    General Oversight of the Federal Reserve System. The 
Committee will conduct oversight of the operations of the 
Federal Reserve Board of Governors and the Federal Reserve 
System, including management structure, organizational changes 
mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act, and the role of the Federal 
Reserve in the supervision of systemically significant banks 
and non-bank financial institutions. As part of this review, 
the Committee will hold statutorily required semi-annual 
hearings to receive testimony from the Federal Reserve's Vice 
Chairman for Supervision, a position created by Section 1108 of 
the Dodd-Frank Act that the Obama Administration has not yet 
filled.
    Defense Production Act. The Committee will continue to 
monitor the effectiveness of the Defense Production Act, the 
statutory authorization for which expires in 2014, and its 
individual authorities in promoting national security and 
recovery from natural disasters.
    Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States 
(CFIUS). The Committee will continue to monitor the 
implementation of the Foreign Investment and National Security 
Act of 2007, which reformed the Committee on Foreign Investment 
in the United States. The Committee will seek to ensure that 
CFIUS fulfills its statutory mandate to identify and address 
those foreign investments that pose legitimate threats to 
national security. The Committee will also monitor the extent 
to which the United States maintains a policy of openness 
toward foreign investment, so that investments that pose no 
threat to national security are able to proceed expeditiously 
while those that pose a threat are either remediated or 
rejected.
    Coins and Currency. The Committee will conduct oversight of 
the printing and minting of U.S. currency and coins, and of the 
operation of programs administered by the U.S. Mint for 
producing congressionally authorized commemorative coins, 
bullion coins for investors, and Congressional gold medals. The 
Committee also will examine the Federal Reserve's methods for 
circulating and re-circulating coins and currency, proposals to 
reduce the cost of minting coins, and efforts to make currency 
more accessible to the visually impaired. The Committee will 
continue its review of efforts to detect and combat the 
counterfeiting of U.S. coins and currency in the United States 
and abroad, and will examine the counterfeiting of rare or 
investment-grade coins, U.S.-made and otherwise.
    Economic Sanctions. The Committee will monitor the 
implementation of sanctions against rogue nations, with 
particular attention to the enhanced sanctions against Iran and 
Syria passed during the 112th Congress. Particular focus will 
be placed on whether financial services-related aspects of 
these laws have been executed in accordance with congressional 
intent, and what the impact of such policies has been. This 
review will encompass the activities of the Treasury 
Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control in administering 
the economic sanctions regime.
    Job Creation and U.S. Competitiveness. The Committee will 
examine United States international monetary and trade policies 
with an eye toward ensuring that those policies support the 
ability of U.S. companies to be competitive in the 
international marketplace, thereby promoting domestic job 
creation and economic opportunity, and advancing an open rules-
based global trading system.
    Annual Report and Testimony by the Secretary of the 
Treasury on International Monetary Fund Reform and the State of 
the International Financial System. The Committee will review 
and assess the statutorily required annual report to Congress 
by the Secretary of the Treasury on the state of the 
international financial system and the International Monetary 
Fund (IMF). Section 613 of the Omnibus Consolidated and 
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999 (P.L. 105-277) 
requires the Secretary to report on (1) progress made in 
reforming the IMF; (2) the status of efforts to reform the 
international financial system; (3) compliance by borrower 
countries with the terms and conditions of IMF assistance; and 
(4) the status of implementation of anti-money laundering and 
counterterrorism financing standards by the IMF, the 
multilateral development banks, and other multilateral 
financial policymaking bodies.
    International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Committee will 
consider the policies of the International Monetary Fund to 
ensure effective use of resources and appropriate alignment 
with U.S. interests in promoting economic growth and stability. 
The Committee will also review any Administration request that 
the U.S. transfer funds at the IMF from the New Arrangements to 
Borrow to the general quota fund. During review of any such 
request, the Committee will assess the purpose of the transfer 
and potential risks or benefits the transfer might pose as well 
as possible consequences to the stability of the international 
financial system and U.S. economic interests if the pending 
quota package is not approved. In examining such authorization 
requests, the Committee will review any reforms the IMF has 
agreed to make concurrent with the transfer.
    U.S. Oversight over the Multilateral Development Banks 
(MDBs) and Possible U.S. Contributions. The Committee will 
consider any Administration request that the U.S. contribute to 
the replenishment of the concessional lending windows at the 
World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the Asian 
Development Bank, which provide grants and below market-rate 
financing to the world's poorest nations. In considering any 
such request, the Committee will assess the effectiveness of 
these lending facilities in achieving economic development and 
promoting global economic stability. In addition, the Committee 
will consider the policies of the MDBs to ensure effective use 
of resources and proper alignment with U.S. interests in 
promoting economic growth and stability.
    Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank). The 
Export-Import Bank is chartered by Congress to contribute to 
the employment of U.S. workers through financing exports of 
U.S. manufactured goods and services. The charter under which 
the Ex-Im Bank operates expires September 30, 2014, and the 
Committee will therefore consider the Bank's reauthorization. 
The Ex-Im Bank has been a self-sustaining agency funded by the 
income it receives through its financing programs. The 
Committee will examine the Ex-Im Bank's policies and programs 
to ensure the continuing fiscal soundness of the Bank. The 
Committee will also consider how the Bank can ensure it is not 
crowding out private sector involvement in export financing, 
especially financing for public companies, but will also review 
whether the current authorization is sufficient to support the 
global competitiveness of U.S. companies, small and large, 
particularly given the continuing difficulty companies have in 
accessing credit. Also, the Committee will continue to review 
the implementation of the Congressional mandates established in 
the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2012.
    World Bank Safeguards Review. The Committee will continue 
to monitor the World Bank's ongoing review and update of its 
safeguard policies to ensure that the Bank's safeguards and 
related standards reflect best practices as well as 
international standards and norms, preserve the Bank's 
responsibility to ensure project-program compliance, and 
continue to promote sustainable economic growth and social 
cohesion.
    International Trade. The Committee recognizes that American 
jobs are supported by U.S. exports, U.S. companies operating 
abroad, and foreign firms operating in the United States. The 
Committee will oversee existing trade programs and consider 
policies within the Committee's jurisdiction to promote U.S. 
international trade so that American companies are globally 
competitive. The Committee will oversee the progress of the 
National Export Initiative and other Administration proposals 
to increase U.S. exports and create jobs in the United States. 
The Committee will remain active in the oversight of trade 
negotiations as they relate to the global competitiveness of 
the American financial services sector, to ensure such 
agreements improve access to foreign markets, increase trade 
opportunities for American businesses, and create jobs 
domestically.
    Market Access. The Committee will assess opportunities to 
expand market access for U.S. companies and the financial 
services sector, and to promote policies that can bring about 
reciprocal market access with developing nations that currently 
limit or prevent U.S. firms from entering and operating within 
their national borders. In particular, the Committee will 
examine market access issues with regard to nations with which 
the U.S. has entered into free trade agreements.
    China. The Committee will monitor the implications of 
China's economic growth and policies on the U.S. and global 
economy. As China's economy and global reach expand, the degree 
to which it adopts responsible policies and practices that do 
not distort markets or unfairly disadvantage its trading 
partners will be examined.
    Exchange Rates. The Committee will review and assess the 
semi-annual report to Congress from the Secretary of the 
Treasury on International Economic and Exchange Rate Policies 
pursuant to the Omnibus Trade Act of 1988.
    Global Capital Flows. The Committee will monitor the flow 
of capital globally. The buildup of large currency reserves in 
certain nations can lead to imbalances in capital allocations 
and asset bubbles that threaten global economic stability. The 
Committee will assess the implications of the investment of 
these reserves on the world economy.
    Eurozone Distress. The Committee will monitor the economic 
distress in the Eurozone, which stems from unsustainable levels 
of sovereign debt, problems in the banking sector and slow 
growth in Europe. Because the European Union (EU) is a major 
trading and investment partner of the U.S. and many other 
countries, the EU's fiscal health has implications beyond the 
continent's borders. Consequently, the Committee will examine 
actions taken by the IMF, the EU and other nations to address 
the sovereign debt issues in the Eurozone. The Committee will 
also explore how best to protect U.S. interests while also 
ensuring that taxpayer dollars are not used to bail out foreign 
governments, thereby further enabling reckless fiscal policies.
    Haiti. Just as the United States economy is burdened by 
excessive debt from current and previous Administrations, Haiti 
is also burdened with excessive amounts of debt. Despite 
extensive U.S. and multilateral debt relief, Haiti's debt to 
non-Paris Club members, including Venezuela and China, has 
sharply increased in recent years, leading the IMF to rate 
Haiti's risk of debt distress as high. This debt burden 
exacerbates one of the worst cases of human misery in the 
hemisphere. The Committee will continue to closely monitor the 
efficacy of U.S. and multilateral institution efforts to 
improve the human condition in Haiti, including the impact of 
the Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) annual transfers to 
the Haiti grant facility and the role of the IDB in its 
privileged position as a long-term development partner in 
Haiti.
    Extractive Industries and Conflict Materials. The Committee 
will monitor the implementation of provisions in title XV of 
the Dodd-Frank Act imposing new disclosure requirements 
relating to so-called conflict minerals and extractive 
industries, to ensure that the provisions do not cause undue 
harm to intended beneficiaries. The Committee will also work to 
ensure that unnecessary compliance burdens for U.S. firms are 
minimized.

       CLAUSE 2(d)(1)(F) OF RULE X OF THE HOUSE ON PROPOSED CUTS

    Clause 2(d)(1)(F) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives for the 112th Congress requires each standing 
committee to include in its oversight plan proposals to cut or 
eliminate programs, including mandatory spending programs, that 
are inefficient, duplicative, outdated, or more appropriately 
administered by State or local governments.
    The unsustainable Federal deficit caused by unchecked 
spending remains the most daunting challenge facing the U.S. 
economy. The deficit has created uncertainty among families, 
investors, and small business owners who do not know whether 
the value of saving and investment undertaken today will be 
eroded through inflation and higher taxes in the years ahead 
resulting from ever-increasing Federal deficits. According to 
the Congressional Budget Office's most recent budget estimate, 
the fiscal 2013 Federal deficit is projected to be $845 billion 
and, absent a change in current policy, Federal debt held by 
the public will reach 76 percent of GDP by the end of this 
fiscal year, the largest percentage since 1950. Plainly, the 
nation's current fiscal path is unsustainable. Only by making 
the difficult choices that are necessary to put the nation's 
fiscal house in order can the 113th Congress lay the groundwork 
for ensuring America's prosperity for future generations.
    The following are Federal programs under the jurisdiction 
of the Committee on Financial Services that will be reviewed 
for possible cuts, elimination, or consolidation into other 
Federal programs.
    Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination 
Act (NAHASDA). The Native American Housing Assistance and Self 
Determination Act is composed of a (1) block grant program and 
(2) loan guarantee program. Under the block grant program, 
funds are made available under a formula to Federally-
recognized Native American tribal governments for housing and 
infrastructure development. The FY 2012 funding for the NAHASDA 
block grant program was $650 million. However, the obligated 
unexpended balance, meaning the portion of the funds disbursed 
by HUD to the grantee but not yet spent by that grantee, totals 
approximately $979.7 million, representing significantly more 
than the annual appropriation. The Committee will review the 
causes and sources of the obligated unexpended balance and 
explore the possibility of adjusting the program to make it 
more efficient, providing needed housing infrastructure 
development to those Native American communities that exhibit 
the capacity and need to utilize such funds.
    Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The Community 
Development Block Grant program provides Federal funds to 
cities and localities to help them address housing and 
community development. The CDBG program operates like a revenue 
sharing program for the states and localities. CDBG funds are 
allocated by a formula through which 70 percent of the funds 
are directed to entitlement communities, which are central 
cities of metropolitan areas, cities with populations of at 
least 50,000, and urban counties. The remaining 30 percent is 
directed to states for use in small, non-entitlement 
communities. The fiscal year 2012 budget included $3.308 
billion for the program. The Committee will consider changes in 
the current distribution of CDBG formula funds to target 
extremely low-income communities. In addition, the Committee 
will review the eligible activities and oversight and 
administration of the program with the aim of ensuring that 
funds are used in an appropriate manner and with the express 
purpose of making the program more cost-effective.
    Making Home Affordable Programs. On February 18, 2009, 
President Obama announced a three-part Making Home Affordable 
Program, with the stated goal of helping 9 million borrowers at 
risk of foreclosure or seeking to refinance high-cost 
mortgages. The plan included (1) a refinancing program for 
mortgages owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac (known as the Home 
Affordable Refinance plan); (2) a $75 billion loan modification 
program (known as the Home Affordable Modification Program 
(HAMP)); and (3) a commitment of $200 billion to purchase 
Fannie and Freddie preferred stock. Funding for the 
modification plan is derived from the Troubled Asset Relief 
Program (TARP) and the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs), 
and the GSE preferred stock purchases drew from funds 
authorized by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 
(HERA) (P.L. 110-289). HAMP has not met the goals set for it, 
and has failed to help a sufficient number of distressed 
homeowners to justify the program's cost. Accordingly, the 
Committee recommends rescinding unspent and unobligated 
balances currently committed to these programs.
    Choice Neighborhoods. The Choice Neighborhoods Program was 
established to transform, rehabilitate and replace both public 
and HUD-assisted housing units. Suggested as a replacement for 
the inefficient and often ineffective HOPE VI program, the 
Obama Administration created this new Federal program to 
provide additional grants to local governments, assisted 
housing owners, community development corporations, and non-
profit entities. The Committee is concerned that this new 
government program will suffer the same problems as the HOPE VI 
program, which has millions of dollars in unexpended balances. 
Given that this program was funded at $120 million for FY 2012 
and has yet to be authorized, the Committee recommends 
rescinding unspent and unobligated balances currently committed 
to this program.
    FHA Short Refinance Program. On March 26, 2010, the Obama 
Administration announced a new FHA Short Refinance Program for 
underwater homeowners. Treasury indicated that the program 
would be funded with $8 billion in TARP funds that had 
originally been set aside for HAMP. The program was implemented 
on September 7, 2010, and will continue until December 31, 
2014. Over the course of two and half years, FHA has helped 
only 1,300 borrowers through this program. Rather than 
diverting scarce resources for another ineffective foreclosure 
mitigation program, the Committee recommends that the program 
be discontinued.
                      COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

                        Adopted January 15, 2013

                            1. INTRODUCTION

    Pursuant to the requirements of House Rule X(2)(d)(1), the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs (``the Committee'') has adopted an 
oversight plan for the 113th Congress which will be shared with 
the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the 
Committee on House Administration. This plan summarizes the 
Committee's oversight priorities for the next two years, 
subject to the understanding that new developments will 
undoubtedly affect priorities and workflow in the months ahead.
    Congressional oversight remains one of the key 
responsibilities of the legislative branch. Committee Rule 15 
requires each Subcommittee to hold regular oversight hearings. 
Oversight activities will thus be coordinated between the 
Committee and the Subcommittees, in order to facilitate 
comprehensive and strategic oversight of the programs and 
agencies within the Committee's jurisdiction.
    Oversight activities may include hearings, briefings, 
investigations, Member or staff-level meetings, correspondence, 
fact-finding travel, reports, and public statements. They may 
also include effective use and review of reports by the 
Government Accountability Office and by statutory Inspectors 
General, as well as Congressional Notifications submitted by 
executive branch agencies. The Committee will also consult, as 
appropriate, with other committees of the House that may share 
jurisdiction.
    The Committee's oversight activities will emphasize:
     effectiveness of U.S. foreign policy;
     effective implementation of U.S. law;
     Lthe review of agencies and programs operating 
under permanent statutory authority;
     Lthe elimination of programs and expenditures that 
are inefficient, duplicative, or outdated; and
     Linstitutional reform, efficiency, and fiscal 
discipline.

                     2. PRIORITY OVERSIGHT MATTERS

    a. Iran: The Committee will continue to closely review U.S. 
policy to address the comprehensive threat posed by Iran to the 
United States and to its interests and allies, including, but 
not limited to: Iran's ongoing efforts to develop and acquire 
nuclear weapons capabilities, its unconventional weapons and 
ballistic missile development, its state sponsorship of 
terrorism, and its efforts to exert and expand its 
destabilizing influence and operational capabilities in the 
Middle East, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Western Hemisphere. 
The Committee will also review political and economic support 
given Iran by other countries that is counter to U.S. 
interests. Of particular focus will be U.S. efforts to fully 
implement all sanctions with respect to Iran under U.S. law--
including human rights sanctions--as well as the status and 
enforcement of multilateral sanctions against Iran.
    b. Afghanistan: The Committee will comprehensively review 
U.S. policy toward Afghanistan, including the development and 
implementation of the Strategic Partnership Agreement Between 
the United States and Afghanistan, the effectiveness of U.S. 
assistance programs, the broader political-military and 
associated counterinsurgency and counterterrorism strategies, 
and the full range of policies related to the 2014 transition, 
including programs and budgeting processes.
    c. Pakistan: The Committee will review all elements of U.S. 
policy toward Pakistan, including efforts to eliminate safe 
havens for violent extremists and establish a stable, 
democratic country. This review will encompass all aspects of 
aid to Pakistan, both civilian and security assistance, in 
order to assess the extent to which such programs effectively 
advance U.S. national interests. The Committee will also 
conduct ongoing oversight of matters relating to Pakistan's 
nuclear program, including issues relating to nonproliferation, 
such as the legacy of the A.Q. Khan network.
    d. Middle East and North Africa: The Committee will 
carefully review U.S. policy toward the Middle East and North 
Africa, to include: the ongoing conflict in Syria and the 
related threat posed by chemical weapons; the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict and the overall status of the Middle East 
peace process; the threat posed to the U.S. and its allies by 
terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and al-Qaeda and al-
Qaeda affiliates; the broader transitions and reform efforts 
taking place within the region inclusive of Egypt, Yemen, 
Tunisia, Libya, Bahrain, Morocco, Jordan and others; and United 
States policies, programs, authorities and funding to 
effectively address these challenges. The Committee will 
conduct oversight to assure Israel's ``qualitative military 
edge.''
    e. North Korea: The Committee will review the nuclear and 
missile threat posed by North Korea, its proliferation 
activities and weapon sales involving rogue regimes, its 
illicit activities, continuing human rights violations, and 
U.S. efforts to assist North Korean refugees. The Committee 
will review U.S. diplomatic efforts and will examine next steps 
in U.S. policy to address the North Korean threat.
    f. International Terrorism and Transnational Organized 
Crime: The Committee will examine the current status of al-
Qaeda and its affiliates, with a specific focus on recruitment 
efforts, evolving safe havens, and efforts to obtain WMD. The 
Committee will conduct oversight of the State Department's 
various counterterrorism programs. The Committee will also 
examine the growing links between organized crime, illicit 
drugs, and global terrorism. Other transnational criminal 
issues of interest include maritime piracy, human, arms and 
wildlife trafficking, money laundering and intellectual 
property piracy issues.
     g. State Department Oversight, Authorization, and Reform: 
The Committee will monitor and examine the operations, budget, 
programs, planning, personnel, building, and security policies 
of the Department of State, with an eye toward authorization 
and reform legislation for Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015 that 
promotes U.S. national interests in a cost-effective and 
accountable manner. Special emphasis will be placed on the 
effective implementation of the recommendations of the 
Accountability Review Board, which was formed following the 
terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11, 2012. In 
addition to hearings with the Secretary of State and other 
Administration officials regarding their budget proposals for 
the upcoming year, such efforts may include: review of Foreign 
Service pay, incentive, and promotion policies; consideration 
of reforms to Executive Branch reporting requirements; and an 
examination of consular processes, including passport and visa 
security issues.
    h. Asia-Pacific Region: The Committee will review the 
U.S.'s significant political, economic, and security interests 
in the Asia-Pacific, including East and Southeast Asia, South 
Asia, and Pacific Islands. The Committee will conduct oversight 
of U.S. relations with the Asia-Pacific, including foreign 
policy, foreign assistance funding, security cooperation, 
territorial disputes, and trade relations. The Committee will 
examine the State Department's participation in multilateral 
organizations such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 
(APEC) forum and the East Asia Summit, and closely monitor the 
Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations. The Committee will 
monitor the needs of Taiwan for defensive weapons systems as 
provided for in the Taiwan Relations Act.
    i. U.S. International Broadcasting: The Committee will 
actively monitor and review the operations and organization of 
the Broadcasting Board of Governors and the full range of U.S. 
government-supported, civilian international broadcasting to 
ensure the most robust and effective operation possible.
    j. China: The Committee will examine China's role in the 
Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Particular focus will be placed 
on China's assertiveness in territorial disputes, rapid 
military modernization, and human rights abuses. The Committee 
will also examine China's role in the global economy, including 
unfair trade policies that threaten American jobs, such as 
indigenous innovation and theft of intellectual property. The 
Committee will review China's support for despotic regimes in 
North Korea, Iran, and Syria, which has prevented meaningful 
sanctions from being implemented. The Committee will monitor 
the State Department's participation in the U.S.-China 
Strategic and Economic Dialogue and other related bilateral 
mechanisms. The Committee will investigate China's increasing 
use of cyber espionage to affect foreign trade, and other 
policy outcomes.
    k. Economic Policy and Trade: The Committee will take a 
vigorous role in overseeing international economic policy, 
including U.S. leadership in trade, finance, development, and 
energy policy, and how such leadership may promote economic 
prosperity and national security. This will include, but is not 
limited to, oversight of, and potential legislation relating 
to, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and 
Export Administration Act.
    l. Export Control Reform: The Committee will oversee 
proposed Executive Branch reforms of U.S. strategic export 
controls. In particular, the Committee will assess the extent 
to which proposed changes to the U.S. Munitions and Commerce 
Control Lists effectively safeguard critical technologies and 
national security, while supporting the defense industrial base 
and advancing U.S. commercial interests. The Committee will 
consider legislation on these and related matters as may be 
necessary and appropriate.
    m. U.S. Nonproliferation Policy. The Committee will examine 
the effectiveness of U.S. nonproliferation policy and the 
international nonproliferation regime in preventing the spread 
of weapons of mass destruction. The Committee will address 
opportunities to strengthen existing nonproliferation 
organizations, especially the International Atomic Energy 
Agency, increase cooperation with other countries, and enhance 
international nonproliferation agreements and mechanisms. 
Prominent issues will include the global expansion of civil 
nuclear power and the potential spread of technology, equipment 
and material useful in the development of nuclear weapons 
capabilities. The Committee will closely examine proposed and 
existing bilateral nuclear cooperation agreements with other 
countries, including their potential to promote U.S. 
nonproliferation objectives.
    n. Africa. The Committee will review political, economic 
and security developments on the African continent. Key issues 
will include efforts to eliminate safe havens for violent 
extremists, economic development--including implementation of 
the African Growth and Opportunity Act--effective use of aid, 
human rights, and responsible energy development. Particular 
attention is to be paid to the developments in Mali, Nigeria, 
Sudan and South Sudan, the Great Lakes region and the Horn of 
Africa.
    o. Western Hemisphere: The Committee will conduct oversight 
regarding the content and effectiveness of U.S. political, 
military, and economic policy toward the countries of the 
Western Hemisphere. Special emphasis will be placed on the 
prospects for expanding trade, especially with Canada and 
Mexico, as well as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and regional 
energy developments. The Committee will address continuing 
threats from narco-trafficking, organized crime, and terrorist 
organizations, including the implications of Iran's increasing 
presence and influence. The Committee will examine the 
stability of, and cooperation between, the regimes in 
Venezuela, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Ecuador and Cuba.
    p. Security Assistance and Arms Transfer Policy: The 
Committee will assess the effectiveness of FAA and AECA-
authorized security assistance programs in advancing U.S. 
national interests. In addition, the Committee will review 
those security cooperation programs funded by the Department of 
Defense but which require concurrence of the Secretary of 
State, or otherwise give rise to this Committee's jurisdiction. 
The Committee will also review law and policy relating to U.S. 
arms transfers and related end-use monitoring, as well as 
various counterterrorism tools that impact foreign policy. The 
Committee will also continue to carefully review proposed arms 
sales and transfers proposed by the Administration to make sure 
they comport with U.S. foreign and national security policy, as 
well as benefit the legitimate defense needs of the recipient 
countries, and the process by which the Administration consults 
with the Committee and the Congress on such sales to ensure 
proper oversight.
    q. Russia: The Committee will address the impact of 
Russia's foreign policy on U.S. political, economic, and other 
interests in key countries and regions, with a focus on 
identifying significant areas of competition and potential 
cooperation. Of note is the Administration's announced 
intention to negotiate new agreements with Russia on limiting 
strategic forces and ballistic missile defense, including the 
U.S. system scheduled for deployment in Europe. Russia's 
adherence to the rules of the World Trade Organization and the 
impact on U.S. exports will be addressed. The Committee will 
also review how Russia's domestic policies impact the U.S., and 
will consider the country's respect for human rights, 
democratic governance, and rule of law.
    r. Europe/Eurasia: The Committee will review U.S. relations 
with European countries, with an emphasis on the European Union 
and NATO, including potential membership of the Western Balkan 
nations in those institutions. Key issues will include removal 
of barriers to trade, including a potential Trans-Atlantic Free 
Trade Area, the deployment of a regional ballistic missile 
defense system, the impact of the European financial crisis, 
diversification of energy sources, and Turkey's new foreign 
policy orientation and its domestic political evolution, among 
others. The Committee will also conduct oversight of U.S. 
policy in Central Asia, including as it relates to the 2014 
transition in Afghanistan.
    s. Foreign Assistance: The Committee will review the 
underlying authorities for U.S. foreign assistance with an eye 
towards reducing duplication, and increasing transparency and 
effectiveness. It will also review issues related to the 
subsequent implementation of U.S. foreign assistance programs 
and projects, including the role of U.S. missions and 
embassies. In addition, the Committee will review issues 
related to coordination between the U.S. Agency for 
International Development (USAID) and other U.S. Government 
agencies and departments that are involved in carrying out U.S. 
foreign assistance. Among a broad range of issues, the 
Committee will review U.S. foreign assistance initiatives aimed 
at addressing global health challenges, including maternal 
health and child survival issues, and the implementation of the 
Lantos-Hyde United States Global Leadership against HIV/AIDS, 
Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008. 
Assistance provided through the Millennium Challenge 
Corporation will also receive close scrutiny.
    t. Human Rights and Democracy: The Committee will examine 
U.S. activities to promote democracy and protect human rights 
around the world. The Committee will critically assess U.S. 
involvement with multilateral human rights mechanisms, to 
ensure that U.S. diplomacy serves to promote fundamental human 
rights and freedoms.
    u. United Nations and International Organizations: The 
Committee will closely review all aspects of U.S. funding of, 
and participation in, international organizations. Close 
attention will be paid to whether such funding and 
participation is advancing U.S. interests and values, 
protecting the integrity of U.S. taxpayer dollars, and leading 
to increased transparency, accountability, and reform of those 
organizations. The Committee will closely monitor the work of 
the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations and 
Department of Field Support, particularly efforts to improve 
performance, enhance accountability, and combat waste, fraud 
and abuse in United Nations Peacekeeping Missions.

                3. GENERAL REVIEW OF U.S. FOREIGN POLICY

    The Committee intends to exercise its oversight 
jurisdiction concerning the relations of the United States with 
foreign nations to the fullest extent allowed by House Rule 
X(1)(i). This means taking cognizance of events and 
circumstances in every region of the world outside of U.S. 
national borders, as well as U.S. foreign policy responses 
thereto, as developments warrant. According to Committee Rules, 
those responsibilities are divided among the Full Committee, 
its one functional subcommittee, and its five regional 
subcommittees, as follows:
    Full Committee. The full Committee is responsible for 
oversight and legislation relating to: foreign assistance 
(including development assistance, Millennium Challenge 
Corporation, the Millennium Challenge Account, HIV/AIDS in 
foreign countries, security assistance, and Public Law 480 
programs abroad); national security developments affecting 
foreign policy; strategic planning and agreements; war powers, 
treaties, executive agreements, and the deployment and use of 
United States Armed Forces; peacekeeping, peace enforcement, 
and enforcement of United Nations or other international 
sanctions; arms control and disarmament issues; the United 
States Agency for International Development; activities and 
policies of the State, Commerce, and Defense Departments and 
other agencies related to the Arms Export Control Act and the 
Foreign Assistance Act, including export and licensing policy 
for munitions items and technology and dual-use equipment and 
technology; international law; promotion of democracy; 
international law enforcement issues, including narcotics 
control programs and activities; Broadcasting Board of 
Governors; embassy security; international broadcasting; public 
diplomacy, including international communication and 
information policy, and international education and exchange 
programs; and all other matters not specifically assigned to a 
subcommittee. The full Committee will have jurisdiction over 
legislation with respect to the administration of the Export 
Administration Act, including the export and licensing of dual-
use equipment and technology and other matters related to 
international economic policy and trade not otherwise assigned 
to a subcommittee, and with respect to the United Nations, its 
affiliated agencies, and other international organizations, 
including assessed and voluntary contributions to such 
organizations. The full Committee may conduct oversight and 
investigations with respect to any matter within the 
jurisdiction of the Committee as defined in the Rules of the 
House of Representatives.
    Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade. 
This subcommittee has oversight and legislative 
responsibilities over the United States' efforts to manage and 
coordinate international programs to combat terrorism as 
coordinated by the Department of State and other agencies, and 
efforts to bring international terrorists to justice. With the 
concurrence of the Chairman of the full Committee, it has 
oversight of, and legislation pertaining to, nonproliferation 
matters involving nuclear, chemical, biological and other 
weapons of mass destruction, except for legislation involving 
the Foreign Assistance Act, the Arms Export Control Act, the 
Export Administration Act, and sanctions laws pertaining to 
individual countries and the provision of foreign assistance 
(which is reserved to the full Committee). It has oversight of 
matters relating to international economic and trade policy; 
commerce with foreign countries; international investment 
policy; the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the 
Trade and Development Agency; commodity agreements; and special 
oversight of international financial and monetary institutions; 
the Export-Import Bank, and customs. With the concurrence of 
the Chairman of the full Committee, it also has legislative 
jurisdiction over measures related to export promotion and 
measures related to the Overseas Private Investment Corporation 
and the Trade and Development Agency.
    Regional Subcommittees. The five subcommittees with 
regional jurisdiction are:
     LThe Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global 
Human Rights, and International Organizations
     The Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
     The Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging 
Threats
     The Subcommittee on the Middle East and North 
Africa
     The Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
    As detailed below, two of the regional subcommittees also 
have functional jurisdiction. Each of the regional 
subcommittees has jurisdiction over the following within their 
respective regions:
    (1) Matters affecting the political relations between the 
United States and other countries and regions, including 
resolutions or other legislative measures directed to such 
relations.
    (2) Legislation with respect to disaster assistance outside 
the Foreign Assistance Act, boundary issues, and international 
claims.
    (3) Legislation with respect to region- or country-specific 
loans or other financial relations outside the Foreign 
Assistance Act.
    (4) Legislation and oversight regarding human rights 
practices in particular countries.
    (5) Oversight of regional lending institutions.
    (6) Oversight of matters related to the regional activities 
of the United Nations, of its affiliated agencies, and of other 
multilateral institutions.
    (7) Identification and development of options for meeting 
future problems and issues relating to U.S. interests in the 
region.
    (8) Oversight of base rights and other facilities access 
agreements and regional security pacts.
    (9) Concurrent oversight jurisdiction with respect to 
matters assigned to the functional subcommittees insofar as 
they may affect the region.
    (10) Oversight of foreign assistance activities affecting 
the region, with the concurrence of the Chairman of the full 
Committee.
    (11) Such other matters as the Chairman of the full 
Committee may determine.

    The Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human 
Rights, and International Organizations. In addition to its 
regional jurisdiction, this subcommittee has oversight of: 
international health issues, including transboundary infectious 
diseases, maternal health and child survival, and programs 
related to the global ability to address health issues; 
population issues; the United Nations and its affiliated 
agencies (excluding peacekeeping and enforcement of United 
Nations or other international sanctions); international 
cultural and educational programs and exchanges; the American 
Red Cross; and the Peace Corps. In addition, it has legislative 
and oversight jurisdiction pertaining to: implementation of the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights; other matters relating 
to internationally-recognized human rights, including 
legislation aimed at the promotion of human rights and 
democracy generally; and the Hague Convention on the Civil 
Aspects of International Child Abduction, and related issues.

    The Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats. 
In addition to its regional jurisdiction, with the concurrence 
of the Chairman of the full Committee, this subcommittee has 
oversight jurisdiction related to emerging foreign threats to 
the national security and interests of the United States.
                     COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                  Washington, DC, January 24, 2013.
Hon. Candice S. Miller,
Chairman, Committee on House Administration, Washington, DC.
Hon. Darrell E. Issa,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Chairman Miller and Chairman Issa: Pursuant to clause 
2(d)(1) of Rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
I am submitting the Committee on Homeland Security's Oversight 
Plan for the 113th Congress. The Oversight Plan was adopted by 
the Committee on Homeland Security in open session on January 
23, 2013, without amendment, by unanimous consent, a quorum 
being present.
            Sincerely,
                                         Michael T. McCaul,
                                                          Chairman.

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

    Clause 2(d), Rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives for the 113th Congress requires each standing 
Committee to adopt an oversight plan for the two-year period of 
the Congress and to submit the plan to the Committees on 
Oversight and Government Reform and House Administration not 
later than February 15th of the first session of the Congress.
    This is the oversight plan for the Committee on Homeland 
Security for the 113th Congress. It includes the areas in which 
the Committee expects to conduct oversight during the 113th 
Congress, but does not preclude oversight or investigation of 
additional matters as needs arise. The Full Committee will 
examine the following four key priorities, among other issues.

             Preventing a Terrorist Attack on the Homeland

    Our enemies continuously plot to harm Americans. As we saw 
warning signs prior to the 9/11 attacks including the bombings 
of our embassies in Africa and attack on the USS Cole, we are 
experiencing events today, which should cause concern. The Arab 
spring has brought some welcome changes to the Middle East. 
However, the region has also witnessed some dangerous warning 
signs, such as the assassination of our US Ambassador in 
Benghazi along with three other Americans. We now see radical 
and dangerous groups achieving political prominence in the 
Middle East. This is a dangerous time for our nation and we 
cannot become complacent about the threats against us.
    During the 113th Congress, the Committee will examine the 
persisting threats to Americans and American interests from Al 
Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and new and emerging 
threats such as Iran and Hezbollah in the Western hemisphere. 
The Committee will assess the various vulnerabilities of our 
nation's systems and mechanisms that dangerous people and 
entities aspire to exploit, such as our aviation and other 
transit systems, our cyber networks, and critical 
infrastructure control systems. The Department of Homeland 
Security (DHS) has the responsibility to protect Americans from 
these dangers and the Committee intends to examine the 
Department's relevant strategies and capabilities.
    The Committee will also continue to evaluate the Obama 
Administration's policy concerning the Detention Center at the 
US Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. This oversight will 
include a review of the Secretary of Homeland Security's role 
as a member of the President's Guantanamo Detention Task Force, 
as outlined in Executive Order 13492. Furthermore, the 
examination will include a review of the potential risk of 
holding high-value detainees, such as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed 
and other co-conspirators of the attacks of September 11th on 
domestic soil; the risk of inadvertent disclosure of sensitive 
information during the trial; and the recommendations delivered 
by the Department as part of the Guantanamo Review Task Force.

                          Securing Our Borders

    During the 113th Congress, the Committee will continue to 
examine the Department's efforts to secure land and maritime 
borders of the United States. The Committee will assess 
programs and technologies used to secure U.S. land borders on 
the north and the south, as well as the Caribbean region. The 
Committee will also examine how the Department is leveraging 
defense technologies to effectively secure the borders and how 
best to utilize equipment coming re-deployed from Iraq and 
Afghanistan. The Committee will continue to monitor the threat 
of spill-over violence stemming from the rise of drug cartels 
and the violent conflict throughout Mexico.

                    Protecting Against Cyber Attacks

    In the 113th Congress, the Committee will examine the 
Department's role in hardening our national critical 
infrastructure against cyber attacks by fortifying Federal and 
civilian networks and collaborating with the private sector to 
reduce vulnerabilities. The Committee will review the 
integration of the various cyber missions carried out across 
the Federal government and will monitor the Department's role 
in fulfilling its goals in order to prevent a catastrophic 
cyber attack. The Committee will ensure that the Department 
facilitates the improved security of our Nation's critical 
infrastructure while earning and building on the trust of the 
owners and operators of that infrastructure.

              Managing DHS With a Business-Model Approach

    In the 113th Congress, the Committee will oversee the 
Department of Homeland Security's management and operations to 
ensure that it is functioning in the most efficient manner 
possible and accountable to the American people. The Committee 
will work to identify potential opportunities to leverage 
proven private sector best practices, find efficiencies that 
will contribute to the Department's ability to meet its vital 
missions, and identify areas for cost savings. The Committee 
intends to conduct oversight and ensure better business 
practices in areas, such as acquisition, financial management, 
information technology, and employee morale.

           Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence


                            Counterterrorism

    The security of the American homeland is linked to 
international security as vulnerabilities in one part of the 
world can quickly become security threats in another. During 
the 113th Congress, the Committee will review the Department's 
international counterterrorism activities. This review will 
include examining the roles, responsibilities, and resources 
devoted by the Department and its components to achieving 
United States goals to combat terrorism overseas.
    The Committee will examine the counterterrorism policies of 
the US government, with a focus on the Department of Homeland 
Security. This examination will include an assessment of the 
worldwide threat against the US homeland from various groups, 
such as Al Qaeda core, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula 
(AQAP), Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), al Shahbab, 
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Boko 
Haram, and other emerging terrorist groups. The Committee will 
also examine Iran's sponsorship of terrorism via its proxies, 
most notably Hezbollah, including expanding ties in the western 
hemisphere. This examination will include the extent to which 
the Department's strategic planning efforts address these 
threats. The Committee will monitor the homeland security 
ramifications of potential military action against the illicit 
Iranian nuclear program and the geopolitical ramifications 
across the Middle East and North Africa. The Committee will 
also monitor issues related to homegrown terrorist threats, 
economic threats, and terrorist travel and financing issues.

                          Counterintelligence

    Throughout the 113th Congress, the Committee will track the 
development of the Department of Homeland Security 
Counterintelligence Program, to ensure it is fully meeting the 
Department's needs. DHS's counterintelligence efforts are 
intended to prevent adversaries from penetrating the Department 
to exploit sensitive information, operations, programs, 
personnel, and resources.

                  Unconventional and Emerging Threats

    In the 113th Congress, the Committee will examine the 
capabilities and efforts of the Department to identify, 
prevent, deter, and respond to emerging future threats. For 
example, GPS navigation systems have a significant impact on 
the daily lives of most Americans but these systems are highly 
susceptible to being jammed and hijacked. These threats could 
disrupt civil aviation and emergency communications, attack 
global financial exchanges, and corrupt the energy grid. The 
Committee will monitor the extent to which the Department 
effectively coordinates and collaborates with other relevant US 
agencies to mitigate these threats to the homeland.

               Homeland Security Intelligence Enterprise

    During the 113th Congress, the Committee will conduct 
oversight of the Department of Homeland Security's Intelligence 
Enterprise, including intelligence activities throughout the 
Department and component agencies. This will include a focus on 
the coordination and collaboration across intelligence offices 
and personnel within the Headquarters' elements and component 
agencies. Additionally, the Committee will review efforts to 
build the intelligence, analytical, and assessment capabilities 
of the Department and to ensure its full participation in the 
Intelligence Community as part of its homeland security 
mission. This will include an examination of the hiring 
authorities, practices, and career-development of intelligence 
analysts and professionals within Headquarters elements and 
component agencies. The Committee will examine the Department's 
role in managing, distributing, and otherwise using terrorist 
threat information in furtherance of its homeland security 
mission. The Committee will also examine national security 
clearance policies and processes within the Department.

                          Information Sharing

    During the 113th Congress, the Committee will examine the 
progress being made to improve terrorist and homeland security 
information sharing efforts among Federal, state, and local 
governments, law enforcement entities, first responders, 
emergency management personnel, and the private sector. The 
Committee will examine the Department of Homeland Security's 
efforts to coordinate information sharing efforts from across 
the Federal government to and from state and local fusion 
centers throughout the country. As part of this examination, 
the Committee will review the efficacy and efficiency of state 
and local fusion centers to determine their impact on securing 
the homeland.

              Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security


                            Border Security

    During the 113th Congress, the Committee will continue to 
examine the Department's efforts to secure land and maritime 
borders of the United States, including but not limited to 
personnel, technology, infrastructure, and coordination. The 
Committee will also assess the status of programs and 
international agreements to secure US land borders on the north 
and the south, as well as the Caribbean region, from illegal 
entry by persons or contraband. The Committee will monitor the 
extent to which the Department can measure its performance in 
securing the borders and how these measures reflect the state 
of border security.
    The Committee will also examine the technologies used to 
secure the borders. Specifically, the Committee will conduct 
oversight of the Department's acquisitions of border 
technologies, such as those used in the Arizona Border 
Surveillance Technology Plan, and examine the extent to which 
the Department is leveraging defense technologies, such as 
unmanned aerial systems, to effectively secure the borders. 
This oversight will also include the Department's use of aerial 
assets in support of border security. The Committee will 
continue to monitor the threat of spill-over violence stemming 
from the rise of drug cartels and the violent conflict 
throughout Mexico. The Committee will also examine the 
Department's efforts to identify, detain, prioritize, and 
remove criminal aliens from the United States, including those 
apprehended at or near US borders and ports of entry who are 
subject to deportation, particularly those from special 
interest countries.

                 Border Screening and Terrorist Travel

    In the 113th Congress, the Committee intends to review 
efforts to ensure the deployment and implementation of training 
and infrastructure enhancements to assist border and consular 
officials in identifying, intercepting, and disrupting 
terrorists or others who would do our Nation harm and who are 
attempting to enter or travel within the United States. The 
Committee will address security-related deficiencies in the 
immigration and naturalization process that terrorists could 
use to gain entry to or remain in the country for illegitimate 
purposes. These weaknesses have and will continue to be 
exploited by terrorists and those seeking to commit terrorist 
acts. The Committee intends to continue to explore challenges 
associated with visa security.
    The Committee will also examine the integration, security, 
and reliability of criminal, immigration, and terrorist 
databases used to screen persons seeking to enter and exit this 
country, to include advanced passenger information and the 
United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology 
(US-VISIT) program. The Committee will also assess the 
development of secure travel documents. In addition, the 
Committee will examine the integration and effectiveness of 
transportation and border security screening systems at ports 
of entry for detecting high-risk passengers and cargo 
transported within the United States and across our borders, 
including efforts to better facilitate travel and trade such as 
implementation of ``trusted traveler'' programs and the Beyond 
the Border Agreement. The Committee will also examine the 
Department's security efforts between ports of entry and the 
extent to which it collaborates with other federal, state, and 
local agencies regarding border security.

                       Port and Maritime Security

    In the 113th Congress, the Committee will examine various 
aspects of port and maritime security, including the security 
of port facilities; the screening of vessels, passengers, 
cargo, and crew for potential terrorists, terrorist weapons, 
and contraband; nuclear detection efforts; the development of 
international security standards for shipping and containers; 
and the implementation and operation, including technology 
utilized, of the Transportation Worker Identification 
Credential. The Committee also plans to review how the 
Department manages risk emerging from maritime threats and 
vulnerabilities such as small boats and semi-submersible 
submarines.
    The Committee plans to review the efficiency and 
effectiveness of the Department's supply chain security 
programs, such as the Customs Trade Partnership Against 
Terrorism (C-TPAT) and the Container Security Initiative (CSI), 
to ensure a proper balance between the facilitation of lawful 
trade and the security of the homeland. This will include an 
assessment of implementation of the Maritime and Transportation 
Security Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-295), the Security and 
Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-
347), relevant provisions of the Intelligence Reform and 
Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-458), and the 
Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 
(P.L. 110-53).

                            U.S. Coast Guard

    During the 113th Congress, the Committee plans to review 
the Coast Guard's homeland security missions, to include ports, 
waterways, and coastal security; drug interdiction; migrant 
interdiction; law enforcement; and defense readiness. The 
Committee will examine Coast Guard afloat, aviation, and shore-
based operations in support of these missions to ensure that 
the service is using a risk-based, layered strategy to enforce 
laws and keep America's waters secure. This will include a 
specific assessment of the Coast Guard's anti-terrorist 
capabilities, most notably those found within the Deployable 
Operations Group and its units, including Maritime Safety and 
Security Teams, Port Security Units, Tactical Law Enforcement 
Teams, and the Maritime Security Response Team.
    The Committee will monitor the Coast Guard's efforts to 
address threats from small vessels, issues from offshore oil 
rigs, and essential vulnerable vessels such as tankers. 
Additionally, the Committee will review resource and asset 
needs within the Coast Guard to determine whether the service 
is operationally ready to address threats and emergencies while 
pursuing a long-term sustainable path of fleet 
recapitalization. The Committee will specifically examine the 
progress, efficiency, and efficacy of acquisitions programs to 
ensure major procurements remain on schedule without a 
reduction in readiness throughout the service.
    Furthermore, the Committee will investigate the Coast 
Guard's specific maritime security operations and initiatives, 
such as the International Port Security Program and the 
inspection of vessels originating from ports with inadequate 
anti-terrorism measures. The Committee will examine these and 
other programs to ensure that the service is developing a full 
sense of maritime domain awareness and executing all of its 
missions in the most effective manner possible to keep America 
secure.

                Subcommittee on Transportation Security


                           Aviation Security

    In the 113th Congress, the Committee will examine the risks 
to the aviation system, as well as the development and 
implementation of security measures to reduce or mitigate such 
risks. The Committee's oversight will review programs and 
procedures implemented by the Department of Homeland Security 
related to the security of all types of aircraft, including 
commercial passenger, air cargo, and general aviation aircraft. 
In addition, the Committee will examine airport perimeter and 
access controls and technology for limiting access to the 
secure areas of commercial and general aviation airports. The 
Committee will also examine the training and management of the 
Federal Air Marshal Service.
    In addition, the Committee will examine the Department's 
global strategy for securing the aviation system including its 
cooperation with foreign countries on security procedures and 
technologies and the harmonization of aviation security 
standards worldwide. The Committee will identify international 
best practices to aviation security that could result in 
efficiencies in the United States. The Committee also remains 
concerned about weaknesses in the Alien Flight Student program 
and will continue to monitor the Department's progress in 
correcting these weaknesses. The Committee will continue to 
pursue options for strengthening the security process for US 
citizens enrolled in flight training.

                    Passenger and Baggage Screening

    During the 113th Congress, the Committee will review TSA's 
deployment of technology and implementation of procedures 
related to the screening of passengers in all modes of 
transportation and will examine TSA's balancing security 
interests with the need for the efficient flow of travel, 
including privacy and civil liberties safeguards. The Committee 
will conduct oversight on the cost and effectiveness of 
technology related to the screening of baggage; transportation 
security information sharing within the Federal interagency 
process; and the effectiveness of the credentialing process. 
The Committee will also review TSA's passenger search policies 
and pre-screening programs, including the screening of 
passengers against no-fly and selectee lists, the performance 
of the Secure Flight program, and other measures that affect 
the security of domestic and international air travelers.

                   Reforming Transportation Security

    In the 113th Congress, the Committee will examine 
additional options for the Department to allow the private 
sector more flexibility to innovate transportation security 
including the Screening Partnership Program. The Committee will 
explore the costs and benefits of these options. The Committee 
will continue to examine the extent to which a risk-based 
security approach can increase efficiencies in the TSA 
workforce without compromising security. This examination will 
include the effectiveness of the Department's outreach to the 
public on its transportation security measures. The Committee 
will also monitor the progress of the Department to implement 
risk-based screening initiatives, such as TSA's Pre-Check 
program, at airports nationwide to increase efficiencies in the 
screening process. This includes assessing the effectiveness of 
these initiatives.
    The Committee will review the Department's acquisition and 
procurement policies, practices, and procedures for screening 
technologies to ensure the efficient use of taxpayer dollars. 
The Committee will continue to seek input from independent 
groups outside the Department to help ensure a leaner, smarter, 
more efficient organization. In addition, the Committee will 
monitor the extent to which the Department enlists the private 
sector to modernize and, to the extent feasible, automate the 
passenger screening process to reduce invasive pat-downs; 
implements privacy software on all Advanced Imaging Technology 
machines; sponsors an independent analysis of the potential 
health impacts of AIT machines; and further validates the 
Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques program and 
assesses the value added to aviation security.

                         Surface Transportation

    In the 113th Congress, the Committee will review the 
Transportation Security Administration's efforts to secure 
surface transit systems, including the most at-risk mass 
transit systems, buses, subway light rail, and passenger rail, 
freight rail, pipelines, and highway systems. Moreover, in 
examining the security of surface transportation systems, the 
Committee will consider options to improve the efficiency and 
effectiveness of the surface transportation inspection program. 
The Committee will also examine the efficacy and impact of 
Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response teams. The Committee 
will also monitor the extent to which the Department 
effectively coordinates with other Federal partners, such as 
the Department of Transportation, the Federal Rail 
Administration, and the Federal Aviation Administration to 
secure our nation's transportation systems. The Committee will 
continue to monitor the implementation of the Transportation 
Worker Identification Credential and its impact on those 
required to obtain the credential.

                  Transportation Security Regulations

    During the 113th Congress, the Committee will examine 
transportation security regulations in order to reduce the 
burden on the economy and improve American global 
competitiveness. The Committee will examine the challenges to 
finalize guidance related to foreign-aircraft repair-station 
security. The Committee will continue to seek perspectives from 
the private sector on the impact of transportation security 
regulations and options for the Department to become more 
efficient and effective.

  Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications


                       Preparedness and Response

    During the 113th Congress, the Committee will examine the 
Administration's efforts to implement Presidential Policy 
Directive 8 (PPD-8), and the required National Preparedness 
System, which includes the various frameworks and the National 
Preparedness Goal. Additionally, the Committee will review the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) response and 
recovery efforts for declared disasters to ensure capabilities 
are enhanced by lessons learned and Federal resources are used 
appropriately. The Committee will investigate issues, if any, 
of waste, fraud, and abuse associated with FEMA's disaster 
response efforts.

     Assistance to State and Local Governments and First Responders

    Throughout the 113th Congress, the Committee will examine 
FEMA's allocation and administration of grants to enhance the 
ability of state and local governments and emergency response 
providers to prevent, prepare for, respond to, mitigate, and 
recover from a terrorist attack, including proposals for 
reforms to these programs. The Committee will review the 
coordination of grant programs across the Federal government; 
coordination within the Department of Homeland Security in 
developing guidance and administering grants; the ability of 
state and local governments to access, obligate, and expend 
funds; strength of regional partnerships developed through 
grants; and the risk-based distribution and expenditure of such 
grants at the state and local levels. The Committee will 
examine options to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of 
grant programs. The Committee will also review ongoing efforts 
to comprehensively assess these investments and the impact on 
preparedness capabilities through the lens of the National 
Preparedness Goal, National Preparedness Report, State 
Preparedness Reports, and other related measures.

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Planning, Preparedness, 
                              and Response

    During the 113th Congress, the Committee will examine the 
significant challenges posed by chemical, biological, 
radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) weapons to homeland security 
and assess the Department's progress in implementing security 
strategies including prevention, preparedness, and response 
approaches that utilize multiple tools and policies to reduce 
the likelihood and impact of CBRN attacks and, thus, the CBRN 
risk to the Nation. The Committee will oversee the Department's 
efforts to predict and respond to the evolving CBRN threat 
landscape, and ensure that CBRN expenditures are risk-based, 
coordinated, and in general represent wise use of taxpayer 
dollars. The Committee will examine the Department's capability 
to mitigate CBRN risks through appropriate means including 
detection of, preparedness for, and response to CBRN threats. 
The Committee will continue its oversight of those activities 
needed to ensure the safety of the public and the first 
responder community in the event of an attack, such as through 
the development of medical countermeasures programs. The 
Committee will also oversee preparedness for agricultural 
terrorism events.

                             Communications

    In the 113th Congress, the Committee will examine the 
coordination of the various communications programs and offices 
within the Department of Homeland Security. The Committee will 
monitor activities of the First Responder Network Authority 
(FirstNet) and the development of the public safety 
interoperable wireless broadband network. In addition, the 
Committee will review the Department's programs in the 
establishment of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System 
to ensure timely and effective alerts and warnings are provided 
to the public in the event of an emergency.

                  Emergency Response Provider Training

    During the 113th Congress, the Committee will review the 
Department's terrorism preparedness training programs, 
including awareness of these resources among first responders 
and state and local governments and the level of coordination 
among Federal, state, and local training programs. The 
Committee will also review existing training centers and 
determine whether the Department is optimally utilizing these 
facilities to enhance first responder terrorism preparedness.

                       Exercises and Simulations

    The Committee will examine the Department's efforts to 
streamline and improve the National Exercise Program to ensure 
the program enhances the preparedness of the Nation. The 
Committee will monitor the extent to which FEMA is 
incorporating lessons learned from national exercises into 
future training, planning, and response, recovery, and 
mitigation activities.

Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security 
                              Technologies


                             Cybersecurity

    In the 113th Congress, the Committee will examine the 
Department's role in hardening our national critical 
infrastructure against cyber attacks by fortifying Federal 
civilian networks and collaborating with the private sector to 
develop the means to detect and prevent cyber attacks, reduce 
vulnerabilities, provide incident response, and facilitate 
recovery. That oversight will consider the Department's ability 
to detect the incursion of malicious activity; attribute the 
source of that activity; and promote best practices, risk 
assessments, and sharing of threat information across all 
levels of government and the private sector.
    The Department has been delegated authority by the White 
House to develop cybersecurity policy across the civilian 
government agencies. The Committee will monitor that this 
policy is effective, efficient and scalable to ensure the 
security of government networks. In addition, the Committee 
will examine the Department's ability to foster research and 
development cybersecurity technology as well as developing a 
substantial and capable professional cybersecurity workforce. 
The Department has recently reorganized the offices tasked with 
carrying out its cybersecurity mission so the Committee will 
review the efficiencies in these offices to make sure that the 
bureaucracy enables, and doesn't hinder, the mission. The 
Committee will also examine the resiliency of national critical 
infrastructure to withstand cyber attacks and the need to 
optimize supply chain risk management in order to protect 
against manipulation without unnecessarily impeding commerce.
    The Committee will also review the integration of the 
various cyber missions carried out across the Federal 
government, including its collaboration with the defense and 
intelligence agencies. Similarly the Committee will monitor the 
Department's role in fulfilling the goals of the Homeland 
Security blueprint for cybersecurity, as well as the 
development and the implementation of the National Cyber 
Incident Response Plan, which expands upon the National 
Response Framework. The Committee will ensure that the 
Department facilitates the improved security of our Nation's 
critical infrastructure while earning and building on the trust 
of the owners and operators of that infrastructure.

                   Critical Infrastructure Protection

    Pursuant to Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7 
(HSPD-7), the Department is responsible for integrating sector 
specific strategies into a National Strategy for Critical 
Infrastructure Protection, and for coordinating Federal efforts 
across all such infrastructure sectors. During the 113th 
Congress, Committee oversight will focus on the Department's 
national coordination responsibilities and its sector specific 
critical infrastructure protection responsibilities. The 
Committee will also examine the Department's efforts to assess 
national critical infrastructure priorities.
    In addition, the Committee will review the Department's 
progress in identifying, prioritizing, recommending, and 
implementing protective measures to reduce vulnerabilities for 
critical infrastructure and key resources, including its 
administration of programs to promote private sector sharing of 
critical infrastructure threat and vulnerability-related 
information, and its administration of systems and programs to 
provide timely warnings of potential risks to critical 
infrastructure.

                       Chemical Facility Security

    In the 113th Congress, the Committee will continue to 
review the Department's efforts to secure chemical facilities 
and take action, as appropriate, to optimally balance the 
program's effectiveness in reducing risk posed by certain 
chemical facilities and the everyday demands for chemicals in 
commerce. The Committee will review the management challenges 
associated with the Department's related chemical facility 
security program and the progress in increasing its efficiency 
and effectiveness.

                         Science and Technology

    During the 113th Congress, the Committee will oversee the 
capability of the Department's Science & Technology Directorate 
to rapidly develop and deliver products and technology 
solutions to its customers, including the operating components 
of the Department, and state and local emergency responders and 
officials, to help them secure the homeland by preventing, 
protecting against, and responding to terrorist threats and 
natural disasters. The Committee will examine, in particular, 
the Department's progress in developing a more rigorous process 
to identify, prioritize, and fund research, development, 
testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) opportunities that balances 
risk to the homeland with cost, impact, and time to deliver.
    The Committee will review the Department's efforts to 
coordinate the homeland security research and development 
agenda and leverage scientific knowledge and technical 
expertise, research, and facilities at relevant universities, 
research institutions, government and national laboratories, 
and the private sector, including the Homeland Security Centers 
of Excellence and Federally Funded Research and Development 
Centers. The Committee will also assess the status of the 
Department's technical infrastructure and workforce to ensure 
current and future homeland security RDT&E needs will be met. 
The Committee will review the Department's activities relating 
to evaluation, testing, and certification of private sector 
homeland security technologies.
    During the 113th Congress, the Committee will also continue 
to review the Directorate's implementation of the Support Anti-
terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act (the SAFETY 
Act), to determine its impact on homeland security and 
facilitation of jobs in the private sector.

 Technology to Counter Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear 
                                Threats

    During the 113th Congress, the Committee will examine the 
Department's progress in improving the Nation's capability to 
counter the threat of terrorist use of chemical, biological, 
radiological, and nuclear weapons in the United States through 
multi-layered approaches at the Federal, state, and local 
levels. The Committee will review the Department's chemical, 
biological, radiological, and nuclear analysis capabilities and 
information sharing mechanisms to provide actionable 
information and an integrated operating system to guide 
decision makers in carrying out appropriate responses, 
including interdiction.
    To enhance the ability to interdict chemical, biological, 
radiological, and nuclear smuggling across US borders (land, 
air, and sea), the Committee will oversee the Department's 
progress in employing risk-based methods for developing, 
testing, certifying, deploying, and operating current and next 
generation chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear 
detection equipment. The Committee will also examine the 
Department's ability to detect chemical, biological, 
radiological, and nuclear materials in the interior of the 
United States and the Department's coordination with state and 
local partners to reduce the risk of these threats. Finally, 
the Committee will examine the Department's chemical, 
biological, radiological, and nuclear forensic activities to 
support national priorities for deterrence, attribution, and 
prosecution.

          Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency


    Departmental Efficiency and Waste, Fraud, Abuse, and Duplication

    In the 113th Congress, the Committee will oversee the 
Department of Homeland Security's day-to-day operations to 
ensure that it is operating in the most efficient and effective 
manner possible. Pursuant to Rule X, clause 2(d)(F) of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee will work 
to identify potential opportunities to eliminate duplicative or 
unnecessary programs, find efficiencies that will contribute to 
the Department's ability to meet its vital missions, and 
identify areas for cost savings. The Committee will also 
conduct rigorous oversight to ensure departmental regulations 
enhance security without posing an unnecessary barrier to 
private sector job creation. The Committee will investigate 
homeland security programs and practices, as warranted. For 
example, the Committee will continue to monitor the safety and 
security of Federal buildings and facilities, including the 
role and effectiveness of the Federal Protective Service. The 
Committee's oversight will include monitoring the extent to 
which the Department is responsive to the Committee's requests.

                         Acquisition Management

    During the 113th Congress, the Committee will review the 
efforts of the Department of Homeland Security to improve 
acquisition outcomes, and to ensure that effective management 
controls are put in place to prevent contract waste, fraud, and 
abuse while promoting efficiency and effectiveness. The 
Committee will review the authorities and activities of the 
Undersecretary for Management and Chief Procurement Officer to 
ensure the effective management of these key functions. The 
Committee will monitor the cost, schedule, and performance 
status of major Department acquisition programs. The Committee 
will also examine the impact of the Department's acquisition 
initiatives to enhance processes and improve outcomes related 
to its major acquisition programs.
    The Committee also will review the Department's 
implementation of Section 831(a) of the Homeland Security Act 
of 2002, which grants the Secretary authority with respect to 
research and development projects to use more flexible 
contracting mechanisms in an effort to attract ``nontraditional 
government contractors'' for needed homeland security 
technologies, as well as the Secretary's use of other 
streamlined acquisition practices. The Committee will continue 
to monitor the Department's efforts to leverage strategic 
sourcing, as outlined in Federal guidance, to increase 
efficiencies.

                          Financial Management

    In the 113th Congress, the Committee will continue its 
oversight of the Department of Homeland Security's progress to 
properly manage financial systems and data to minimize 
inefficient and wasteful spending, make more informed decisions 
to manage its programs and implement Department policies. The 
Committee will also review the Department's efforts to enhance 
its managerial cost accounting, address internal control 
weaknesses in financial reporting, achieve a clean audit 
opinion on its financial statements, and reduce the reliance on 
manual data calls to collect cost information from the various 
components and compile consolidated, reliable data.

                   Information Technology Management

    During the 113th Congress, the Committee will review the 
Department's efforts to address information technology (IT) 
challenges, including the management and integration of the 
Department's IT systems. The Committee will review the 
authorities and activities of the Chief Information Officer 
(CIO) and component CIOs to ensure the effective management and 
coordination of these key functions. The Committee will also 
monitor the Department's progress in IT architectural planning, 
investment management, cloud computing, policy development, 
operations, and related personnel management.

                         Departmental Workforce

    Throughout the 113th Congress, the Committee will monitor 
the Department's efforts to recruit and retain personnel and to 
address employee concerns set forth in the Office of Personnel 
Management's Federal Human Capital Survey and the Department's 
own personnel surveys, which have indicated morale problems 
across the Department. In addition, the Committee will continue 
to examine the Department's Balanced Workforce Initiative, 
which seeks to convert contractor positions into Federal 
positions, to ensure an appropriate balance is struck between 
Federal employees and private contracts and guard against any 
unnecessary elimination of private sector jobs.
    The Committee will continue to monitor the Department's 
efforts to effectively and efficiently consolidate its 
headquarters from more than 40 locations throughout the 
National Capital Region, known as the St. Elizabeth's 
Headquarters Consolidation Project.

                           Employee Integrity

    In the 113th Congress, the Committee will examine employee 
corruption and misconduct issues and their effect on homeland 
security. Although the vast majority of Department employees 
reflect the agency's core values, even one corrupt employee 
represents a significant management challenge. The Committee 
will review Department statistics and case studies associated 
with employee integrity issues, as well as the effectiveness of 
policies, procedures, and practices the Department utilizes to 
address such issues.

                      United States Secret Service

    In the 113th Congress, the Committee will examine the 
homeland security operations of the United States Secret 
Service, including its critical role of protecting the 
President of the United States, among other duties. The 
Committee will also monitor issues related to employee 
integrity.

                      Privacy and Civil Liberties

    Section 222 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (the Act) 
created a Privacy Officer for the Department of Homeland 
Security to ensure that the Department's information gathering 
and analysis functions and other programs across its components 
adhere to established standards for the protection of privacy. 
Section 705 of the Act also established an Officer for Civil 
Rights and Liberties to review and assess information alleging 
abuses of civil rights or civil liberties by employees and 
officials of the Department of Homeland Security. During the 
113th Congress, the Committee will continue to monitor the 
Department's efforts under such laws to strike an appropriate 
balance between the need to combat terrorist attacks against 
the United States with the privacy expectations and civil 
rights of US citizens. For example, the Committee will continue 
to monitor the Department's role in oversight of the domestic 
use of unmanned aerial systems.
                   COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

    Ms. Miller offers the following Amendment in the Nature of 
a Substitute to Committee Resolution 113-2.
    After the Resolved clause, delete all text and replace with 
the following:

                            MEMBER SERVICES

     Oversee Members' allowance amounts, including 
structure and regulations.
     Provide guidance and outreach to congressional 
offices to ensure compliance with Committee regulations.
     Review and revise the Guide to Outfitting and 
Maintaining an Office of the U.S. House of Representatives, a 
set of regulations governing the acquisition, transfer, and 
disposal of furnishings, equipment, software, and related 
services.
     Update the calculation of the Members' 
Representational Allowances and ensure that all Members have 
adequate resources for representing their constituents.
     Oversee the processing of vouchers and direct 
payments, including those for payroll.
New Member Orientation
     Plan, implement, and oversee the New Member 
Orientation Program for newly-elected Members of Congress.
     Oversee the planning and implementation of the 
Congressional Research Service New Member Issues Seminar in 
Williamsburg.
Intern Program
     In coordination with the Senate Committee on Rules 
and Administration, organize, administer, and oversee the 
Intern Lecture Series.
     Review and consider revising the Intern Handbook 
and other publications and communication materials used in 
support of the Intern Program.
     Continue and expand the Congressional Internship 
Program for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities.

                    COMMITTEE FUNDING AND OVERSIGHT

     Review Monthly Reports on committee activities and 
expenditures.
     Review the Committees' Congressional Handbook 
regulations governing expenditure of committee funds and update 
regulations as needed.
     Review Primary and any Secondary Expense 
Resolutions and approve authorization of committee-funding 
levels in committee and by House Resolution.
     Review Committees' Franking expenditures.

                CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1995

     Monitor application of the Congressional 
Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) (PL 104-1).
     Review regulations adopted by the Office of 
Compliance.
     Evaluate resources available to the Office of 
Compliance and House employing offices to facilitate 
implementation of the Act.
     Conduct general oversight of the Office of 
Compliance.
     Monitor ongoing judicial proceedings to determine 
the impact on the CAA.

                          FRANKING COMMISSION

     Oversee the Members' use of the congressional 
frank by providing guidance, advice, and counsel through 
consultation or advisory opinion on the frankability of 
congressional mail
     Review proposals to reform mass mailing practices 
of Members, and regulations governing such mailings, and 
monitor current prohibition on mass mailings 90 days before a 
primary or general election.
     Review previously implemented rules to increase 
disclosure and improve the accounting of franked mail costs.
     Revise the Regulations on the Use of the 
Congressional Frank and Rules on Practice in Proceedings Before 
the House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards.

                  HOUSE OFFICERS AND HOUSE OPERATIONS

     Work with House officers to identify and reduce 
spending and create more cost effective and efficient 
operations within the House.
     Analyze management improvement proposals and other 
initiatives submitted by the House Officers, the Inspector 
General, the Capitol Police Board, the Architect of the 
Capitol, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institute, 
and other legislative branch agencies.
     Coordinate with the Subcommittee on Legislative 
Appropriations on matters impacting operations of the House and 
joint entities.
     Provide policy guidance to the House Officers, 
Inspector General and the joint entities as appropriate.
     Oversee compliance with the House Employee 
Classification Act (2 U.S.C. 291 et seq.).
     Assure coordination among officers and joint 
entities on administrative and technology matters.
     Continue review of congressional continuity 
issues, including organizing sessions of Congress at alternate 
locations, technological support for Member communications and 
chamber operations and filling vacancies in the House.
     Provide policy guidance and conduct oversight of 
security and safety issues and congressional entities charged 
with such roles.
Chief Administrative Officer
     Review procedures for processing contracts with 
the House that exceed the threshold of $350,000.
     Continue to review the current financial 
management system and implementation of the Financial System 
Replacement project.
     Review the structure of House Information 
Resources and determine organizational direction of technology 
services in the House.
     Review and oversee information technology services 
provided, maintained or hosted by House Information Resources. 
Continue oversight of failsafe procedures to guarantee 
continuity of operations.
     Review new technology initiatives to better serve 
Members, committees, and the public.
     Continue the review of administrative operations 
assigned to the Chief Administrative Officer.
     Review semi-annual financial and operational 
status reports; oversee implementation of changes in operations 
to improve services and increase efficiencies.
     Review the operations and strategic planning of 
the House gift shop.
     Continue review of House restaurant operations; 
furniture policy, inventory and selection; and alternatives to 
the current mail delivery process in order to strengthen the 
services and tools available to Members and staff.
     Review the printing needs of the Chief 
Administrative Officer's operation to identify the potential 
for eliminating duplication.
     Examine Chief Administrative Officer's role in 
assuring accessibility to the House wing of the Capitol, the 
House Office Buildings and other House facilities consistent 
with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
     Review staff benefits offered by the House and 
proposals to modify benefits.
     Continue oversight of CAO functions performed for 
Members, committees and other entities to assure that current 
model delivers best value for entities served and taxpayers.
Clerk of the House
     Review the administration of audio transmission on 
the House floor.
     Review and approve contracts and requests for 
proposals by the Clerk that exceed the $350,000 spending 
threshold.
     Oversee the Document Management System.
     Review standards for the electronic exchange of 
legislative information among the Houses of Congress and 
legislative-branch agencies.
     Coordinate on matters under the jurisdiction of 
the House Fine Arts Board.
     Continue review of functions and administrative 
operations assigned to the Clerk.
     Review of semi-annual financial and operational 
status reports; recommend changes in operations to improve 
services and increase efficiencies.
     Review the printing needs of the Clerk to evaluate 
the potential for eliminating duplication.
     Oversee preparation of congressionally-authorized 
publications.

Sergeant-at-Arms

     Review and oversee security operations in the 
House, including the House chamber, the galleries, the Capitol, 
House Office Buildings, Capitol Grounds, and District offices.
     Review and oversee initiatives designed to 
increase security and security awareness for Members and staff 
in district offices.
     Review semi-annual financial and operational 
status reports; recommend changes in operations to improve 
services and increase efficiencies.
     Review impact of electronic access to controlled 
spaces.
     Continue review of functions and administrative 
operations assigned to the Sergeant-at-Arms.
     Review the security operation of House parking 
facilities, regulations, and allocation of parking spaces.
     Consult with the Sergeant-at-Arms on policies 
adopted by the Capitol Police Board.
     Review the policies and procedures for visitor 
access to the Capitol.
     Review the printing needs of the Sergeant-at-Arms 
and the Capitol Police Board to identify the potential for 
eliminating duplication.
     Examine Sergeant-at-Arms' role in assuring 
accessibility to the House wing of the Capitol, the House 
Office Buildings, and other House facilities consistent with 
the Americans with Disabilities Act.
     Review the use of technology generally in the 
protection of the House of Representatives.
     Oversee the Office of Emergency Management, 
including the implementation of coordinated plans for emergency 
evacuation and response.

House Inspector General

     Review proposed audit plan and audit reports.
     Review comprehensive financial and operational 
audits of the House, investigate any irregularities uncovered, 
and monitor necessary improvements.
     Monitor progress of House audits.
     Continue review of functions and administrative 
operations assigned to the Inspector General.
     Direct Inspector General to conduct management 
advisories to improve implementation and operation of key House 
functions.

           OVERSIGHT OF LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AND OTHER ENTITIES

Information and Technology Coordination

     Oversee, in conjunction with the Senate, forums 
for the sharing of technology plans and capabilities among the 
legislative branch agencies.
     Oversee, in conjunction with the Senate, the 
Legislative Branch Telecommunications group.
     Oversee continuing development of the Congress.gov 
website.
     Oversee work of the Legislative Branch Financial 
Managers' Council.
     Oversee, in conjunction with the Senate, proposals 
to reduce technology costs through consolidation and use of 
internet-based resources.

Library of Congress

     Conduct a review of the progress that the Library 
has made in providing public access to government information, 
especially in electronic form.
     Continue oversight of Library of Congress 
operations, including inventory and cataloguing systems.
     Continue oversight of Law Library operations.
     Continue oversight of Congressional Research 
Service operations, and consider any need to modify management 
of the Service.
     Review implementation of the Library of Congress 
Fiscal Operations Improvement Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-481), 
the Veterans' Oral History Project Act (Public Law 106-380), 
the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000 (Public Law No: 
106-474), and the History of the House Awareness and 
Preservation Act (Public Law 106-99).
     Consider human-resources legislation proposed by 
the Library.
     Review the use of technology generally in Library 
of Congress operations.
     Review printing policies of the Library of 
Congress to assure compliance with Title 44 of the U.S. Code.
     Review reports by Library of Congress Inspector 
General and implementation of audit recommendations. Examine 
options to improve operation and structure of the Library of 
Congress Inspector General's office.

United States Capitol Police

     Monitor administrative operations of the agency, 
including budgetary management, civilian component, attrition 
rates, recruitment efforts and incentive programs for officers 
and civilian employees.
     Review proposals for additional USCP facilities 
and equipment.
     Review analysis of uniformed officer post/duty 
assignments to determine and authorize force levels to meet the 
agency's security requirements within the Capitol complex to 
include the Capitol Visitor Center, the Library of Congress and 
U.S. Botanic Garden.
     Review and consider proposals to improve USCP 
training program for new recruits, and in-service training.
     Authorize and oversee the installation and 
maintenance of new security systems and devices proposed by the 
Police Board.
     Review and authorize regulations prescribed by the 
Police Board for use of law enforcement authority by the 
Capitol Police.
     Examine Capitol Police role in assuring 
accessibility to the House wing of the Capitol, House Office 
Buildings and other facilities consistent with the Americans 
with Disabilities Act.
     Monitor the ongoing implementation of the Radio 
Modernization Project.
     Review reports by USCP Inspector General and 
implementation of audit recommendations. Examine options to 
improve operation and structure of the USCP Inspector General's 
office.

Government Printing Office

     Oversee operations of the Government Printing 
Office, including the Superintendent of Documents.
     Review and adopt legislative proposals to reform 
government printing by eliminating redundancies and unnecessary 
printing, increasing efficiency, and enhancing public access to 
government publications.
     Examine options to improve operation and structure 
of the GPO Inspector General's office. Monitor implementation 
of remedial actions taken to address audit issues identified by 
the GPO Inspector General.
     Review the printing needs of the House of 
Representatives to identify the potential for eliminating 
duplication.
     Examine current GPO printing and binding 
regulations to determine advisability of change.
     Oversee Superintendent of Documents' Sales and 
Depository Library Programs.
     Review GPO labor practices and labor agreements.
     Review use of GPO facilities and other assets to 
identify possible alternatives enhancing value to the Congress 
and the public.
     Compare the responsibilities and operations of the 
GPO Police with the responsibilities and operations of the U.S. 
Capitol Police, in order to identify duplication and potential 
future savings.

Architect of the Capitol

     Review the operations of the office of the 
Architect.
     Review the electronic and procured services 
provided by the Architect.
     Oversee Architect of the Capitol's maintenance of 
House buildings and the House side of the Capitol, and review 
any plans for rehabilitation of House buildings.
     Continue oversight of life safety measures, 
accessibility measures, and improved evacuation mechanisms in 
House buildings.
     Review the AOC Office of Sustainability's efforts 
to reduce energy consumption by the Capitol complex.
     Continue oversight of implementation of utility 
tunnel rehabilitation settlement.
     Oversee operations of the Capitol Visitors Center, 
in conjunction with the Senate Committee on Rules and 
Administration.
     Review reports by Architect of the Capitol 
Inspector General and implementation of audit recommendations. 
Examine options to improve operation and structure of the 
Architect of the Capitol Inspector General's office.

Office of Congressional Accessibility Services

     Oversee management and operations of Office of 
Congressional Accessibility Services, such as the 
implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), in 
conjunction with Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.

Smithsonian Institution

     Review the Smithsonian Inspector General's reports 
on the status of the Smithsonian.
     Oversee general museum and research facility 
operations of the Smithsonian Institution.
     Review and evaluate the Smithsonian Institution's 
use of authorized public funds.
     Review proposed appointments of Citizen Regents to 
the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents.
     Review proposals for authorization of new 
Smithsonian facilities. Review Smithsonian policies regarding 
initiation of planning, design and construction of projects.
     Review operations of the National Zoo.
     Review operations and conduct oversight of 
Smithsonian Enterprises.
     Review the use of technology generally in 
Smithsonian operations.
     Review any proposals to charge fees for admission 
to any Smithsonian exhibits.

                      TECHNOLOGY USE BY THE HOUSE

     Continue oversight of House Information Resources 
and other technology functions of the House to improve 
electronic information dissemination.
     Oversee implementation of House Rule XI 2(e)(4) 
requiring committee documentation to be made available 
electronically, to the maximum extent feasible.
     Review cyber security measures.
     Oversee implementation of Committee hearing room 
upgrade program.
     Oversee and continue to implement an enterprise 
House Disaster Recovery Program for House offices, standing and 
select committees and Member offices.
     Oversee implementation of the House Office of 
Legislative Counsel & Law Revision Counsel's Modernization 
Project.
     Oversee and coordinate the House strategic 
technology plan.
     Oversee continuation of House technology 
assessment in new media.

            OVERSIGHT OF FEDERAL ELECTION LAW AND PROCEDURES

     Recommend disposition of House election contests 
pending before the Committee; monitor any disputed election 
counts.
     Review operations of the Federal Election 
Commission (FEC) and evaluate possible changes to improve 
efficiency, improve enforcement of the Federal Election 
Campaign Act, and improve procedures for the disclosure of 
contributions and expenditures. Consider authorization issues 
and make recommendations on the FEC's budget.
     Review federal campaign-finance laws and 
regulations, including Presidential public financing, and 
consider potential reforms.
     Examine the role and impact of political 
organizations on federal elections.
     Review operations of the Election Assistance 
Commission (EAC) and evaluate possible changes to improve 
efficiency and improve implementation of the Help America Vote 
Act (HAVA). Consider authorization issues and make 
recommendations on the EAC's budget.
     Examine the impact and implementation of 
amendments made by HAVA and the Military and Overseas Voter 
Empowerment Act (MOVE Act) to the Uniformed and Overseas 
Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), and consider proposals 
to improve voting methods for those serving and living abroad.
     Review state and federal activities under the 
National Voter Registration Act to identify potential for 
improvement to voter registration and education programs and 
reducing costs of compliance for state and local government.
     Review all aspects of registration and voting 
practices in federal elections. Monitor allegations of fraud 
and misconduct during all phases of federal elections and 
evaluate measures to improve the integrity of the electoral 
process.
                       COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

    In accordance with Rule X of the House of Representatives, 
the Committee on the Judiciary is responsible for determining 
whether the laws and programs within its jurisdiction are 
implemented and carried out in accordance with the intent of 
Congress and whether they should be continued, curtailed, 
eliminated, or enhanced. Accordingly, in the 113th Congress the 
Committee will review all laws and programs within its 
jurisdiction to assess their application, administration, 
execution, and effectiveness. The Committee will also review 
the organization and operation of Federal agencies and entities 
within its jurisdiction for the administration and execution of 
laws and programs within its jurisdiction.
    The Committee will review all agencies and programs within 
its jurisdiction to identify wasteful, inefficient, or 
duplicative programs that should be streamlined or eliminated, 
as well as those that could be enhanced. The Committee will 
also review the mission and operations of all agencies, 
including component organizations, within its jurisdiction. 
Through such oversight, the Committee seeks to determine how 
these agencies and entities can achieve more impactful and 
effective programs with an eye toward improving the efficiency 
and effectiveness of Federal programs and agencies. The 
Committee also seeks to eliminate fraud, abuse, and 
mismanagement. As a result of this oversight, the Committee 
anticipates streamlining and eliminating spending on agencies 
and programs within its jurisdiction, if appropriate.
    This document outlines the current plans of the Committee 
on the Judiciary for oversight activities in the 113th 
Congress. The Committee's oversight and investigative 
activities will be coordinated between the Full Committee and 
the Subcommittees in order to facilitate comprehensive and 
strategic oversight of the programs and agencies within its 
jurisdiction. Oversight activities will include hearings, 
briefings, correspondence, reports, and public statements.

                             FULL COMMITTEE

    U.S. Department of Justice. In conjunction with the 
Subcommittees, the Committee will conduct oversight of the U.S. 
Department of Justice, including all Department components and 
agencies.
    Budget Oversight and Management Performance. The Committee 
will conduct oversight and identify U.S. Department of Justice 
grant programs that should be streamlined or eliminated, as 
well as those that could be enhanced. The Committee will also 
conduct oversight of all agencies and programs within its 
jurisdiction to uncover waste, fraud, or abuse and to identify 
programs that are inefficient, duplicative, or outdated, or 
that are more appropriately administered by State or local 
governments. The Committee will also consider the extent to 
which federally funded or administered agencies and activities 
can more efficiently handle certain tasks on a national level 
and whether they save, reduce, or render more effective State 
or local government expenditures or activities. In addition, 
the Committee will consider whether any federal programs within 
its jurisdiction should be enhanced, concomitant with cuts to 
or the elimination of less effective programs.

  SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME, TERRORISM, HOMELAND SECURITY & INVESTIGATIONS

    U.S. Department of Justice: The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of the law enforcement agencies of the U.S. 
Department of Justice.
          A. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): The 
        Subcommittee will conduct oversight of the FBI. In 
        addition to its traditional criminal investigatory 
        jurisdiction, the Subcommittee will also conduct 
        oversight of the FBI's counter-terrorism and counter-
        intelligence authorities.
          B. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA): The 
        Subcommittee will review the operations of the DEA, 
        including domestic and international drug enforcement, 
        money laundering and narco-terrorism investigations.
          C. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and 
        Explosives (ATF): The Subcommittee will review the 
        mission and operations of the ATF, including federal 
        firearms enforcement, explosives investigations, and 
        tobacco and alcohol trafficking operations.
          D. U.S. Marshals Service (USMS)/Office of the Federal 
        Detention Trustee: The Subcommittee will review the 
        mission and operations of the USMS, including fugitive 
        apprehensions, court and witness security, and its 
        responsibilities under the Sex Offender Registration 
        and Notification Act (SORNA). The Subcommittee will 
        also conduct oversight on the operations of OFDT.
    The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP): The Subcommittee will 
review the mission and operation of the federal prison system, 
including prisoner rehabilitation, reentry programs, and 
management of a growing offender population.
    Federal Prison Industries: The Subcommittee will also 
conduct oversight of the Federal Prison Industries (FPI), a 
government corporation that employs offenders incarcerated in 
federal prisons and provides job training opportunities to 
prisoners by producing goods and services for federal agencies.
    Criminal Division: The Subcommittee will conduct oversight 
of the Justice Department's Criminal Division.
    National Security Division: The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of the Justice Department's National Security 
Division.
    Office of Justice Programs (OJP): The Subcommittee will 
review the mission and operations of OJP and its component 
organizations and the administration of law enforcement 
assistance grants in order to identify programs that should be 
streamlined or eliminated, and those that could be enhanced.
    Office on Violence against Women (OVW): The Subcommittee 
will review the mission and operations of OVW and the 
administration of Violence against Women Act (VAWA) grants.
    Community Oriented Policing Services Office (COPS): The 
Subcommittee will review the mission and operations of COPS and 
the administration of community policing grants.
    Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA): The 
Subcommittee will conduct oversight on the operations of EOUSA.
    U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS): The 
Subcommittee will conduct oversight of DHS law enforcement 
components, including the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Immigration 
and Customs Enforcement, the Bureau of Customs and Border 
Protection, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Federal Air Marshals 
Service.
    U.S. Sentencing Commission: The Subcommittee will review 
the mission and operations of the U.S. Sentencing Commission 
with particular attention to the role of the Commission 
following the Supreme Court's decision in U.S. v. Booker, 543 
U.S. 220 (2005) and its progeny. The Subcommittee will also 
examine the extent to which federal courts are imposing 
sentences that diverge from those recommended by the sentencing 
guidelines.
    National Security: The Subcommittee will review the use of 
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and U.S. PATRIOT 
Act authorities by Intelligence Community (IC) agencies.
    Domestic/Home-Grown Terrorism: The Subcommittee will review 
the threat to our national security from home-grown terrorists 
including the recruitment and training or self-radicalization 
of home-grown terrorists and the federal government's efforts 
to preempt, investigate, and prosecute domestic terrorism.
    Protection of U.S. Citizens' Constitutional Rights: The 
Subcommittee along with the Subcommittee on the Constitution 
and Civil Justice will examine the adequacy of current 
protections for U.S. citizens' Constitutional rights vis-a-vis 
law enforcement and national security efforts.
    Trial of Suspected Terrorists: The Subcommittee will 
conduct oversight on matters related to the prosecution of 
suspected terrorists.
    Electronic Communications Privacy Act: The Subcommittee 
will examine whether this decades-old statute requires 
modernization in light of the digital revolution that has taken 
place since the statute's enactment.
    Cybersecurity: The Subcommittee will review the laws and 
law enforcement tools designed to combat and prevent 
cybersecurity attacks.
    Firearms: The Subcommittee will conduct oversight on the 
reauthorization of the NICS Amendments Improvement Act and will 
examine ways to reduce firearms-related violence, including 
examining current federal law and state compliance with 
requirements to post information to the NICS database.
    Criminal Code: The Subcommittee will examine whether all 
criminal statutes in the U.S. Code should be consolidated and/
or listed in Title 18.
    Overcriminalization: The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight on the increase in the volume and scope of federal 
criminal laws and whether more of these matters should be 
handled by state criminal laws.
    Economic Espionage: The Subcommittee will examine the 
threat posed by economic espionage and federal efforts to 
investigate and prosecute these crimes.
    Crimes against Children: The Subcommittee will review laws 
and law enforcement tools designed to combat child 
exploitation, including reauthorization of the Adam Walsh Act, 
and the proliferation of child pornography on the Internet.
    Criminal Street Gangs: The Subcommittee may consider 
enforcement and prevention issues concerning criminal street 
gangs, and the issue of how gang affiliations may be broken to 
reduce the number of both street and prison gangs.
    Crime Prevention: The Subcommittee may examine the extent 
to which federal policies and funding are adequate to support 
crime prevention strategies at the Federal, State, local, and 
tribal levels.
    International and Domestic Human Trafficking: The 
Subcommittee will review law enforcement and other activities 
within its jurisdiction that address international and domestic 
trafficking in human beings.

           SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE CONSTITUTION AND CIVIL JUSTICE

    Protection of U.S. Citizens' Constitutional and Civil 
Rights: In general, the Subcommittee will examine the adequacy 
of current protections for U.S. citizens' constitutional and 
civil rights.
    Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice: The 
Subcommittee will examine the enforcement record and priorities 
of the Civil Rights Division. The Subcommittee will focus on 
the Division's activities in the areas of education, 
employment, credit, fair housing, public accommodations, law 
enforcement practices, voting rights and the integrity of 
federal elections, and federally funded and conducted programs.
    Fiscal Responsibility: The Subcommittee will examine 
constitutional reforms to address government spending.
    Federalism/Congressional Authority: The Subcommittee plans 
to examine the proper balance between the finite powers 
allocated to the federal government in the U.S. Constitution 
and the powers reserved to the states.
    Exercise of Constitutional Authority: The Subcommittee will 
conduct oversight of the exercise of constitutional authority 
by the legislative, judicial, and executive branches.
    Civil Justice: The Subcommittee will review the policies 
and practices of the civil justice system and the need for its 
reform.
    Community Relations Service: The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of the operations of the Community Relations Service.
    Office of Government Ethics: The Subcommittee will consider 
the priorities and operation of the Office of Government 
Ethics.
    Property Rights: The Subcommittee will consider whether 
there is a need to address existing protections for citizens' 
private property rights.
    Religious Liberty: The Subcommittee will consider the 
federal role in the protection of Americans' rights under the 
Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses.
    Abortion: The Subcommittee will examine the 
constitutionality and enforcement of federal and state statutes 
that relate to abortion.
    Marriage: The Subcommittee will examine constitutional 
issues concerning marriage.
    War on Terrorism: The Subcommittee will consider 
constitutional issues associated with the War on Terrorism.
    Detention of Suspected Terrorists: The Subcommittee will 
conduct oversight on matters related to the long-term detention 
of suspected terrorists, including the protection of the 
related constitutional rights of U.S. citizens.
    United States Commission on Civil Rights: The Subcommittee 
will review the work of the Commission, its management, and its 
implementation.

            SUBCOMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION AND BORDER SECURITY

    Budgetary Resources: The Subcommittee expects to conduct 
oversight of the sufficiency of budgetary resources with regard 
to immigration functions at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 
Services (``CIS'') and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 
(``ICE'').
    U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS): The 
Subcommittee will conduct oversight of the components within 
DHS that are responsible for enforcing and ensuring the 
integrity of United States immigration laws, including U.S. 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Citizenship and 
Immigration Services.
    Legal Immigration: The Subcommittee expects to conduct 
oversight over our current legal immigration laws and programs, 
including whether relevant federal agencies are efficiently 
administering and enforcing these laws and programs, issues 
relating to backlogs, family reunification, whether excessive 
regulations are stifling the use of these programs, the impact 
on U.S. citizens, comparisons with our global competitors, and 
related issues.
    Illegal Immigration: The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of the causes and methods of illegal immigration and 
how to better prevent it in the future.
    Fiscal Impacts of Immigration: The Subcommittee expects to 
conduct hearings on the fiscal effects of legal and illegal 
immigration, including their impact on the Social Security 
system and other federal programs.
    Immigration Enforcement: The Subcommittee intends to 
examine the sufficiency of current immigration enforcement laws 
and programs, including whether relevant federal agencies' 
policies and enforcement records are sufficient and consistent 
with current federal statutes, the level of cooperation with 
other countries, and the proper roles for the federal 
government, states and localities in enforcing our immigration 
laws.
    Fraud: The Subcommittee expects to conduct hearings on 
fraud associated with petitions for visas and other immigration 
benefits. The Subcommittee also intends to conduct oversight of 
identity fraud and identity theft in the immigration context.
    Adjudication of Immigration Cases: The Subcommittee will 
conduct oversight of the Department of Justice's adjudication 
of immigration cases.
    Criminal Issues: The Subcommittee expects to conduct 
hearings on trends in gang violence among immigrant 
communities, as well as the sufficiency of efforts to remove 
violent criminals.

    SUBCOMMITTEE ON COURTS, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, AND THE INTERNET

    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: The Subcommittee will 
conduct oversight of the USPTO, including the status of pending 
patent and trademark applications and developments with patent 
and trademark quality. The Subcommittee will also continue to 
exercise oversight to ensure that the USPTO has full access to 
the fees it collects from applicants and appropriately 
exercises its new fee-setting authority.
    Implementation of the America Invents Act: The Subcommittee 
will conduct oversight on the implementation of the America 
Invents Act that contained numerous changes to our nation's 
patent system.
    Patent Litigation: The Subcommittee will examine patent 
litigation practices to determine whether legislation is needed 
to reduce frivolous, abusive, or anti-competitive patent 
litigation that discourages innovation in America.
    The U.S. Copyright Office: The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of the Copyright Office as it completes its 
transition to a digital environment. Oversight will include 
review of its recordation system and public access to its 
registration records.
    Copyright Law and Policy: The Subcommittee may examine 
potential revisions to the Copyright Act to update the law to 
better address challenges faced by copyright owners, users, and 
consumers in the digital environment.
    Technology Issues: The Subcommittee will examine 
developments in technology and the Internet affecting public 
policy, including issues surrounding Internet governance.
    Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act: The 
Subcommittee will examine the application of the Satellite 
Television Extension and Localism Act in light of technological 
and marketplace changes in advance of the potential 
reauthorization of the legislation.
    International Intellectual Property Laws: The Subcommittee 
will conduct oversight of the impact of international 
intellectual property laws, regulations, and policies upon 
American interests. In addition, the Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of international trade agreements and their 
negotiations.
    Federal Judiciary: The Subcommittee will conduct oversight 
of the federal judiciary, including evidence issues and civil 
and appellate procedures. In addition, the Subcommittee will 
examine the resources available to Article III courts, 
including judicial salaries and security for federal judges.
    State Justice Institute: The State Justice Institute (SJI) 
provides matching grants to state courts that allow them to 
develop methods to work more efficiently and productively. The 
Subcommittee intends to review SJI operations.

    SUBCOMMITTEE ON REGULATORY REFORM, COMMERCIAL AND ANTITRUST LAW

    Administrative Process and Procedure: The Subcommittee will 
conduct oversight on the topic of regulatory reform in general, 
including examining specific regulations, as well as issues 
related to the Administrative Procedure Act, the Congressional 
Review Act, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act, the overall costs and 
benefits of federal regulation in general and their impact on 
specific communities, the extent to which agencies compete for 
policymaking primacy with the Legislative Branch, and the role 
that the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs within 
the Office of Management and Budget plays in the federal 
rulemaking process. In addition, the Subcommittee will examine 
regulatory litigation and enforcement.
    Bankruptcy: The Subcommittee expects to conduct oversight 
of the Bankruptcy Code and bankruptcy system, including their 
responsiveness to the needs of financially troubled businesses, 
individuals and municipalities. The Subcommittee may conduct 
oversight of bankruptcy judgeship needs.
    State Taxation Affecting Interstate Commerce: The 
Subcommittee will conduct oversight of issues related to state 
taxation that affect interstate commerce.
    Agencies: The Subcommittee will conduct oversight of the 
Justice Department's Civil Division, Environment and Natural 
Resources Division, Antitrust Division, Tax Division, Executive 
Office for United States Trustees, and Office of the Solicitor 
General. It will also conduct oversight of the Department's 
compliance with the Freedom of Information Act and the Office 
of Management and Budget's Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs.
    Administrative Conference of the United States: The 
Subcommittee will conduct oversight on the Administrative 
Conference of the United States.
    Arbitration: The Subcommittee may conduct oversight of 
issues arising under the Federal Arbitration Act.
    Legal Services Corporation: The Subcommittee will review 
the mission and operations of the Legal Services Corporation.
    Interstate Compacts: The Subcommittee may conduct oversight 
to determine the extent of compliance with the constitutional 
process by which States seek Congressional approval of 
interstate compacts.
    Divergence in U.S. Merger Review and Enforcement: The 
Subcommittee may examine disparities in the tools available to 
the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice with 
regard to mergers and whether these disparities result in 
different substantive standards.
    International Divergence in Antitrust Enforcement: The 
Subcommittee may conduct oversight of international competition 
laws.
    Antitrust Exemptions: The Subcommittee may conduct 
oversight of industry antitrust exemptions to determine whether 
such exemptions continue to serve the public interest.
                     COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

                              INTRODUCTION

    Under clause 2 of Rule X of the House of Representatives, 
each standing committee of the House has general oversight 
responsibilities to determine whether laws and programs 
addressing subjects within its jurisdiction are being 
implemented in accordance with the intent of Congress to 
determine whether they should be continued, reformed, 
curtailed, or eliminated.
    Congress has a responsibility to keep the Executive Branch 
accountable to the American people and ensure that decisions by 
agencies are open and transparent. During the 112th Congress, 
the Committee on Natural Resources conducted thoughtful 
oversight on a number of specific issues and policies 
administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior and other 
agencies under the Committee's jurisdiction--seeking answers to 
how and why policy decisions are made, who made the decision, 
and how it affects people, our economy and the environment.
    In the 113th Congress, the Committee, and its five 
Subcommittees, will continue to pursue aggressive oversight of 
the Executive Branch. Through oversight hearings and 
investigations the Committee will focus its oversight efforts 
on promoting job creation and economic growth, reducing 
spending and ensuring responsible use of taxpayer resources, 
and protecting public access to public lands and waters for 
recreation and economic development.
    This oversight plan outlines the initial, primary focuses 
of the Committee and Subcommittees, though additional oversight 
activities are expected to be generated throughout the first 
and second sessions of the 113th Congress.

              SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES

    Job Creation through All-of-the-above Energy Production--
The Subcommittee will focus on the importance of increasing 
all-of-the-above domestic energy production in order to create 
new high-paying jobs and increase our economic competitiveness. 
In February 2010, the Department of the Interior released a 
jobs report that showed that 1.4 million Americans were 
employed in jobs related to programs and activities of the 
Department. Nearly half the jobs identified in the report were 
related to oil, natural gas and mining activities on federal 
lands, and yet those activities only occupy a small fraction of 
the total lands managed by the Department. Over the next two 
years, the Subcommittee will focus on efforts to create jobs, 
and subsequently fight job destruction, and flight of capital 
from the federal lands states as a result of changes in 
Departmental policies.
    Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Natural Gas--The 
Subcommittee has jurisdiction over the administration of the 
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OSCLA) and will work to 
ensure safe and responsible production of America's offshore 
oil and natural gas resources. The Subcommittee will build upon 
oversight and legislative efforts pursed last Congress to 
reform the Offshore Planning Process, direct specific offshore 
lease sales, codify the reorganization of the former MMS, and 
promote new safety efforts.
    Federal Budget and Spending--The Subcommittee jurisdiction 
covers five Interior Department Agencies and programs within 
two others: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Bureau of Ocean 
Energy Management (BOEM), Bureau of Safety, Environment and 
Enforcement (BSEE), Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR), 
Office of Surface Mining (OSM) and the energy and minerals 
programs of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest 
Service (USFS). The Subcommittee will examine each of these 
agencies for opportunities to streamline, reduce costs, and 
either close or consolidate outdated programs. The Subcommittee 
will particularly focus on those programs that have seen 
significant growth over the last few budget cycles or sudden 
significant spikes in funding as a result of Departmental 
decisions.
    Onshore Oil and Natural Gas Programs--In the 113th Congress 
the Subcommittee will focus on the state of oil and natural gas 
leasing on federal lands in the western United States. This 
will include leasing delays and declines in production from 
federal lands, reforms to streamline onshore energy leasing and 
permitting, development of oil shale resources, access and 
leasing in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA), and 
access to ANWR. This Congress there will be additional 
oversight on Alaskan oil and natural gas development by 
reviewing NPRA administrative reforms and an in depth review of 
the Administration's regulation of hydraulic fracturing.
    Renewable and Alternative Energy--In the 113th Congress, 
the Subcommittee will conduct oversight over current solar, 
geothermal and wind programs operated by the BLM and USFS and 
examine steps necessary to speed the deployment of these 
technologies on federal lands. There will also be focus on the 
status of renewable energy of federal lands after four years of 
inaction through planning by the Administration. In 2010, the 
first federal lease for offshore wind was issued in the federal 
waters of Nantucket Sound and since then only 1 other non-
competitive lease has been issued (Oct 2012, offshore Delaware) 
and not a single OCS Lease sale has been held. The Subcommittee 
will examine what steps if any are needed to help streamline 
the leasing and permitting of new wind facilities on the OCS to 
ensure that companies and others interested in promoting OCS 
wind resources are not delayed by federal bureaucratic red 
tape. Although there have been a handful of permitted projects, 
onshore solar development has been stymied by a multi-year 
effort to identify solar energy zones that many feel are not 
conducive to solar energy development. The finalization of 
these zones in late 2012 left many wondering what the path 
forward will be for onshore solar projects that are not in 
zones, how new zones will be established and if development in 
the zones will be competitive. The Subcommittee will also 
conduct oversight on the status of domestic geothermal 
development.
    National Mineral Security Strategy--The Subcommittee will 
conduct oversight on domestic mineral resources, current and 
planned production, and possible future production 
opportunities, including of critical minerals.
    Coal Mining Regulations and Leasing--The Administration and 
Department of the Interior continue to wage a war on coal. The 
Subcommittee has conducted and will continue extensive 
oversight of the job-destroying regulatory changes, such as the 
Stream Buffer Zone Rule, proposed by the Administration to 
stifle coal mining, production and use. Both the Subcommittee 
and Full Committee will focus on this issue through both 
legislative relief and aggressive oversight.
    United States Geological Survey--The Subcommittee for 
several years has had growing concern over the path and 
programs operated by the USGS. Particularly of concern are the 
growing non-resource or hazard programs at USGS and other 
Department programs; USGS data quality dependence on outside 
data; mineral and energy programs focused on stopping mineral 
development not promoting it; and mapping programs. The 
Subcommittee intends to closely examine the current operations 
of USGS and may consider legislation to consolidate and 
streamline the focus of the agency to reduce waste and 
duplication not only in the USGS but across agencies.
    Federal Mapping Programs--The federal government spends 
billions each year on new geospatial data. This spending, 
including tens of billions in the stimulus act, is frequently 
wasteful, duplicative and uncoordinated. During hearings last 
year, witnesses were clear that multiple Administrations have 
had this problem with little control, central oversight or 
effective management. The Subcommittee intends to reexamine 
this issue and may consider legislation to consolidate and 
streamline the Department's geospatial programs to reduce waste 
and duplication. In addition, the Subcommittee intends to 
conduct oversight of federal agencies and how they track and 
monitor their land management responsibilities and purposes.

    SUBCOMMITTEE OF FISHERIES, WILDLIFE, OCEANS AND INSULAR AFFAIRS

    Budget Review--The Subcommittee will conduct oversight of 
the budgets of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the 
Office of Insular Affairs, within the Department of the 
Interior and the National Marine Fisheries Service, and certain 
``wet'' programs of National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, within the Department of Commerce. The 
Subcommittee will examine how the more than $500 million 
provided to these agencies in the Disaster Relief 
Appropriations Act of 2013 will be spent to repair damages 
caused by Hurricane Sandy. In addition, how these funds will 
affect the operations and maintenance backlog of these 
agencies. According to FWS, the backlog for their 560 refuges 
now exceeds $3.4 billion and there are more than 12,000 
deferred projects. Subcommittee will resume its oversight of 
this growing backlog and will continue to inquire why FWS is 
committed to acquire an ever increasing amount of private land 
while doing an increasingly poor job of managing what they 
already own.
    Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species--
The Subcommittee will continue its oversight role in monitoring 
the Administration's implementation of proposals which may be 
adopted by the Convention at the upcoming 16th Conference of 
the Parties.
    Invasive Species--Thousands of acres of public land in the 
United States are overgrown by invasive species. These foreign 
invaders are destroying valuable infrastructure, preventing 
recreational opportunities and are costing federal taxpayers 
millions of lost dollars. During the last Congress, the 
Subcommittee conducted several hearings on invasive species and 
intends to continue examining ways to effectively address the 
problems caused by non-native species.
    Lacey Act--The Subcommittee will conduct a series of 
comprehensive oversight hearings on various provisions that 
have been added to this federal law since its original 
enactment in 1900. Among the issues to be examined are: why are 
American citizens required to comply with foreign laws, why 
individuals are denied ``innocent owner'' protections under the 
Lacey Act and what has been the impact of the Legal Timber 
Protection Act of 2008.
    Public Access within the National Wildlife Refuge System--
During the past two years, the Subcommittee was contacted by 
several Representatives concerning development of specific 
Comprehensive Conservation Plans for refuges, which are 
required by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act 
of 1997. In some instances, these plans became controversial 
and had the potential to negatively impact public access for 
anglers, hunters and recreationists.
    Refuge Revenue Sharing--In 1935, Congress enacted the 
Refuge Revenue Sharing Act. The purpose of this law was to 
compensate local communities for the loss of tax revenues when 
private land is incorporated within the National Wildlife 
Refuge System. For the past 15 years, the amount of money paid 
to the counties, known as entitlement payments, has decreased 
from 77 percent to about 30 percent of their payments.
    Sikes Act--The Department of Defense controls nearly 30 
million acres of fish and wildlife habitat at nearly 400 
military installations. The Subcommittee is interested in 
obtaining an update of the Department's conservation efforts, 
whether additional opportunities are being provided to disabled 
sportsmen as mandated by Public Law 105-261 and the status of 
efforts to require Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans 
for State-owned National Guard facilities.
    General Oversight of the Office of Insular Affairs--The 
Subcommittee expects to review the fundamental issues facing 
each of the territories and freely associated states: support 
and development of self-government and self-determination; 
economic development and self-sufficiency through the private 
sector; accountability of federal funds; implementation and 
enforcement of federal laws; implementation and funding for the 
Compacts of Free Association; and management of limited land 
and water resources.
    Puerto Rico--On November 6, 2012, 1.8 million residents of 
Puerto Rico voted for Governor, Resident Commissioner, members 
of their legislature, and vote on a two-part status plebiscite. 
On the first question, ballots were cast on whether they wished 
to retain their current political status. For the second 
question, residents voted to choose a new status--Free 
Association with the United States, independence or statehood. 
The results of the plebiscite vote and what it means in terms 
of Puerto Rico's future political status will be carefully 
examined.
    National Ocean Council and Ocean Zoning--Through an 
Executive Order, the White House created a new National Ocean 
Council (NOC) and a structure for a new Coastal and Marine 
Spatial Planning initiative, otherwise known as ocean zoning. 
The Subcommittee will examine the authority used to create this 
entity and initiative, what sources of funding will be used, 
what authorities this new entity will have, and what effect any 
new policy initiatives from the NOC will have on other 
departments and agencies.
    Marine Debris--Marine debris is an ongoing and increasing 
problem for coastal areas due to various natural events. 
Congress amended the NOAA marine debris program in P.L. 112-
213. The Subcommittee will examine this issue and 
implementation of the NOAA program.
    International Fisheries Agreements and International 
Compliance--The U.S. has taken aggressive action to combat 
Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing practices 
both through domestic regulation and international 
negotiations. In addition to numerous international fisheries 
treaties already in existence, a number of new treaties and 
agreements have recently been negotiated to ensure compliance 
of vessels fishing on the high seas. The need for such treaties 
and whether implementation legislation is necessary will be 
examined.
    Fishery Restrictions Resulting From Protected Resources 
Designations--There are a number of fisheries which currently 
are or will be restricted due to interactions or perceived 
interactions with protected animals. In many cases, the 
scientific information being used to implement the restrictions 
is either incomplete or outdated. Because the agency has 
diverted funding from gathering the information necessary to 
adequately manage the natural resources under their 
jurisdiction, the agency is causing job losses and economic 
hardships for coastal and fishery-dependent communities. The 
Subcommittee will examine a number of specific instances.
    Fisheries Strategic Research Plan--In recent years, NOAA 
has proposed the creation of a number of new line offices or 
initiatives. At the same time, funding for basic fisheries and 
marine mammal surveys necessary to support management of the 
Nation's fishery resources have remained inadequate. As surveys 
are postponed or cut, the confidence in the stock assessments 
decline causing harvest levels to be cut resulting in job 
losses and economic stress on fishery dependent communities. 
The Subcommittee will examine the agency's long-term commitment 
to the harvest of fishery resources and the research necessary 
to ensure the sustainability of those resources and those who 
depend on those resources.

            SUBCOMMITTEE ON INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE AFFAIRS

    Budget and Spending Review--The Subcommittee will review 
the budget request and staffing levels for the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians, 
and other Departments, offices and functions relating to Indian 
and Alaska Native affairs.
    Federal Barriers to Economic and Energy Development on 
Indian lands--Certain federal laws and policies governing 
public lands are applied to lands held in trust or restricted 
status for tribes and individual Indians. For example, the 
Interior Department's proposed rule regarding hydraulic 
fracturing in the production of oil and gas resources treats 
lands held for the exclusive use and benefit of Indians as 
though they belong to the public. The Subcommittee will review 
whether it is appropriate to apply public land laws to Indian 
lands in the manner proposed by the Obama Administration.
    Land Buyback--The Claims Resolution Act of 2010 provided 
for a one-time direct appropriation of $1.9 billion to 
Department of the Interior for the consolidation of highly 
fractionated Indian land, pursuant to the Indian Lands 
Consolidation Act. The Subcommittee will exercise its duty to 
review the operation of the land consolidation program and hold 
the Administration accountable for the expenditure of this sum 
of money.
    Fee-to-Trust Issues--The 2009 Supreme Court decision in 
Carcieri v. Salazar was one of the most significant judicial 
actions concerning Indian lands and tribal recognition since 
1934. The Department of the Interior has failed to cooperate 
with the Subcommittee in identifying a potential resolution. 
For example, the Department refuses to divulge which tribes and 
lands are affected by Carcieri. This obstructs potential 
bipartisan legislative action to reform and improve the process 
of acquiring lands for Indians in a balanced manner that 
reflects contemporary land use and ownership among tribal and 
non-Indian communities in 21st century America. The 
Department's actions to date have all but invited expensive 
litigation, confusion, and delays in the fee-to-trust process. 
In the 113th Congress, the Subcommittee will review the 
Department's actions to assist Members to determine an 
appropriate course of action to update fee-to-trust policy.
    Alaska Natives--The Subcommittee will review the 
implementation of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and 
other laws pertaining to Alaska Natives (including the Alaska 
National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980).
    Natural Resources Management on Indian Reservations--The 
Department of the Interior holds approximately 56 million acres 
of land in trust or restricted status for tribes and individual 
Indians. The Subcommittee will review current law, policy, and 
agency action concerning these resources in furtherance of the 
goal of increasing tribal self-governance and economic 
development opportunities for the benefit of Native Americans. 
The Subcommittee may focus on the implementation of the HEARTH 
Act of 2012 and on the Department's recent revision of surface 
leasing rules affecting Indian trust and restricted lands.
    Indian Country Law and Order--The Subcommittee plans to 
review the implementation and impact of provisions of the 
Tribal Law and Order Act that fall under the jurisdiction of 
the Committee. In addition, the Subcommittee will review 
federal policies and actions (and inaction) concerning safety, 
crime prevention, and law enforcement in Indian Country.
    Indian Health Care Improvement Act Implementation / Indian 
Health Service--In the 113th Congress the Subcommittee may 
review implementation of Indian health care, with a focus on 
the delivery of medical services to Indian people, particularly 
those in remote reservations where access to health care is 
difficult and costly.
    Tribal Recognition--Since the 1960's the Secretary of the 
Interior has granted recognition to tribes even though some 
experts and tribes have noted that such recognition was made 
without authorization from Congress. For example, the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs regulatory process for extending recognition to 
new tribes, found in Part 83 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations, was established by the Department without 
authorization from Congress. Recent Departmental actions 
concerning the recognition of tribes have stirred controversy. 
The Department administratively ``reaffirmed'' the recognition 
of a tribe that had not been named on any list of tribes 
recognized pursuant to treaty or statute. The Department has 
refused to invoke any legal defense on behalf of the United 
States in lawsuits filed by certain groups seeking tribal 
recognition where new casinos appear to be at stake. Because 
the power to recognize a tribe is a solemn action that grants 
special political status on the tribe's members, the 
Subcommittee may conduct a thorough overview of recognizing new 
tribes.
    Indian Gaming--According to the National Indian Gaming 
Commission, in 2011 the Indian gaming industry generated $27.2 
billion in revenues. This is nearly triple the $9.8 billion in 
revenues generated in 1999. Indian gaming is inextricably 
linked with fee-to-trust and recognition and therefore it may 
be addressed in the context of the Committee's review of 
recognition and fee-to-trust (including Carcieri) issues 
described above. In addition, the Subcommittee in the 113th 
Congress may conduct hearings specifically on gaming to ensure 
that appropriate enforcement and oversight by the National 
Indian Gaming Commission, Department of the Interior, and 
Department of Justice is being conducted.
    Tax Policy--Last year the Subcommittee held an oversight 
hearing concerning inconsistent and unauthorized tax policies 
imposed by the Obama Administration on Indians. It was revealed 
that the Obama Administration IRS sought to tax per capita 
certain distributions made to individual Indians by their 
tribes. The distributions in question are those derived from 
tribal development of natural resources--especially timber--on 
tribes' trust lands. Imposition of the tax is contrary to 
congressional intent under the Per Capita Act, to precedent, 
and to common sense. At the same time the Administration sought 
to tax trust per capita distributions, the IRS issued a 
guidance notice effectively waiving taxation of private per 
capita distributions made by around 50 tribes that settled 
lawsuits with the Obama Administration. Distributions made by 
tribes from private accounts are ordinarily subject to 
taxation. At the hearing, the IRS--under intense questioning--
verbally noted that it would relinquish its attempt to tax the 
trust per capita distributions. Oversight of IRS tax policy 
will continue in an effort to seek clear written guidance to 
ensure correct compliance with the letter and spirit of the Per 
Capita Act.
    Tribal Trust Settlements--The Subcommittee may review the 
negotiation and settlement of lawsuits against the United 
States filed by more than 100 Indian tribes. The basis of the 
lawsuits, filed under previous Administrations, was that the 
United States mismanaged trust lands and trust accounts of 
Indian tribes in violation of the government's statutory 
obligations. In 2012, more than 50 tribal lawsuits were settled 
by the Administration for approximately $1 billion. Dozens more 
may be settled during the remainder of the Administration. The 
Committee is interested in ensuring that the settlements are 
fair and just for tribes and taxpayers.

       SUBCOMMITTEE ON PUBLIC LANDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION

    Budget and Spending--The Subcommittee will review the 
Fiscal Year 2014 budget request for programs under its 
jurisdiction.
    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)--The 
Subcommittee will conduct oversight on the implementation of 
the law and on NEPA's effectiveness in achieving the purposes 
for which it was enacted.
    Strengthening the Core National Park Functions of 
Stewardship, Visitor Experience and Maintenance of Park 
Facilities--The Subcommittee will conduct oversight on ways to 
ensure that budget constraints, should they occur, do not fall 
on the traditional National Park Service visitor services and 
property maintenance portion of their budget.
    New Parks--Proposals for additional parks and park 
expansions will be examined with due regard for the merits of 
the proposal, spending constraints, our national need for 
access to vital resources, and the protection of private 
property rights.
    National Park Management--The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight on ways to reduce the maintenance backlog and enhance 
public enjoyment of the parks.
    Wilderness Designations and Releases--The Subcommittee will 
examine proposals for additional wilderness designations as 
well as proposals for the release of areas found not suitable 
for wilderness designation.
    Forest Health and Wildfires--The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight hearings on forest health and wildfire prevention and 
suppression.
    County Payments and School Funding--The Subcommittee will 
pursue changes to replace the current uncertain and diminishing 
funding by creating a more sustainable and reliable program.
    National Forest Recreation--Oversight will be conducted on 
ways to strengthen public access to National Forests for a wide 
range of family recreational and sporting activities and that 
fees for use of developed sites are not excessive.
    Management of BLM Land--The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight on ways to ensure that traditional uses such as 
grazing are permitted in an efficient and fair manner.
    Strengthening the Role Our Vast System of BLM lands Can 
Contribute to Economic Growth, National Security, and Sound 
Conservation--Oversight will be conducted on ways to ensure 
that our public lands provide secure domestic sources of 
energy, food, fiber, minerals, jobs and recreation under 
appropriate conservation standards.
    Checks and Balances--The Subcommittee will examine 
administratively imposed activities and designations to ensure 
that these actions fully respect the interests and culture of 
the affected local people and do not infringe on authorities 
that more properly belong to elected officials in Congress and 
local government.

                    SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER AND POWER

    Budget and Spending Review--At a time of growing water 
supply needs, water-use conflicts, curtailment of water and 
power deliveries due to federal regulation and a spiraling 
national debt, the Subcommittee intends to examine the Bureau 
of Reclamation's and the U.S. Geological Survey's annual budget 
request and ongoing spending. The goal of such oversight is to 
determine whether the agencies are accountable to the American 
taxpayers, water and power ratepayers and other beneficiaries 
and to ascertain whether they are fulfilling their core 
missions.
    Oversight of the Power Marketing Administration Budgets--
The four Power Marketing Administrations sell hydropower 
generated at federal dams and reservoirs to wholesale customers 
that serve millions of retail electricity customers. In many 
cases, these energy prices have increased or the supply has 
significantly decreased due to a number of factors. The 
Subcommittee will examine the reasons for the price increases, 
whether these agencies are reducing internal costs to mitigate 
for such increases and if they are fulfilling their historical 
energy delivery missions to traditional customers. In 
particular, the Subcommittee and the Full Committee will 
continue its oversight of Energy Secretary Steven Chu's far-
reaching 2012 Memorandum to the Power Marketing Administrators.
    Protecting and Promoting Hydropower as a Clean, Renewable 
Energy Source--Litigating interests and regulatory efforts 
undermine existing hydropower resources and curtail the growth 
of new hydropower. The Subcommittee will examine these efforts 
and ways to protect and promote large-scale and small-scale 
hydropower generation at existing and potential facilities.
    Increasing Traditional Water Supplies--Visionary leaders 
developed much of the western water supply infrastructure that 
urban and rural communities have depended upon for generations. 
These existing water storage and delivery projects continue to 
serve millions of ratepayers and food consumers nationwide, but 
their operations are being curtailed by endless litigation and 
agencies bent upon rationing water supplies. The Subcommittee 
will focus on the need to protect existing water storage/
conveyance facilities and also examine and overcome regulatory, 
financial and other barriers to building new ones as a way of 
returning to a policy of abundance.
    Water Project Financing--The Subcommittee intends to 
analyze different types of water projects to determine the most 
cost-effective approach to providing new water supplies and 
other benefits. This examination, when necessary, will include 
but not be limited to a determination of project's purposes, 
cost per acre foot, water and non-water benefits and the 
current process used to determine cost/benefit ratios.
    Returning to the ``Beneficiary Pays'' Principle--Recent 
efforts to integrate wind and solar resources into the 
electricity grid can have impacts on existing water and power 
users who do not benefit from such integration. The 
Subcommittee intends to examine the impacts of integration 
schemes, including those by the Western Area Power 
Administration.
    Maintaining Electricity Transmission/Distribution Service 
on Federal Lands--Energy rights of way on federal lands have a 
direct impact on electricity transmission and distribution 
systems. Vegetative management on these rights-of-way is an 
issue in some areas of the western United States. The 
Subcommittee intends to examine these matters as it relates to 
electricity reliability and catastrophic forest fire 
prevention.

                             FULL COMMITTEE

    The Full Committee will conduct oversight on a variety of 
topics in coordination with the Subcommittees, as well as on 
specific jurisdictional items that reside at the Full Committee 
level. These Full Committee jurisdictional matters include:
    Endangered Species Act--Congress last renewed the ESA in 
1988, which means it has been 24 years since any substantial 
updates have been made. Of the 1,401 domestic animal and plant 
species listed under the Act, just 20 species have been 
declared recovered--representing only a 1 percent recovery 
rate. The law is failing to achieve its primary purpose of 
recovering endangered species. The Committee will continue to 
examine both the strengths and weaknesses of the law to make it 
work better for both species and people. The Committee will 
also continue to focus on how litigation and close-door 
settlement agreements impede recovery efforts and cost 
taxpayers millions of dollars.
    Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
Reauthorization--The Magnuson-Stevens Act is the primary statue 
regulating commercial and recreational fishing in federal 
waters. The Act was last reauthorized in the 109th Congress and 
a number of issues related to the reauthorization were examined 
by the Committee in the 112th Congress. The Committee will 
continue this work to reauthorize the Act in the 113th 
Congress.
              COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

    Rule X, Clause 2(d) of the Rules of the House requires each 
standing committee of the House to adopt and submit a two-year 
oversight plan to the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform and the Committee on House Administration by February 15 
of the first session of each Congress.
    The following is the oversight plan for the Committee on 
Oversight and Government Reform for the 113th Congress and its 
subcommittees. It details subjects designated for 
investigation, evaluation, and review by the Committee on 
Oversight and Government Reform, but does not preclude 
oversight or investigation of other matters as the need arises.
    Below are descriptions of some of the issues the Committee 
intends to investigate during the 113th Congress. The list is 
not exhaustive, but highlights significant areas for Committee 
oversight. The Committee will retain the flexibility to 
investigate emerging abuses and other issues as appropriate.

                 WASTE, FRAUD, ABUSE AND MISMANAGEMENT

    The Committee intends to redouble its efforts concerning 
its oversight of waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement of 
federal government spending. For too many years the Washington 
establishment has turned a blind eye to repeated waste and 
mismanagement in federal spending. Although the GAO, agency 
IG's, and whistleblowers alike continue to sound alarms 
concerning massive waste in federal spending, Administrations 
and Congresses often fail to address the issue head on. The 
Committee's oversight will cover all federal government 
departments, agencies and programs with an eye toward solutions 
to eliminate wasteful spending. Many of the following sections 
address specific areas where the Committee has an opportunity 
to make an immediate difference by addressing problematic 
agencies and programs. Furthermore, the Committee plans to 
offer legislative proposals that go at the heart of this issue 
by positively addressing the issue of waste, fraud, abuse and 
mismanagement.

                            FINANCIAL SECTOR

    The Committee will continue oversight of the financial 
sector, focusing on those regulatory agencies whose failures 
were implicated in the financial crisis and those agencies that 
were created, or saw their powers expanded, by the Dodd-Frank 
Act of 2010. The Committee will monitor financial regulators' 
management, technological initiatives and rulemaking, with a 
view towards promoting capital formation, predictable and 
efficient markets, and investor protection.
    The Committee will monitor the work of the Financial 
Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) and the Office of Financial 
Research (OFR).
    Key topics for oversight include the need for technology-
driven transparency in financial regulatory filings so that 
markets can quickly digest crucial information, management and 
communications challenges at key agencies, including the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the 
implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act.
    The Committee will continue to review the administration of 
the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), including the 
implementation of recommendations made by the Special Inspector 
General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP). The 
Committee will also monitor the Home Affordable Modification 
Program (HAMP) and other loss mitigation programs.
    The Committee will conduct oversight of Fannie Mae, Freddie 
Mac and their regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency. 
The Committee will further explore the risks to taxpayers 
associated with the role of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and 
government housing policies and will work to ensure that 
additional taxpayer money is spent efficiently and effectively.
    The Committee will conduct oversight of the Federal 
Reserve, including its use of non-traditional quantitative 
easing techniques and the financial risks associated with its 
growing portfolio of assets.
    The Committee will continue to monitor the SEC's 
implementation of the JOBS Act.
    The Committee will continue to conduct oversight of the 
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, focusing on the Bureau's 
management, budget, operations, rulemakings, and enforcement 
actions.

                          CONSUMER PROTECTION

    The Committee will continue to oversee consumer protection 
efforts across the federal government. As a part of this 
oversight, the Committee will examine the regulatory and 
enforcement actions of the Federal Trade Commission, the 
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Consumer Product 
Safety Commission.
    The Committee will also examine the national foreclosure 
crisis, including allegations of wrongful foreclosure and other 
abuses by mortgage servicing companies. The Committee will 
continue to monitor the work of several federal agencies--
including the Department of Justice, the Department of Housing 
and Urban Development, the Federal Reserve Board, and the 
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency--in addressing and 
responding to allegations of foreclosure abuse.

                  THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE

    In February 2013, the Government Accountability Office 
(GAO) will issue its biannual High Risk report, which 
identifies government programs that are particularly vulnerable 
to waste, fraud and abuse. The Committee will provide ongoing 
oversight of agencies and programs included on the High Risk 
list by holding hearings, meeting with agency officials 
responsible for included programs, and monitoring agencies' 
corrective plans and actions.
    In 2010, Congress required GAO to begin conducting 
``routine investigations to identify programs, agencies, 
offices, and initiatives with duplicative goals and activities 
within Departments and government-wide and report annually to 
Congress on the findings.'' In the 112th Congress, the GAO 
issued its first two reports under this provision in February 
2011 and February 2012. The Committee held hearings on both of 
the reports and will continue to monitor GAO's findings to 
determine areas of federal activity that are duplicative and 
inefficient.

                           INSPECTORS GENERAL

    During 2011, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) 
community identified potential savings in Executive Branch 
departments and agencies totaling almost $93.9 billion. Based 
on the OIG community's aggregate FY 2011 budget of 
approximately $2.7 billion, these potential savings represent 
approximately a $35 return on every dollar invested in the 
OIGs. The Committee will continue to support the IGs' efforts 
to control spending in order to promote a more efficient and 
effective government.
    Continuing its work from the 111th Congress, the Committee 
sent letters to 73 IGs in April 2011, and again in April 2012, 
requesting an update regarding thousands of open and 
unimplemented recommendations that have the potential to save 
taxpayers billions. The Committee then compiled four years' 
worth of data provided by the IGs based on their responses. If 
implemented, the IGs' recommendations would save taxpayers 
billions of dollars.
    After working with the legislative committee of the Council 
of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), 
the Committee sent a letter in August 2012 to Inspectors 
General clarifying its expectation that they will communicate 
serious or flagrant instances of waste, fraud and abuse to 
Congress promptly. With the GSA conference spending scandal in 
mind, the Chairman explained that the seven-day letter should 
not be the only means for communicating serious or flagrant 
problems to Congress.
    In December 2012, the Chairman and Ranking Member sent a 
joint letter to 73 IGs requesting both their short-term and 
long-term high priority recommendations for controlling 
spending. The Committee will review the responses received to 
identify improvements and reforms that can benefit a large 
number of federal government programs.
    The Committee understands the value of an empowered 
community of IGs and is committed to protecting IGs who 
aggressively root out waste, fraud, and abuse through audits 
and investigations. Recognizing the importance of the role of 
the IG at each agency, in November 2012, the Committee began an 
inquiry into possible IG interference at the U.S. Agency for 
International Development (USAID). The Committee will continue 
to conduct oversight to ensure the independence and 
effectiveness of the IG community.

                      FEDERAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

    The Committee will examine federal financial management. 
This review will include compliance with financial management 
and accounting laws, as well as the security and reliability of 
federal financial systems. The Committee will also focus on 
agency efforts to reduce improper payments and achieve a clean 
government-wide audit.
    The Department of Defense (DoD) is the only federal agency 
that did not undergo an audit in FY 2011. Because the size of 
DoD's budget makes it a material part of the Federal 
Government's total spending, the United States has never passed 
an audit of its financial statements. The Committee will focus 
on overseeing DoD's financial management processes and its 
steps to become fully auditable.
    The Federal Government's statements of social insurance 
(SOSI) also did not pass an audit in FY 2012 or FY 2011. 
According to the SOSI for FY 2012, the Federal Government will 
owe $38.6 trillion in excess of future revenues for Medicare, 
Social Security Insurance, and Railroad Retirement over the 
next 75 years. Actual cost may be higher because of GAO's 
disclaimer of opinion on the SOSI. The disclaimer was because 
the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) estimate of 
Medicare spending may be misrepresented due to certain 
potential savings in the program that have not been realized. 
The Committee will review spending for social insurance and 
HHS's methodology for calculating future payments.
    This Committee will further investigate improper payments 
distributed by federal agencies. Under the 2002 Improper 
Payments Information Act (IPIA), federal agencies are required 
to annually review all programs and activities to identify 
those entities susceptible to significant improper payments. 
For FY 2011, improper payments totaled $108 billion.

                     FEDERAL REAL PROPERTY DISPOSAL

    Since 2003, federal real property management has been on 
the GAO High Risk list. The Government holds thousands of 
unneeded properties and spends hundreds of millions on upkeep 
and maintenance of those properties. A June 2010 Presidential 
Memorandum on property disposal directed OMB to develop 
guidance that would include agency-specific targets to achieve 
$3 billion in cost savings. The Committee intends to examine 
what progress has been made toward this goal, and to consider 
changes that could be made to the Federal Real Property and 
Administrative Services Act that would expedite real property 
disposal.

                         GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING

    Controlling federal government contract spending is 
critically important. The cost of contracting has more than 
doubled in the last decade, increasing from $223 billion to 
$534.9 billion between FY 2001 to FY 2010. These amounts 
reflect exorbitant expenditures on management support services, 
information technology systems development, program management, 
and engineering. In the last two years, the Administration has 
taken steps to reduce waste in contracting. The Committee will 
seek to ensure that controlling spending does not have a 
negative impact on contract oversight and administration. To 
that end, the Committee will continue to investigate waste, 
fraud, and abuse in federal contracting.
    The Committee will continue to monitor the Administration's 
use of civil and criminal remedies to address instances of 
wrongdoing. Transparency at the point of contract award and 
throughout the life cycle of the federal contract can go far to 
prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. Additionally, the Committee 
will focus special attention on transparency relating to past 
performance and contract oversight concerns. The Committee will 
review federal contractor ethics and disclosure requirements, 
as well as the proper role of contracting for preferences and 
set-aside programs for small and disadvantaged businesses.
    The Committee will continue to conduct oversight of 
contracting issues associated with the transition of 
responsibilities from the Defense Department to the State 
Department in Iraq, as well as oversight of contracting in 
Afghanistan to prevent corruption.

                              GRANT REFORM

    The Committee intends to examine the efficiency, fairness, 
and transparency of agency grant-making processes. The 
Committee will examine federal efforts to reform and streamline 
the grant process across multiple federal agencies. The 
Committee will investigate allegations of waste, fraud, and 
abuse in the grants process within specific federal agencies 
and examine efforts to adopt consistent government-wide 
policies for grants applications and reporting.

                        SUSPENSION AND DEBARMENT

    The federal government spends over $1.1 trillion on 
contracts and grants annually. Despite Congressional oversight 
efforts, GAO has determined that there are serious weaknesses 
in the suspension & debarment (S&D) programs of numerous 
agencies. This has resulted in the awarding of federal funds to 
companies, organizations and individuals which should have been 
prevented from receiving such funds, including those with 
criminal convictions, federal tax liabilities, or terrorist 
ties. The Committee will continue to conduct oversight to 
promote efficiency, transparency, and accountability of the S&D 
activities, including the effective management of the 
government-wide S&D database.

                    OPEN GOVERNMENT AND TRANSPARENCY

    The Committee will continue to advocate technological 
solutions to achieve government transparency. Broadly speaking, 
the Committee will seek to ensure that the federal government's 
information--with a few well-defined exceptions, such as 
national security--is made available online and that it is 
formatted in ways that facilitate easy access and analysis. The 
Committee will evaluate possible legislation to set policy 
goals for technology-driven transparency for federal spending, 
program performance, regulatory materials, and legislative 
documents. The Committee will also examine public access to 
information through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 
examine the implementation of other open government laws, such 
as the Presidential Records Act and the Federal Advisory 
Committees Act, and consider whether any statutory mandates may 
impede public access to information.
    The Committee will continue to investigate the persistent 
challenges and failures associated with the preservation of 
presidential and federal records, as required by law. Dating 
back to the Clinton Administration, changes in technology have 
challenged each subsequent administration's ability to capture, 
manage, and preserve the growing and diverse volume of 
electronic records. Despite new policies intended to improve 
transparency, concerns that problems remain have been raised. 
The Committee intends to examine the challenges created by the 
use of personal email and new, innovative forms of 
communication such as social media.
    The Committee will focus on compliance with FOIA. The 
Committee will monitor implementation of the memorandum issued 
by the President on January 21, 2009, reinstating the 
presumption of disclosure. The Committee will also examine 
implementation of the OPEN Government Act of 2007 and the 
Electronic FOIA Amendments of 1996.

                           TECHNOLOGY POLICY

    Federal agencies spent $74 billion in fiscal year 2012 
buying, operating and maintaining information technology 
products, services, and systems. Many of these systems fail to 
provide the productivity gains expected, or worse, simply fail. 
The Committee will review the federal government's information 
technology procurement and management policies to ensure that 
taxpayers are getting the maximum return for their money. The 
Committee will closely monitor the executive branch's efforts 
to stop IT projects that are not on target and streamline those 
that are wasteful.
    The Committee will also review the impact of federal IT 
mandates under laws such as the Federal Information Security 
Management Act (FISMA), the E-Government Act of 2002 and the 
Clinger-Cohen Act. The Committee will seek input from the front 
lines of procurement and implementation to determine whether 
these mandates have improved data security, public access, and 
IT enterprise planning--and at what cost.
    The Committee will monitor and conduct oversight of federal 
agency information security practices that are required under 
FISMA and OMB guidelines in this area. The Committee will 
examine and evaluate privacy and security practices used by 
agencies to ensure privacy of confidential data.

             FEDERAL REGULATION AND THE REGULATORY PROCESS

    While federal regulations are necessary to effectively 
implement the laws that Congress passes to protect human 
health, consumers, and the environment, federal regulations can 
also impose significant burdens on job creators. The Committee 
will place special emphasis on oversight of federal regulations 
to ensure that regulations minimize unnecessary burdens on 
small businesses, job creation, economic growth, and 
competitiveness.
    The Committee will also evaluate agency rulemakings to 
ensure that agencies do not exceed their regulatory authority 
and adhere to the requirements embodied in executive order and 
statute when developing a regulation. This includes evaluating 
whether a rule is developed in an open and transparent manner, 
allowing adequate time for the public to participate in a 
meaningful way. It also includes scrutinizing practices that 
avoid typical rulemaking requirements, such as the issuance of 
guidance, interim final rulemakings, and settlement agreements. 
In addition, the Committee will focus on the role of the Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in agency 
rulemakings to ensure that it carries out its regulatory duties 
in a timely manner.
    Finally, the Committee will examine the impact of unfunded 
mandates on state and local governments, and private entities, 
and explore ways to potentially enhance the effectiveness of 
the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.

                                 ENERGY

    The Committee will examine the state of U.S. energy 
transportation infrastructure, particularly oil and gas 
pipelines. Inadequate capacity has created major bottlenecks 
and forced producers to transport domestic oil and gas via such 
inefficient means as rail and truck. The convoluted system of 
pipeline permitting and regulation--involving agencies as 
varied as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of 
State, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission--is a 
contributing factor to network incapacity.
    The Committee will review the Department of Energy's 
decisions to issue or withhold permits for the exportation of 
liquefied natural gas (LNG). The Natural Gas Act of 1938 
compels DOE to approve an export terminal if it is ``consistent 
with the public interest.'' The Committee will work to ensure 
that DOE takes a full accounting of the economic impacts of LNG 
exportation.
    The Committee will conduct oversight of the 
Administration's efforts to regulate the practice of hydraulic 
fracturing, which has been regulated by the States for decades. 
The Committee will also conduct oversight of EPA's ongoing 
study of the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and 
drinking water.
    The Committee will review the Administration's decision to 
fast track certain renewable energy projects, such as the 
Bureau of Land Management's list of ``Active Priority Renewable 
Energy Projects.
    The ``fiscal cliff'' deal extended the wind energy 
Production Tax Credit (PTC) for one year. The Committee will 
assess the costs and benefits of this tax credit focusing on 
the appropriateness of the PTC in light of record federal 
deficits, and the full costs of wind energy production. The 
Committee will also examine the tax treatment of other forms of 
energy production.
    The Committee will examine the Administration's policies 
toward energy production on federal lands and waters. The 
Committee will also examine the impacts of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process.
    The Committee will continue its broad investigation of the 
Department of Energy's loan guarantee programs.

                              ENVIRONMENT

    The Committee will continue to take an active role in 
overseeing the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 
implementation of the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. As in 
the previous Congress, the Committee will conduct oversight of 
these matters with a focus on agency process, adequate economic 
analysis of proposed rules, and cumulative impact analysis. 
Further, the Committee will determine the impacts these rules 
have on the health, safety and economic well being of American 
families, job creation, and electricity generation.

                      HEALTH CARE AND ENTITLEMENTS

    The Committee will continue to conduct oversight of waste, 
fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government entitlement 
programs, with special attention to Medicaid and Medicare. The 
Committee will continue to focus on problems at the Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid Services, seeking to minimize the amount 
of taxpayer money misspent through Medicare and Medicaid.
    The Committee will continue to conduct oversight related to 
the budgetary and economic impact of America's entitlement 
programs as well as options that would increase choice in 
health care markets and lower the health care cost curve. The 
Committee will also conduct oversight related to the increase 
in federal entitlement programs, with a focus on waste, fraud, 
abuse, and mismanagement within those programs.
    The Committee will continue to conduct oversight of the 
implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care 
Act (PPACA). Specifically, the Committee will focus on bringing 
transparency to the federal government's increased role in 
health care markets and in particular whether policies reduce 
consumer choice and increase insurance premiums. The Committee 
will continue to closely examine regulations promulgated 
through authority given to the Secretary of HHS in PPACA and 
executive branch actions to ensure that they are consistent 
with the law.
    The Committee will continue to conduct oversight of the 
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including the balance that 
FDA places between the availability and safety of drugs and 
medical devices. The Committee will examine the causes and 
effects of shortages in critical pharmaceutical drugs.

                          DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

    The Committee will continue to review the District's use of 
federal education funds authorized under the Department of 
Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act. As part of 
a three-sector approach to education reform in D.C., this law 
authorizes funding to the city for education improvement 
measures for its traditional and charter public schools, as 
well as providing scholarships to low-income students so they 
can attend a private school of their choice. The Committee will 
continue to exercise oversight of its implementation. In 
addition, the Committee will make certain there is a robust and 
comprehensive evaluation conducted to ensure the law is 
fulfilling its mandated purpose.
    The Committee will continue to review the Washington 
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). WMATA has 
experienced numerous problems relating to customer safety and 
Metrorail accidents over the past several years. While WMATA 
has publicly committed itself to taking the necessary steps to 
address operational and safety deficiencies, routine and 
rigorous oversight of the agency remains warranted.
    The Committee will review the 1910 ``Building Heights 
Act,'' which regulates the height of structures in the city. 
New technology, city planning, and economic development 
proposals are all factors that may lead to easing this century 
old law.

                                 CENSUS

    The Committee will begin to review the process by which the 
2020 Decennial Census will be conducted, its level of accuracy, 
and the appropriateness of the level of expenditures that are 
expected to be incurred. The successful planning of the 2020 
Decennial Census will determine the level of funding in 2018, 
2019, and 2020, the years which consume the most funding for 
the Census Bureau. The Committee will also review the non-
decennial operations of the Census Bureau to determine if there 
can be savings through better efficiencies. The Committee will 
also seek to determine if the Bureau's data collection 
activities are overly broad and still serve the people in the 
appropriate manner.

                 NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND FEDERAL RECORDS

    In October 2010, GAO released two reports highlighting 
failures at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). The Committee will conduct oversight of NARA's 
management of government records and the procedures NARA is 
putting in place to handle and archive records generated by new 
technologies, including social media.
    The Committee will examine the Presidential Library system, 
specifically looking at the governance of the Presidential 
Libraries, how the foundations interact with NARA, and how the 
foundations and NARA coordinate and cooperate to fulfill the 
mission of the Presidential Library system.

            GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT AND THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE

    Current challenges facing the executive branch, coupled 
with the deficit, require a new approach to government. The 
Committee will examine the major structural and organizational 
issues that have failed to alleviate, or have caused or 
exacerbated, government waste and redundancy. The Committee 
will continue its work to bring more balance to the federal 
personnel system, and better align worker compensation with the 
private sector. Performance management will be part of the 
Committee's review. The Committee will also look to ensure the 
size and composition of the federal workforce are driven by 
critical needs.

                      UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

    The United States Postal Service (USPS) lost $15.9 billion 
in FY 2012 and may face insolvency if significant reforms are 
not implemented. USPS has also already defaulted on $11.1 
billion in payments to the U.S. Treasury to fund the costs of 
retiree health care.
    GAO added USPS's financial condition to its high-risk list 
in 2009 and since then has been a major proponent of reform. To 
that end, GAO has stated: ``we continue to believe that major 
restructuring is necessary and not doing so will increase the 
risk that taxpayers and the U.S. Treasury will have to provide 
financial relief.''
    Since FY 2006, USPS mail volume has declined by more than 
25 percent, with the greatest decline in its most profitable 
product, First-Class Mail. Persistent, ongoing declines in mail 
volume are now projected for the foreseeable future as 
electronic communication increasingly supplants paper based 
communication. As a result of these mail volume declines, USPS 
has seen its annual revenue decline by $10 billion from its 
peak in FY 2008 and USPS is now losing $25 million per day. 
Additionally, for the first time in its history, USPS reached 
its statutory debt limit in September 2012 and expects to have 
less than 4 days worth of liquidity by the end of FY 2013.
    The Committee will examine actions and plans USPS is taking 
to preserve universal service, avoid insolvency, and prevent a 
taxpayer bailout. The Committee will also pursue the enactment 
of substantive postal reform legislation, building on the 
proposals found in the reform bill the Committee reported 
during the 112th Congress, H.R. 2309. To assist in its efforts, 
the Committee will continue to work with USPS, the Government 
Accountability Office, and other experts on the Postal Service.

                NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN OPERATIONS

    The Committee's unique interagency jurisdiction allows the 
examination of the effectiveness, efficiency and cooperation of 
all U.S. Government agencies and departments involved in 
national security and foreign operations issues.
    The Committee will conduct oversight of policies affecting 
the safety and security of U.S. government personnel and 
facilities abroad. The Committee's oversight will include, but 
not be limited to, U.S. Department of State and U.S Department 
of Defense policies.
    The Committee's oversight of U.S. diplomatic, military, and 
development efforts in the CENTCOM area of responsibility will 
also include, but not be limited to: investigations of the 
training and equipping of the Afghan National Security Forces; 
the efficiency, accountability and efficacy of a variety of 
development and reconstruction efforts, including the use of 
private contractors; the capacity of various U.S. Government 
agencies and departments to carry on needed activities in 
Afghanistan; and the State Department's diplomatic mission in 
Iraq and Afghanistan.
    The Committee will evaluate the need for interagency reform 
and elimination of waste, fraud, and abuse among the various 
U.S. national security agencies, departments, and foreign aid 
organizations. The Committee's oversight will include, but not 
be limited to review of U.S. military combatant commands, 
especially AFRICOM, SOUTHCOM, U.S. Agency for International 
Development, and U.S. Institute of Peace, State Department.
    The Committee will conduct oversight of U.S. diplomatic, 
military, and development efforts to address the issue of 
global terrorism both in the short-term and long-term. The 
oversight will include whether the United States is maximizing 
the use of all elements of the national security power and how 
anti-terror efforts, such as the detention and trial of 
unlawful enemy combatants, are coordinated with other important 
U.S. national security interests and the rule of law. The 
Committee's review will include the international standing of 
the United States, humanitarian assistance, development 
programs and public diplomacy efforts.
    The Committee will evaluate U.S. vulnerability to global 
energy supply disruptions. The oversight will also include the 
extent to which supply diversification through the production 
of domestic renewable and non-renewable resources is an 
adequate and cost-effective solution for the Defense 
Department's national security objectives.
    The Committee will continue oversight of the U.S. 
Department of Veterans Affairs' care and management of 
veterans' needs. The Committee will examine the large backlog 
of veterans' benefit claims and efforts to streamline the 
claims process as well as veteran transitional issues.

                           HOMELAND SECURITY

    The creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 
required one of the largest consolidations of federal agencies 
in history. The Department was ultimately formed by bringing 
together 22 different parts of government. Though the 
Department has made progress in integrating these various 
agencies, incidents such as the response to Hurricane Katrina 
reveal that there is still room to improve efficiency and 
responsiveness. The Committee will review the operations, 
management and decision-making at DHS.
    The Committee will evaluate efficiency and effectiveness of 
homeland security strategy, laws, initiatives, and technology. 
In particular, the Committee will focus on aviation, rail and 
transit, chemical, nuclear, port, our northern and southwestern 
borders, and other facilities or critical infrastructure at 
risk, federal funding interaction with local responders and 
efforts to strengthen the U.S. public health system.
    The Committee will also review visas, passports and other 
border control and security identification issues, as well as 
border and immigration policies and the operations of U.S. 
consulates.
    The Committee will conduct oversight of the federal 
government's emergency management capabilities to ensure that 
lessons learned from previous disasters, such as the need for 
improved planning and execution, communications operability, 
and coordination between all levels of government and within 
the federal government, are part of federal agency reform 
efforts.
    The Committee will closely examine laws, regulations, and 
policies governing the Transportation Security Administration 
(TSA). The Committee's oversight efforts will focus on 
maximizing the effectiveness and efficiency of airport 
security, including technology, checkpoint screening, perimeter 
security, workforce requirements for screening agents, 
information sharing and private sector solutions for increasing 
airport security.

                         DRUG POLICY AND SAFETY

    The Committee will examine specific pressing federal drug 
policy issues and the federal agencies that play a role in 
enforcing and overseeing federal drug policy. The Committee's 
drug policy efforts will be aimed at reducing the volume of 
illegal drugs available for domestic use, reducing the volume 
of improper access to and use of otherwise legal drugs, and 
evaluating the agencies and offices that are tasked with 
handling crucial drug missions and, where necessary, 
recommending changes.
                           COMMITTEE ON RULES

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                 Washington, DC, February 14, 2013.
Hon. Darrell E. Issa,
Chair, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Candice S. Miller,
Chair, Committee on House Administration, Washington, DC.
    Dear Chairs: On February 13, 2013, the Committee on Rules 
met, in open session with a quorum present, and adopted by 
voice vote the Committee's Oversight Plan for the 113th 
Congress.
    Pursuant to clause 2(d)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, I hereby submit simultaneously to the 
Committees on Oversight and Government Reform and House 
Administration the Committee's Oversight Plan for the 113th 
Congress.
            Sincerely,
                                             Pete Sessions,
                                                          Chairman.

      

                           [COMMITTEE PRINT]

113th Congress
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session

======================================================================



 
OVERSIGHT PLAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON RULES FOR THE ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH 
                                CONGRESS

                                _______
                                

         February 13, 2013.--Approved by the Committee on Rules

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Sessions, from the Committee on Rules, submitted to the Committee 
     on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on House 
                      Administration the following

                              R E P O R T

    Clause 2(d)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires each standing Committee, not later 
than February 15 of the first session, to adopt an oversight 
plan for the 113th Congress. The oversight plan must be 
submitted simultaneously to the Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform and the Committee on House Administration.
    The following agenda constitutes the oversight plan of the 
Committee on Rules for the 113th Congress. It includes areas in 
which the Committee and its subcommittees expect to conduct 
oversight during this Congress, but does not preclude oversight 
or investigation of additional matters or programs as they 
arise. The Committee will consult, as appropriate, with other 
committees of the House that may share jurisdiction on any of 
the subjects listed below.

                               Background

    The Committee on Rules has existed as part of the House 
committee structure since the First Congress, when it was 
established in 1789 as a select committee. The essential 
portion of the present jurisdiction of the Committee is set 
forth in clause 1(o) of rule X, which grants the Committee 
jurisdiction over:
    (1) Rules and joint rules (other than those relating to the 
Code of Conduct) and the order of business of the House.
    (2) Recesses and final adjournments of Congress.
    In addition, clause 3(j) of rule X assigns to the Committee 
special oversight responsibility over the congressional budget 
process.
    The Committee on Rules has always been at the forefront of 
efforts to reform the processes and procedures of the House to 
improve the effectiveness of the institution.
    The Committee also continues to play a lead role in 
providing recommendations for substantive changes to the rules 
of the House, which are adopted on the opening day of each 
Congress. Such changes have included streamlining the committee 
system to be more effective in conducting oversight and other 
business, ensuring the continuity of Congress in the face of 
man-made and natural disasters, increasing the transparency of 
committee and House actions, and modernizing the operations of 
the House.
    Some of the substantive changes to House rules adopted on 
the opening day of the 113th Congress include:
     Streamlining the voting process for several 
specific instances in the House and the Committee of the Whole, 
including reducing the time for voting on motions to recommit 
to not less than five minutes;
     Improving the readability of the comparative print 
required by clause 3(e) of rule XIII--commonly known as a 
``Ramseyer''--by including other contiguous portions of law if 
they will be useful in understanding the change made by the 
amendment;
     Prohibiting the consideration of a concurrent 
resolution on the budget, or any proposed amendment to or 
conference report on, unless it includes specified information 
and estimates related to direct spending, including means-
tested direct spending and non-means-tested direct spending;
     Continuing the requirement for ``spending 
reduction'' accounts in appropriations bills to ensure that 
spending cuts can reduce the costs of appropriations bills 
rather than be used exclusively as offsets for additional 
spending;
     Authorizing the chair of a committee to request 
that the Government Accountability Office perform a duplication 
analysis of any bill or joint resolution referred to that 
committee; and
     Requiring committee reports on bills or joint 
resolutions to include a statement estimating the number of 
directed rule-makings required by the measure.
    In addition to the items discussed below, the Committee 
will continuously monitor the implementation and effectiveness 
of the rules changes adopted at the beginning of this Congress.

                       Major Areas for Oversight

    Budget Process Reform. The annual budget process continues 
to present challenges to authorizing committees, appropriations 
committees, and the House as a whole. In each of the last 
sixteen fiscal years, Congress has failed to enact some or all 
of the annual appropriations bills prior to the start of the 
new fiscal year. In the second session of the 111th Congress, 
the House and Senate not only failed to adopt a concurrent 
resolution on the budget, but for the first time the House and 
Senate Budget Committees failed to even report a resolution. 
Congress also failed to enact even a single regular 
appropriations bill for fiscal year 2011. In the 112th 
Congress, the House passed a concurrent resolution on the 
budget for two consecutive years, but the Senate did not 
consider a budget resolution during either session of the 112th 
Congress.
    To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the 
legislative budget process, the Committee will examine 
alternative budget processes, including the use of biennial 
budgeting. A two-year budget cycle could provide committees and 
Members much-needed flexibility and time for increased scrutiny 
of government programs and funding requests.
    The Nation, and by extension the taxpayers, is facing 
record deficits and record levels of public debt. Congress must 
ensure that its processes are best structured to allow for 
comprehensive oversight and informed decision-making.
    The Committee will also continue to pursue the 
establishment of a joint select committee on budget process 
reform. The Committee recognizes that ultimately a bicameral 
solution is necessary in order to successfully implement 
reforms to the congressional budget process.
    Dynamic Scoring. The American public and many in Congress 
continue to highlight the pressing need to reduce Federal 
government spending. This increased focus on government 
spending has also led to greater interest in the cost and 
revenue estimates of proposed legislation. In many cases, these 
estimates are also used to trigger budget enforcement 
mechanisms.
    The Committee is committed to ensuring that the most 
accurate and comprehensive analysis is available to Members and 
the public. In the 113th Congress, the Committee will examine 
current estimating models, including the feasibility of further 
incorporating macroeconomic impacts of legislation in 
Congressional estimates in order to determine whether rules 
changes are necessary to improve the quality and accuracy of 
budget estimates.
    Effective and Efficient Committee Jurisdiction. The 
Committee on Rules has always played an integral role in 
modernizing the rules of the House, including its rules on 
jurisdiction. In the 104th Congress, the House streamlined what 
was considered to be a bloated and ineffective committee 
system, abolishing three full committees (Committees on Post 
Office and Civil Service, the District of Columbia, and 
Merchant Marine and Fisheries). In the 107th Congress, the 
trend toward jurisdictional efficiency continued with the 
establishment of a new Committee on Financial Services. In the 
108th Congress, the House responded to the changing security 
environment and the creation of the Department of Homeland 
Security by creating the Select Committee on Homeland Security, 
which became a standing committee of the House in the 109th 
Congress.
    The House rules for the 113th Congress include two 
clarifications to rule X. The changes include clarifying that 
the Committee on Homeland Security's jurisdiction includes the 
general management of the Department of Homeland Security. This 
change is intended to clarify the Committee's existing 
jurisdiction over the organization and administration of the 
department, and is not intended to alter the pattern of bill 
referrals to the Committee on Homeland Security, nor is it 
intended to alter the existing oversight jurisdiction of the 
Committee on Homeland Security. Additionally, the changes 
conform terminology used in the jurisdiction of the Committee 
on Natural Resources to terminology recognized by the 
Departments of State and Interior.
    The Committee notes that there was a minimum of 
jurisdictional conflict in the 112th Congress. In furtherance 
of this goal, the Committee on Rules will continue to review 
proposals to streamline the committee system and increase 
effective oversight of the Executive branch and the Federal 
budget during the remainder of the 113th Congress.
    Impact of New Information Technologies on the House. In 
recent years, the House has adapted and upgraded its 
technological capabilities to improve efficiency, 
accessibility, and transparency. Members are communicating more 
effectively with their constituents through the use of 
websites, blogs, and tele-townhalls, and many Members 
communicate with their constituents in real time through social 
media applications.
    Technology is also affecting the way Congress considers 
legislation. For example, more data and analysis is readily 
available to Members in the execution of their duties. Bills 
and committee reports are available and often searchable 
electronically, and the public can follow Congressional 
proceedings in real time through ``cybercasts.''
    Providing real-time information allows the broader public 
access to the day-to-day proceedings of the House. Technology 
is helping bridge the gaps of time and distance to bring 
representative government closer to the people and Members 
closer to their constituents. Technology is helping to create a 
more orderly process and to reduce costs and bureaucracy.
    The 113th Congress rules continue to embrace the work of 
the 112th Congress of recognizing electronic availability as an 
alternative to physical printing by the Government Printing 
Office. Like any major change, this one will require oversight 
and adjustment as the House gains experience with the new rule 
and its implementation. In the 112th Congress, the House opened 
its portal for hosting electronic versions of text at http://
docs.house.gov. At the beginning of this congress, the second 
phase of the project--the committee ``repository''--came online 
to host electronic versions of committee documents. The House 
Office of Legislative Counsel, in conjunction with the Law 
Revision Counsel, is working on a series of electronic tools to 
facilitate ``comparative prints'' of legislation, amendments, 
and statutes.
    The Committee will continue to monitor the progress of 
these projects and determine whether any additional rule or 
policy changes are necessary.
    Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. As the House focuses its 
attention on creating jobs and restoring economic growth, it is 
critical that the Federal government not impose burdensome 
mandates on our nation's job creators nor on our state and 
local governments.
    In the 104th Congress, the 1996 Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act (UMRA) was enacted. Among a number of provisions designed 
to reduce or eliminate unfunded mandates, the law requires the 
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to estimate the cost of 
unfunded public and private sector mandates. CBO cost estimates 
are required to be included in committee reports accompanying 
legislation brought to the House floor for consideration.
    In 2013, this framework requires CBO to estimate the direct 
mandate costs of intergovernmental mandates exceeding $75 
million and of private sector mandates exceeding $150 million 
proposed in any measure reported from a committee. It also 
establishes a point of order against consideration of 
legislation that contains intergovernmental mandates with 
mandate costs estimated to exceed the threshold amount. In 
addition, Title II requires Federal administrative agencies to 
assess the effects on state and local governments and the 
private sector of proposed and final Federal rules and to 
prepare a written statement of estimated costs and benefits for 
any mandate requiring an expenditure exceeding $100 million in 
any given year.
    In the 113th Congress, the Committee will continue to 
examine the application of the procedures and enforcement 
mechanisms associated with UMRA, as well as proposals for 
expanding the application of the law to capture indirect costs.
    Health Care Reform Legislation. In March 2010, President 
Obama signed health care reform legislation into law (P.L. 111-
148 & P.L. 111-152). The law created an Independent Payment 
Advisory Board and contains rules and procedures for 
congressional consideration of the Board's proposals. The law 
also contains expedited procedures for consideration of a joint 
resolution for the dissolution of the Board.
    Section 3(a) of H. Res. 5 (113th Congress) contained a 
provision that suspends the procedures for congressional 
consideration of IPAB proposals. The Rules Committee will use 
this opportunity to review necessary changes to House 
procedures relating to IPAB.
    The Congressional Review Act of 1996. Job creation and 
economic growth continues to be the number one priority for the 
House in the 113th Congress. Part of this agenda includes a 
systematic review of existing Executive branch regulations that 
could hinder economic growth and job creation. While the House 
undertakes a review of existing regulations and their potential 
impacts on job creation and the economy, it is essential that 
Congress also be prepared to respond to future regulatory 
proposals.
    The Congressional Review Act (CRA) provides Congress with 
an opportunity to review--and stop--regulations before their 
final implementation. Under the expedited procedures 
established by P.L. 104-121, if a majority of the House and 
Senate vote to approve a joint resolution of disapproval and 
the President signs it into law within 60 legislative days of 
the regulation's publication in The Federal Register, the 
proposed regulation cannot go into effect.
    In the 113th Congress, the Rules Committee may examine the 
CRA, and its procedures, in order to determine if the CRA can 
be better utilized to ensure burdensome regulations do not 
impede job creation and economic growth.
    Treatment of Confidential Business Information. During the 
normal course of oversight, committees obtain a wide variety of 
information, including confidential business information. This 
can take the form of trade secrets, personnel information, 
attorney-client privileged matter, or other kinds of data that 
would not otherwise be publicly available. Sometimes that 
information comes to the committee from the owner of the 
information, and other times it comes via a Federal regulatory 
agency that receives the information during the normal course 
of regulatory enforcement.
    Often, this information is essential to providing 
committees with the background necessary to conduct effective 
oversight of public and private entities alike. However, if 
that same information is disclosed publicly, it has the 
potential to cause irreparable harm to the entity to which the 
information belongs. The firms providing this kind of 
information often have protections against disclosure by 
Federal agencies, but do not enjoy the same kinds of 
protections when this information is provided to the House.
    The Senate has a rule prohibiting disclosure of 
confidential business information in the possession of a Senate 
committee; the House has no analog. While House committees 
often deal with these questions on a case-by-case basis, some 
individuals have asked whether more robust protections are 
necessary to avoid disclosure of confidential business 
information when disclosure is not essential to the advancement 
of oversight. Any change in the regime governing this kind of 
committee information must balance the needs of the owner of 
the information with the needs of the House to conduct 
effective oversight. Further, the operation of the ``speech and 
debate'' clause of the Constitution must also inform any 
changes in this area.
    In the 113th Congress, the Committee will conduct a review 
of existing laws and committee rules and procedures governing 
the handling of confidential business information. This review 
is intended to provide the background necessary for the 
Committee to consider whether any changes to the Rules of the 
House are necessary.

                        Committee Consideration

    The Committee on Rules met in open session on February 13, 
2013 and ordered the measure reported by a voice vote, a quorum 
being present.
              COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                  Washington, DC, February 5, 2013.
Hon. Darrell Issa,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Candice Miller,
Chairman, Committee on House Administration, Washington, DC.
    Dear Chairman Issa and Chairman Miller: Enclosed herewith 
please find the oversight plan of the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology, adopted January 23, 2013, pursuant to 
House Rule X (2)(d). Further, an electronic version of the 
oversight plan, in Microsoft Word format, was received by Linda 
Good, Chief Clerk for the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, today.
    If there are any questions or concerns regarding the 
submission of this plan, please direct them to the Committee's 
Chief Counsel, Holt Lackey. Thank you for your attention to 
this matter.
            Sincerely,
                                               Lamar Smith,
                                                          Chairman.

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

    House Rule X sets the Committee's legislative jurisdiction 
while also assigning broad general oversight responsibilities 
(Appendix A). Rule X also assigns the Committee special 
oversight responsibility for ``reviewing and studying, on a 
continuing basis, all laws, programs, and Government activities 
dealing with or involving non-military research and 
development.'' The Committee appreciates the special function 
entrusted to it and will continue to tackle troubled programs 
and search for waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in non-
military research and development programs regardless of where 
they may be found.
    Much of the oversight work of the Committee is carried out 
by and through the Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee. 
However, oversight is conducted by every Subcommittee and the 
full Committee. All components of the Committee take their 
oversight charge seriously, and those components have worked 
cooperatively in the past, as they will in the future, to meet 
our oversight responsibilities.
    The Committee also routinely works with the Government 
Accountability Office (GAO) and the Inspectors General (IG) of 
our agencies to maintain detailed awareness of the work of 
those offices. The Committee currently has numerous outstanding 
requests with the GAO and more will be developed in the coming 
weeks and months. Many of these requests are bipartisan, having 
been signed by both the Chairmen and Ranking Members of our 
Committee and Subcommittees, or include multiple Committee 
Chairmen where there are shared interests. The Committee also 
works collaboratively with the National Academies of Science, 
the Congressional Research Service, the Office of Government 
Ethics, and the Office of Special Counsel, as well as various 
other independent investigative and oversight entities.
    Oversight is commonly driven by emerging events. The 
Committee will address burgeoning issues and topics as they 
transpire. Nevertheless, the Committee feels that the work 
contained in this plan reflects an accurate portrayal of its 
oversight intentions as of January, 2013.

                                 SPACE

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) human space flight 
        program
    The Committee will continue to provide oversight of NASA's 
human spaceflight program as it undergoes a period of 
uncertainty and transition following various Administration 
proposals. Specific attention will be paid to the feasibility 
of NASA's plans and priorities relative to their resources and 
requirements.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Commercial Space Transportation
    FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation (OCST) 
licenses commercial launch vehicles. An area of increasing 
interest is the emergence of a number of fledgling commercial 
human suborbital space flight ventures. In addition to its 
oversight of the FAA's OCST, the Committee will examine the 
progress of the emerging personal space flight industry, as 
well as the challenges it faces.
NASA Space Science
    The Committee will monitor NASA's efforts to prioritize, 
plan, launch, and operate space science missions within cost 
and schedule. Particular attention will be paid to programs 
that exceed cost estimates to ensure they do not adversely 
impact the development and launch of other missions.
FAA Research and Development (R&D) activities
    The Committee will oversee the R&D activities at the FAA to 
ensure that they lead to improvements in FAA mission 
performance. The Committee has a particular interest in the 
performance of the Joint Planning and Development Office 
(JPDO), and FAA's management of its Next Generation Air 
Transportation System (NextGen) program.
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS)
    The Committee will evaluate the ability, cost, safety, and 
reliability of commercial providers to meet NASA requirements 
to deliver cargo and crew to the ISS.
International Space Station (ISS) utilization and operation
    The plans for operation and utilization of the ISS will 
continue to draw the Committee's attention as NASA attempts to 
fully utilize the unique research opportunities that the 
facility offers, while exclusively relying on logistical 
services from commercial and foreign providers. Given the 
significant national investment to date in the facility, 
Congress has directed that NASA maintain a strong research and 
technology program to take advantage of ISS's unique 
capabilities.

Aeronautics Research

    An important area for oversight will be NASA's aeronautics 
research and development program. The Committee plans to 
examine NASA's ability to support the interagency effort to 
modernize the nation's air traffic management system, as well 
as its ability to undertake important long-term R&D on aircraft 
safety, emissions, noise, and energy consumption--R&D that will 
have a significant impact on the quality of life and U.S. 
competitiveness in aviation.

NASA contract and financial management

    A perennial topic on GAO's high risk series, NASA financial 
management will continue to receive attention from the 
Committee. The Committee will also monitor NASA's contract 
management to ensure acquisitions are handled appropriately.

Near Earth Objects

    Congress provided guidance to NASA relating to Near Earth 
Objects in its last two authorization bills. The Committee will 
continue to monitor NASA's compliance with that direction, as 
well as determine whether additional oversight is necessary.
    Within the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee's 
jurisdiction, activities warranting further review include 
costs associated with cancellation of the Constellation 
program, NASA's approach to develop and fund a successor to the 
Space Shuttle, and investment in NASA launch infrastructure. 
NASA has not clearly articulated what types of future human 
space flight missions it wishes to pursue, or their rationale.

                                 ENERGY

Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science

    DOE plays a leading role in supporting basic research in 
the physical sciences and driving long-term innovation and 
economic growth. The Committee will conduct oversight of Office 
of Science programs to review prioritization across, and 
management within, its major program areas. Special attention 
will also be given to the cost, operation, and maintenance of 
DOE's existing and planned major facilities.

DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

    The Committee will undertake efforts to improve focus, 
prioritization, and transparency of EERE programs, and provide 
close oversight to ensure that programs are managed 
efficiently, duplication is limited, and funding is allocated 
appropriately and effectively.

Fossil Energy R&D

    Fossil energy will remain a crucial aspect of America's 
energy portfolio for the foreseeable future. In the 113th 
Congress, the Committee will continue to ensure that fossil 
fuel R&D programs are appropriately focused and managed 
efficiently. Expected areas of oversight include coal R&D 
prioritization and program management and oil and gas R&D 
efforts.

DOE loan guarantees

    Recent program management problems associated with DOE loan 
guarantees necessarily call for greater attention by the 
Committee. Ensuring the program minimizes risk to taxpayers and 
addresses previously identified problems will be a priority in 
the 113th Congress.

Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy (ARPA-E)

    The Committee will undertake oversight of ARPA-E program 
funding and management in the 113th Congress, examining the 
appropriate role for and focus of ARPA-E in the context of 
DOE's numerous other clean energy-focused programs and 
activities.

DOE Contract Management

    DOE programs have come under frequent scrutiny for contract 
management practices. GAO designated DOE's contract management 
as high-risk in 1990 and continues to identify areas of 
potential waste, fraud, and abuse.

Nuclear R&D

    The Committee will provide oversight of the nation's 
nuclear R&D activities with the goal of unleashing the 
potential of emissions-free energy. DOE, the Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission and industry stakeholders are working to advance 
reactor construction of new nuclear reactors. The Committee 
will examine how DOE R&D can best contribute to this goal 
through the advancement of various nuclear energy technologies.

                              ENVIRONMENT

Science and R&D at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

    The Committee will continue to provide oversight of EPA's 
management of science and its use of science in the decision 
making process, including lab management, regulatory science, 
transparency, and risk assessment. In particular, the Committee 
will examine how to better integrate science into the 
Administration's regulatory decision-making process.

Federal climate research activities

    The Committee will continue to monitor programs to address 
climate change issues across the Federal government to ensure 
that existing programs are necessary, appropriately focused, 
effectively coordinated, and properly organized to prevent 
duplication of efforts and waste taxpayer resources.

Federal ocean research activities

    The Committee will evaluate the President's National Policy 
for the Stewardship of the Ocean, Coasts, and Great Lakes, 
which adopted the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force 
recommendations aimed at addressing the future of our oceans. 
The Committee will monitor the implementation of this plan, as 
well as Federal oceanic R&D policy generally.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather 
        Forecasting

    The Committee will examine funding prioritization and 
program management challenges related to the NOAA's mission to 
understand and predict changes in weather, particularly as they 
relate to severe weather events that threaten life and 
property.

NASA Earth Science

    The Committee will monitor NASA's efforts to prioritize, 
plan, and implement Earth science missions within cost and 
schedule. Particular attention will be paid to programs that 
exceed cost estimates to ensure they do not adversely impact 
the development and launch of other NASA priorities. The 
Committee will also examine the impact of large increases in 
funding for the Earth Science Directorate relative to funding 
requested for other science disciplines.

                               TECHNOLOGY

Cybersecurity

    The Committee has continuously stressed the protection of 
the nation's cyber-infrastructure, which underpins much private 
and public activity. The Committee will continue to provide 
critical oversight of how NIST and DHS address this important 
topic and will be particularly interested in how federal 
agencies balance security mandates with the ability to allow 
technological development through innovation.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

    The Committee will conduct program oversight for NIST, and 
other programs in the Department of Commerce, paying special 
attention to the evaluation of their alignment with and impact 
on industry. NIST manages a number of multi-agency 
manufacturing initiatives. The Committee will scrutinize these 
initiatives to ensure they are operating effectively and 
efficiently, and to ensure that they are not encroaching on 
areas better served by the private sector. In another area of 
NIST, the Committee is aware that America's competitive 
position can be dramatically improved, or weakened, depending 
on how standards for different products and processes are 
developed. NIST is the only federal agency with long-term 
expertise in this arena, and the Committee is concerned that 
the cooperation on standards development across agencies is 
less than optimal. Furthermore, the Committee intends to review 
the six laboratory units of the agency to ensure they are 
operating effectively in preparation for reauthorizing these 
activities.

Advanced Technologies

    The Committee will examine R&D programs to ensure that they 
are focused in areas that support the most promising new areas 
of technology, including bio, nano, energy and health sectors. 
Real improvements in the cost and accuracy of health care can 
be achieved through effective integration of information 
technology within the health care industry. NIST has a critical 
role to play in helping to develop standards and conformance 
testing processes that will protect patient privacy and 
minimize private sector waste. The Committee will also examine 
NIST's role in the development of the smart grid, the 
management of cross-agency information technology (NITRD) and 
nanotechnology (NNI) research programs, and measurement science 
underpinning the biotechnology industry.

Department of Transportation (DOT) R&D programs

    The Committee will conduct oversight with regard to 
implementation of MAP-21 and related surface transportation R&D 
programs within the federal government, with a particular focus 
on strategic planning, performance measurements, effectiveness 
and preventing redundancy.

Economic Competitiveness and Job Creation

    America must maintain its economic and technological 
preeminence. The Committee will evaluate federal policies that 
enhance domestic and international competitiveness for U.S. 
companies, conduct oversight of federal policies that present 
barriers to innovation, and support policies that encourage job 
creation in innovative, growing economic sectors. The Committee 
must also increase oversight of the new policies recently 
enacted by the Small Business Innovation Research Program 
(SBIR) and ensure that it is focused on the most promising 
innovations.

Technology Transfer

    The Committee will seek recommendations for continued 
improvements in the technology transfer incentives built into 
law by the Bayh-Dole and Stevenson-Wydler Acts and the SBIR 
program to improve America's competitiveness and innovative 
capacity.

United States Fire Administration (USFA)

    The USFA is responsible for training and education of 
career and volunteer firefighters and first responders across 
America. They also support management of several grant programs 
that provide equipment and support staffing for firefighters. 
The Committee will closely monitor the direction of these 
program and the continued efforts of the USFA to ensure first 
responders have the necessary support and training.

Natural Hazards

    The Committee has supported interagency research programs 
to mitigate the damage caused by natural disasters such as 
earthquakes, windstorms, and fires by developing early warning 
systems and improved building and infrastructure design. The 
Committee will continue to evaluate programs to protect 
Americans from these and other hazards.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology

    The Committee will continue to monitor the maturation of 
DHS, particularly the effectiveness and organization of the 
Science and Technology Directorate, and the research and 
technology programs associated with the Domestic Nuclear 
Detection Office.

                                RESEARCH

National Science Foundation (NSF)

    The Committee will continue to oversee the NSF. With the 
recent reauthorization of the America Creating Opportunities to 
Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and 
Science (COMPETES) Act, special attention will be paid to the 
implementation, execution and effectiveness of these new 
programs.
    Further, the Committee will look for ways to trim 
duplicative and unused programs in an effort to maximize 
available resources. The innovative work of the National 
Science Foundation is important to the economic prosperity and 
competitiveness of the United States. However, there are 
various activities within the Foundation that may go beyond the 
mission of the agency and require more scrutiny and potential 
cuts in order to ensure that federal investments in basic 
science remain primarily focused on research that actually 
benefits the Nation.

Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics (STEM) K-12 oversight

    STEM education is vital to the 21st Century economy. 
Members of the Committee have expressed interests in improving 
STEM education activities from pre-K through graduate and 
continuing education in order to cultivate a top-notch future 
scientific and technical workforce, including well-qualified 
teachers in STEM fields. Determining the appropriate forms of 
federal support for these outcomes is important to the 
Committee.
    While STEM education is critical to maintaining the 
scientific and technical workforce essential to our 
competitiveness, many duplicative, wasteful, or simply unused 
programs exist across a number of federal agencies and must be 
more closely examined and, where warranted, cut.

Academic/Industry Partnerships

    The Committee will review the effectiveness and 
consequences of academic/industry partnerships. Agencies and 
universities are again debating the level of scrutiny and 
control that should be applied to research in light of the 
possible use by our adversaries of American discoveries and 
inventions. At the same time, industry questions the value of 
controls on technology sales and argues that such controls 
disproportionately limit American firms in competition for 
global sales. How to balance these competing interests remains 
a perennial subject for Committee oversight.

U.S. Antarctic and Arctic Programs

    The U.S. has conducted operations on the Antarctic 
continent under the terms of the Antarctic Treaty System since 
1959, and U.S. research activities in the Arctic predate that. 
The NSF serves as the steward for U.S. interests in Antarctica. 
Research in these extreme regions is a fundamental component to 
understanding the Earth and its systems. The future of the 
icebreaker fleet that provides vital logistical support for NSF 
activities in the harsh polar environments continues to be of 
concern.

NSF Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) 
        program

    The Committee will continue to monitor and oversee NSF's 
MREFC program, including how priorities for projects are 
developed, long-term budgeting for such priorities, and 
decision-making with regards to ever-changing scientific 
community needs.

Government-wide R&D initiatives in emerging fields

    The Committee will continue to oversee the collaboration 
and interagency process associated with emerging fields such as 
networking and information technology, biotechnology, 
cybersecurity, and nanotechnology.

                               OVERSIGHT

Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository closure decision

    The Committee will continue to evaluate DOE's decision to 
close the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository.

NOAA satellite modernization

    The Committee will continue its close monitoring of 
satellite modernization at NOAA. The restructured Joint Polar 
Satellite System (JPSS) will continue to draw the Committee's 
attention, as will the Geostationary Operational Environmental 
Satellites and the broader issues of research-to-operations 
planning and data continuity.

Critical minerals, materials, and isotopes

    The Committee will provide oversight of materials, 
minerals, and isotopes that are critical to U.S. national 
interests. Recent shortages and supply concerns associated with 
helium-3, rare earth elements, californium-251, and plutonium-
238 highlight the need to be ever vigilant in our monitoring of 
critical materials, minerals and isotopes.

Agency Information Technology Security

    The Committee will continue to conduct oversight of agency 
efforts to protect information technology systems. Threats and 
intrusions increase as GAO and IG recommendations go 
unaddressed. The Committee will ensure that agencies comply 
with existing statutes and address outside recommendations in a 
timely manner.

Risk assessment

    As the number and complexity of regulations increases 
throughout federal and state governments, the risk assessments 
that inform those decisions are garnering more attention. The 
Committee will continue to oversee how risk assessments are 
developed and how they are used in the regulatory process to 
ensure that policies are based on the best science available.

Scientific integrity

    The Committee will continue to collect and examine 
allegations of intimidation of science specialists in federal 
agencies, suppression or revisions of scientific finding, and 
mischaracterization of scientific findings because of political 
or other pressures. The Committee's oversight will also involve 
the development and implementation of scientific integrity 
principles within the executive branch.

Additional Science Activities

    Pursuant to House Rule X, the Committee will review and 
study on a continuing basis laws, programs and Government 
activities throughout the government relating to non-military 
research and development.

Agency compliance with Congressional directives and requests

    The Committee will be vigilant in its oversight to ensure 
that recent authorization acts, appropriation acts, and other 
congressional directions are complied with appropriately.

Emerging Issues

    The Committee will conduct oversight of additional matters 
as the need arises and as provided for under House Rule X, 
clause 3(k).

                             COLLABORATION

    The Committee maintains a rich relationship with its 
Inspectors General, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), 
the National Academies of Science, the Congressional Research 
Service, the Office of Government Ethics, and the Office of 
Special Counsel, as well as various other independent 
investigative and oversight entities. The Committee will 
continue to work with those offices, relying on them to 
identify major mismanagement issues, using their reports in 
hearings, and working with the High Risk Series published by 
GAO to guide hearings and inquiries. The Committee already has 
several outstanding requests, many of which are bipartisan or 
cross-Committee, reflecting the collaborative nature of much of 
the Committee's oversight work.
    The Committee also welcomes input from the public and 
whistleblowers. The Committee has developed many relationships 
with whistleblowers in agencies. The Committee has taken 
positive steps to try to protect them from retaliation and has 
been reasonably successful in that role. Most of the 
whistleblowers who come to the Committee remain anonymous--
sometimes even from the Committee.
    The Committee will retain its open-door policy regarding 
whistleblowers, whether they are contractors or government 
employees, and they should rest assured that we will never 
betray a confidence. Even if the information offered turns out 
not to be useful, as sometimes happens, the Committee will 
remain a haven for such figures and we understand the absolute 
necessity for citizens to feel safe in their communications 
with Congress.

                               Appendix A


                              House Rule X


                       ORGANIZATION OF COMMITTEES

Committees and their legislative jurisdictions

    1. There shall be in the House the following standing 
committees, each of which shall have the jurisdiction and 
related functions assigned by this clause and clauses 2, 3, and 
4. All bills, resolutions, and other matters relating to 
subjects within the jurisdiction of the standing committees 
listed in this clause shall be referred to those committees, in 
accordance with clause 2 of rule XII, as follows:
    (p) Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
    (1) All energy research, development, and demonstration, 
and projects therefor, and all federally owned or operated 
nonmilitary energy laboratories.
    (2) Astronautical research and development, including 
resources, personnel, equipment, and facilities.
    (3) Civil aviation research and development.
    (4) Environmental research and development.
    (5) Marine research.
    (6) Commercial application of energy technology.
    (7) National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
standardization of weights and measures, and the metric system.
    (8) National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
    (9) National Space Council.
    (10) National Science Foundation.
    (11) National Weather Service.
    (12) Outer space, including exploration and control 
thereof.
    (13) Science scholarships.
    (14) Scientific research, development, and demonstration, 
and projects therefor.

Special oversight functions

    3(k) The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology shall 
review and study on a continuing basis laws, programs, and 
Government activities relating to nonmilitary research and 
development.
                      COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                  Washington, DC, January 28, 2013.
Hon. Darrell Issa,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
House of Representatives.
Hon. Candice S. Miller,
Chairman, Committee on House Administration,
House of Representatives.
    Dear Chairman Issa and Chairman Miller: Pursuant to House 
Rule X(2)(d)(1), I am pleased to enclose a copy of the 
Oversight Plan of the Committee on Small Business. The enclosed 
document was drafted in consultation with the Ranking Minority 
Member and was approved, a quorum being present, by voice vote 
without amendment during the Committee's organizational meeting 
on January 23, 2013.
            Sincerely yours,
                                                Sam Graves,
                                                          Chairman.

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

     January 23, 2013, Approved by the Committee on Small Business

    Mr. Graves, from the Committee on Small Business, submitted 
to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the 
Committee on House Administration the following

                                 Report

    Rule X, cl. 2(d)(1) of the Rules of the House requires each 
standing Committee to adopt an oversight plan for the two-year 
period of the Congress and to submit the plan to the Committees 
on Government Reform and House Administration not later than 
February 15 of the first session of the Congress. Under Rule X, 
the Committee has oversight authority to investigate and 
examine any matter affecting small business. This Report 
reflects that broad oversight jurisdiction.
    Pursuant to Rule X, cl. 2(d)(1)(F), this oversight plan 
also includes proposals to cut or eliminate programs that are 
inefficient, duplicative, outdated, or more appropriately 
administered by State or local governments.

              OVERSIGHT OF FEDERAL CAPITAL ACCESS PROGRAMS

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
Small Business Administration (SBA) and other federal agencies 
that provide capital to America's entrepreneurs that may 
include any or all of the following, as well as matters brought 
to the attention of the Committee subsequent to the filing of 
this Report:

           Effectiveness of the capital access programs 
        to generate jobs in the fastest growing small 
        businesses.
           Whether lenders are meeting their goals to 
        lend to small businesses and create jobs.
           Risk to the taxpayers of the capital access 
        programs and if those risks are not reasonable, then 
        elimination of those programs.
           Adequacy of SBA oversight of its lending 
        partners to ensure that federal taxpayers are properly 
        protected.
           Capabilities of the SBA information 
        technology to manage the loan portfolio.
           Appropriateness of ad hoc guidance documents 
        in regulating lenders and borrowers.
           The exercise of discretion by SBA to create 
        pilot programs and the risk they pose to the taxpayer 
        and whether such authority should be curtailed or 
        eliminated.
           Whether SBA disaster loan program and its 
        oversight ensures that small businesses are able to 
        revive to rebuild communities without unduly placing 
        the federal taxpayer at risk.
           Efficacy and duplication of federal capital 
        access programs offered by the Department of 
        Agriculture to small businesses in rural areas.
           Utilization by small businesses of export 
        capital programs at the Export-Import Bank and the 
        Overseas Private Investment Corporation.
           Results of the Small Business Lending Fund 
        and State Small Business Credit Initiative established 
        by Pub. L. No. 111-240, the Small Business Jobs Act of 
        2010, in creating jobs and providing capital to small 
        businesses.
           Impact of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform 
        and Consumer Protection Act, Pub. L. No. 111-203, on 
        small business access to capital.
           Implementation of crowdfunding and other 
        provisions of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, 
        Pub. L. No. 112-106.

    In performing oversight, the Committee will focus on 
particularly risky aspects of financial assistance programs 
including, but not limited to, commercial real estate 
refinancing, premier certified lenders, participating security 
small business investment companies, small business lending 
companies, express lenders, and loan programs utilizing 
simplified lending applications.

OVERSIGHT OF SBA AND OTHER FEDERAL ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
the SBA programs that provide training and advice to small 
businesses that may include any or all of the following, as 
well as matters brought to the attention of the Committee 
subsequent to the filing of this Report:

           Examining effectiveness of SBA 
        entrepreneurial development programs in creating jobs.
           Determining whether certain programs should 
        be eliminated as a result of their ineffectiveness or 
        duplication of programs provided by other agencies or 
        by the private sector.
           Suggesting methods for enhancing 
        coordination among federal agencies in providing 
        assistance to entrepreneurs, including, but not limited 
        to, businesses located in rural areas and those seeking 
        to provide goods and services in the federal 
        procurement marketplace.
           Enhancing the efficacy and utilization of 
        the Manufacturing Extension Partnership at the 
        Department of Commerce.
           Recommending improvements in assistance to 
        small businesses that participate in the production of 
        value-added agricultural products.
           Increasing effectiveness of technical 
        assistance provided to small businesses involved in the 
        production of renewable and non-renewable energy 
        sources.

          OVERSIGHT OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING MATTERS

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
the federal procurement system that may include any or all of 
the following, as well as matters brought to the attention of 
the Committee subsequent to the filing of this Report:

           Whether fraud or other problems exist in the 
        federal government contracting programs overseen by the 
        SBA including the 8(a), HUBZone, service-disabled 
        veteran, women-owned contracting, and Small Business 
        Innovation Research.
           Effectiveness of SBA contracting programs to 
        increase participation by small businesses in federal 
        procurement.
           Effectiveness of federal agency protections 
        against contract bundling and consolidation.
           The accuracy and utility of SBA size 
        standards and federal procurement databases.
           Operation and effectiveness of federal 
        agency assistance provided to small businesses 
        interested in federal procurement, including that 
        provided by the SBA, Offices of Small and Disadvantaged 
        Business Utilization and Procurement Technical 
        Assistance Centers.
           Development of federal acquisition policies 
        and whether small businesses have sufficiently 
        effective voice in development of such policies.
           Cost-effectiveness of outsourcing government 
        work to private enterprise rather than expanding the 
        government to provide the good or service internally 
        (i.e., government insourcing).
           Implementation and efficacy of changes made 
        in small business federal procurement programs arising 
        from the enactment of the National Defense 
        Authorization Act for FY 2013, Pub. L. No. 112-239.
           Examination of the Small Business Innovation 
        Research Program as modified by the National Defense 
        Authorization Act for FY 2012, Pub. L. No. 112-81, 
        including, but not limited to, increased efforts at 
        commercializing federally-funded technology.

    In performing oversight, the Committee will focus its 
efforts on uncovering abuse and misuse of the small business 
designation to obtain federal government contracts.

                      OVERSIGHT OF SBA MANAGEMENT

    The Committee will conduct the hearings and investigations 
into the management of the SBA that may include any or all of 
the following, as well as matters brought to the attention of 
the Committee subsequent to the filing of this Report:

           The appropriate mission of the SBA.
           Whether agency employees in the field are 
        empowered to assist small businesses.
           Duplication of offices and missions at SBA 
        headquarters.
           Effectiveness of personnel management to 
        ensure that employees are rewarded for assisting small 
        businesses.
           Capabilities of SBA employees to provide 
        proper assistance to small business owners.

    In carrying out this oversight, the Committee will focus 
particularly on streamlining and reorganizing of the agency's 
operations to provide maximum assistance to small business 
owners. Offices that primarily provide assistance or advice to 
headquarters staff that do not promote the interests of small 
businesses or protect the federal government as a guarantor of 
loans will be recommended for cuts or elimination. For some 
potential offices that the Committee will examine, refer to the 
section title ``Reductions in Programs and Spending.''

         OVERSIGHT OF FEDERAL REGULATORY AND PAPERWORK BURDENS

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
unnecessary, burdensome, and duplicative federal rules, 
reporting and recordkeeping requirements affecting small 
businesses that may include any or all of the following, as 
well as matters brought to the attention of the Committee 
subsequent to the filing of this Report:

           Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
           Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
           Consumer Safety Products Commission.
           Department of Agriculture.
           Department of Energy, particularly the 
        Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
           Department of Interior, particularly the 
        Bureau of Land Management and Minerals Management 
        Service.
           Department of Labor, particularly the 
        Occupation Safety and Health Administration.
           Department of Homeland Security, 
        particularly the Transportation Security 
        Administration.
           Department of Transportation, particularly 
        the Federal Aviation Administration and Federal Motor 
        Carrier Safety Administration.
           Environmental Protection Agency.
           Federal Communications Commission.
           Federal Financial Institutions Examination 
        Council and its constituent agencies.
           Food and Drug Administration.
           Office of Federal Procurement Policy.
           Securities and Exchange Commission.

    The Committee will identify specific rules and regulations 
already issued or at the proposed rule stage to assess the 
impact on small businesses. The Committee will pay close 
attention to the effect that regulations have on the 
implementation of advanced technologies including, but not 
limited to, the deployment of broadband communications (either 
by wireline or wireless services) throughout the United States. 
Oversight of the regulatory process also will, to the extent 
relevant, examine the work of the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget. 
Special attention will be paid to the work performed by the 
Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the United States Small Business 
Administration to ensure that Office is fulfilling its mission 
to advocate vigorously on behalf of America's small business 
owners in regulatory matters at federal agencies. Finally, this 
oversight will entail an examination of compliance by federal 
agencies with amendments to Executive Order 12,866 and 
memoranda on regulatory flexibility and regulatory compliance 
issued by the President on January 18, 2011 and still in effect 
as of the approval of this Oversight Plan.

                    OVERSIGHT OF FEDERAL TAX POLICY

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
the federal tax code, its impact on small business, and 
Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) collection of taxes that may 
include any or all of the following, as well as matters brought 
to the attention of the Committee subsequent to the filing of 
this Report:

           Identification of tax code provisions that 
        hinder the ability of small businesses to create jobs 
        and recommendations for modifying those provisions to 
        boost small business job growth.
           Examination of the structure of the tax code 
        in order to simplify compliance for small businesses.
           Assessment of the recordkeeping and 
        reporting requirements associated with tax compliance 
        and suggestions for reducing such burdens on small 
        businesses.
           Evaluation of the estate tax provisions to 
        determine whether they inhibit the ability of 
        successive generations to maintain successful job 
        creating enterprises.
           Efficiencies at that the IRS that improve 
        the interaction between the government and small 
        business owners.
           Inefficiencies at the IRS that force small 
        businesses to divert capital from job growth to tax 
        compliance.

                    OVERSIGHT OF HEALTH CARE POLICY

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
federal health care policy (such as Medicare and Medicaid) and 
the continued implementation of the Patient Protection and 
Affordable Care Act that may include any or all of the 
following, as well as matters brought to the attention of the 
Committee subsequent to the filing of this Report:

           The cost of the Patient Protection and 
        Affordable Care Act to small businesses, including the 
        self-employed.
           The impact of the Patient Protection and 
        Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid on the 
        ability of physicians, pharmacists, and allied health 
        care providers to offer the best care possible to 
        patients.
           The impact of state tort and insurance laws 
        on the cost of medical care.
           Examination of increases in efficiencies 
        that will improve the provision of health care while 
        reducing costs to small businesses that offer their 
        workers health insurance.

                       OVERSIGHT OF ENERGY POLICY

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
energy policy to reduce the cost of energy and increase energy 
independence that may include any or all of the following, as 
well as matters brought to the attention of the Committee 
subsequent to the filing of this Report:

           Innovations developed by small businesses 
        that create greater energy independence.
           Federal regulatory policies that increase 
        dependence on foreign sources of energy.
           Policies needed to incentivize production of 
        energy in the United States.
           Examination of commercialization of research 
        in renewable energy.
           Federal regulations or policies that 
        increase energy costs for small businesses.

    The primary thrust of the Committee's efforts will focus on 
efforts to use the innovation of America's entrepreneurs to 
fuel the drive for greater energy independence.

          OVERSIGHT OF TRADE AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY POLICY

    The Committee will conduct hearings and investigations into 
international trade and intellectual property policies of 
America and its trading partners that may include any or all of 
the following, as well as matters brought to the attention of 
the Committee subsequent to the filing of this Report:

           Impact of free trade agreements to increase 
        exports by American small businesses.
           Whether the federal government is doing 
        enough to protect the intellectual property rights of 
        small businesses by foreign competitors.
           The impact of federal intellectual property 
        policies, particularly patents and copyrights, to 
        protect the innovations of American entrepreneurs.
           Efforts to increase exports by small 
        businesses.

    The focus of oversight will emphasize the best mechanisms 
to promote and protect advanced technology innovations of small 
businesses.

                  REDUCTIONS IN PROGRAMS AND SPENDING

    In addition to the programs and policies already cited, the 
Committee will examine any and all offices and programs that 
fall within the Committee's legislative jurisdiction to find 
areas that could lead to reduction in the federal deficit. Some 
programs and offices may include:

           State Small Business Credit Initiative 
        operated by Department of Treasury.
           Patriot Express Loan Program overseen by the 
        SBA.
           Express Loan Program overseen by SBA.
           Emerging Leaders Initiative started by SBA.
           Clusters Program initiated by the SBA.
           Innovation and Impact Fund Pilot Programs 
        operated by the SBA.
           Drug-Free Workplace Program.
           SBA Office of Policy.
           SBA Regional Administrators.
           Office of Advocacy Regional Advocates.
           SBA Deputy District Directors.
           SBA Office of International Trade.
           SBA Office of Native American Affairs.

    In particular, the Committee will assess whether 
reorganization and reassignment of employees to more critical 
functions at the SBA, such as positions as procurement center 
representatives, will provide a more effective agency at 
assisting small businesses generate growth.


             COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                  Washington, DC, January 25, 2013.
Hon. Darrell Issa,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Chairman Issa: Pursuant to clause 2(d) of rule X of 
the Rules of the House of Representatives, I submit to the 
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform the Oversight Plan 
of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the 
113th Congress. On January 23, 2013. the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure met in open session and 
adopted this Oversight Plan by voice vote with a quorum 
present.
            Sincerely,
                                              Bill Shuster,
                                                          Chairman.

                             OVERSIGHT PLAN

    In accordance with Rule X of the House of Representatives, 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is 
responsible for determining whether laws and programs within 
its jurisdiction are being implemented according to 
Congressional intent and whether they should be continued, 
curtailed, or eliminated. In the 113th Congress, the Committee 
will review the activities of government agencies and entities 
within its jurisdiction and the public and private interests 
they affect or regulate. As appropriate, the Committee will 
investigate ways to improve the overall performance and 
operation of the agencies and entities it oversees, promote 
reform and cost savings, and eliminate fraud, wasteful 
spending, abuse and mismanagement where possible.
    The oversight and investigation functions are vested at the 
Full Committee level. Oversight and investigation activities 
will be coordinated between the Full Committee and the 
Subcommittees. This structure will facilitate oversight of 
issues that cut across the jurisdiction of several 
Subcommittees. The Committee will continue to exercise its 
oversight duties through its own staff as well as through work 
performed at the Committee's request by the Government 
Accountability Office (GAO) and the various Inspectors General 
within their respective agencies and departments. Oversight 
activities will include hearings, briefings, correspondence, 
reports, media releases, and public statements.
    The GAO provides Congress a biennial update on its High 
Risk Program, which identifies Federal programs and operations 
that it considers to be at high risk for waste, fraud, abuse, 
or mismanagement, or in need of broad reform. Consistent with 
the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee will 
hold hearings on the programs within the Committee's 
jurisdiction on GAO's ``high-risk'' list. The rules also 
require the Committee to hold at least one hearing every 120 
days on ``waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement in Government 
programs which that committee may authorize.'' These hearings 
will focus on ``the most egregious instances of waste, fraud, 
abuse, or mismanagement,'' as documented by any report that the 
Committee has received from an Inspector General or GAO. 
Finally, the Committee will hold hearings if any agency has 
received disclaimers on its agency financial statements.
    The Committee has identified several particular areas for 
oversight and investigation in the 113th Congress. These areas 
are organized by Subcommittee and discussed below:

                        SUBCOMMITTEE ON AVIATION

    1. Implementation of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act 
of 2012. The ``FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012'' 
(FMRA) was signed into law on February 14, 2012. The FMRA 
authorizes funding for and reforms and revises the safety 
programs, air traffic control modernization (NextGen) efforts, 
and operations of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 
through fiscal year 2015. This law also contains over 100 
deadlines for Federal government action, including: 
rulemakings, program implementations, plans, studies and task 
force actions. The Subcommittee will closely oversee the FAA's 
efforts to implement the mandates contained in the FMRA.
    2. Safety Programs. The Subcommittee has held numerous 
safety hearings and will continue its oversight in the new 
Congress. Maintaining a safe and efficient aviation system is 
critical to the aviation industry, passengers, the U.S. 
economy, job creation, and U.S. competitiveness in the global 
marketplace. Issues to be addressed include: regional airline 
safety, general aviation safety, the safe integration of 
unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), pilot and controller training, 
ways to reduce operational errors, the FAA's enforcement and 
certification activities, and the FAA's volunteer reporting and 
data sharing and assessment programs.
    3. Evaluation of FAA's NextGen Air Traffic Control 
Modernization. Since the early 1980's, the FAA has been trying 
to modernize the air traffic control system, a program referred 
to as ``NextGen.'' NextGen is essential if the United States is 
to remain competitive and a leader in aviation in the global 
marketplace. The modernization program is now moving beyond the 
research and development phase and into the implementation 
phase. The FAA and industry must work together to reap the many 
benefits of a modern, satellite-based system. Benefits of this 
project include: greater system efficiency; reduced noise 
exposure; reduced emissions and fuel burn; improved safety; 
increased accuracy and reliability in the equipment and 
software; and the capability for future computer enhancements. 
Over the years, the FAA's efforts have often been behind 
schedule and over budget. The Subcommittee will continue to 
monitor and examine the FAA's efforts to establish performance 
metrics, meet deadlines, stay within budget, put in place an 
aircraft equipage program, and streamline implementation of the 
NextGen program.
    4. Oversight of the Office of the Secretary. The Office of 
the Secretary within the Department of Transportation (DOT) 
inherited several aviation functions when the Civil Aeronautics 
Board was abolished. These functions include ensuring that air 
carriers do not engage in unfair and deceptive practices that 
could harm consumers and ensuring that business agreements 
among air carriers do not result in harmful effects. Many of 
these functions have a dramatic impact on the industry, 
competition, and job creation. Hearings may be held to evaluate 
various DOT programs and policies affecting aviation, including 
slots, essential air service, air carrier alliances, aviation 
consumer issues, international air service, key safety 
treaties, and the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme.
    5. Airline Financial Condition and Passenger Service. Much 
of the last decade has been a difficult one for the airline 
industry. The cumulative impacts of 9/11, the severe acute 
respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak, spikes in fuel prices, 
and the global recession have taken their toll, although the 
industry has been profitable over the last few years. Moreover, 
over the next decade, the FAA predicts that air traffic 
operations will increase. When the economy improves, passenger 
complaints about delays, cancellations, overbooking, customer 
service, and transparency in airfares and ancillary fees 
charged by airlines may rise again as passenger traffic 
rebounds. The Subcommittee will continue to examine ways to 
maintain the airline industry, review recently established 
regulations to ensure the proper balance is maintained between 
safety and commerce, and refocus its attention on service 
issues.
    6. Streamlining the FAA's Policies, Programs, and 
Procedures. The Subcommittee is interested in an expected 
assessment of the FAA's existing policies, programs and 
procedures in order to seek ways to streamline processes and 
eliminate wasteful and redundant programs and overly burdensome 
regulations. In the FMRA, the FAA is given the authority to 
carry out any efforts needed to achieve the efficiencies 
outlined in the assessment. The FAA is also directed to work 
with labor and industry and provide Congress with a plan for 
the realignment and consolidation of the FAA's facilities. The 
Subcommittee will carefully oversee these and other efforts by 
the FAA to achieve much needed efficiencies and cost savings.
    7. Oversight of the National Transportation Safety Board. 
Authorization for the National Transportation Safety Board 
(NTSB) expired in 2008. A reauthorization bill passed the House 
in 2010 but was not enacted. Reauthorization of NTSB may be 
considered in the 113th Congress. This would be preceded by 
oversight hearings by the Subcommittee.

        SUBCOMMITTEE ON COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION

    1. Coast Guard Budget. The Coast Guard is currently 
functioning under a continuing resolution for fiscal year 2013 
which expires March 27, 2013. The continuing resolution 
provides funding for all Coast Guard accounts and activities at 
the fiscal year 2012 level plus 0.612 percent. On December 20, 
2012, the President signed into law H.R. 2838, the Coast Guard 
and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012, which authorized $8.6 
billion for the Service in fiscal year 2013 and $8.7 billion in 
fiscal year 2014.
    In the 113th Congress, the Subcommittee will hold hearings 
on the President's fiscal year 2014 and 2015 budget requests 
and consider legislation to authorize the Coast Guard. The 
Subcommittee will explore ways to implement cost savings at the 
Service by leveraging efficiencies and eliminating waste, 
fraud, abuse, and mismanagement.
    2. Coast Guard Recapitalization. The Coast Guard is 
currently undergoing a major recapitalization of its offshore 
operating assets. The recapitalization is intended to replace 
or modernize more than 90 ships and 200 aircraft, as well as 
replace outdated command, control, and communications systems. 
The recapitalization is facing serious challenges related to 
schedule, budget, and engineering.
    The Coast Guard has failed to develop a recapitalization 
program that reflects the current budget environment, and 
continues to pursue a plan not supported by either 
Administration budget requests or Congressional appropriations. 
Since 2001, expanding mission demands have been placed on the 
Service. These increased demands require aging and 
deteriorating legacy assets to operate well beyond planned 
service lives. Legacy assets are deteriorating at increasing 
rates as tightened budgets delay the acquisition of replacement 
assets. These intersecting trend lines jeopardize readiness.
    The recapitalization program has had several successes, 
including major upgrades to the Coast Guard's helicopters, and 
the ongoing acquisition of new classes of ocean-going and near-
shore cutters. Despite these successes, the Subcommittee 
remains concerned with the escalating costs of the program, the 
mission readiness of existing assets, the failure of certain 
new assets to meet performance goals, inattention to icebreaker 
recapitalization needs, and the lack of a realistic Capital 
Investment Plan.
    In the 113th Congress, the Subcommittee will continue to 
closely review the Coast Guard's recapitalization program, as 
well as any changes to the program which may be necessary to 
ensure the men and women of the Coast Guard who risk their 
lives for the Nation have the best equipment possible at the 
best price for the American taxpayers.
    3. Coast Guard Mission Balance and Alignment. The 
Subcommittee remains concerned about the balance of resources 
and assets assigned to the Service's different missions. Since 
September 11, 2001, the Coast Guard has received significantly 
increased resources to carry out homeland security missions, 
including ports, waterways, and coastal security and migrant 
interdiction. The Subcommittee wants to assure the Service's 
equally critical missions, including maritime transportation, 
safety of life at sea, and environmental stewardship, are given 
sufficient weight when allocating resources and assigning 
assets.
    The Subcommittee is also concerned with the training and 
experience requirements for Coast Guard servicemen and women, 
as well as whether the Service is properly aligned to 
successfully conduct its critical missions in the most 
efficient and cost-effective manner possible. A structural 
reorganization has gone through several iterations in the last 
seven years, and the Subcommittee will examine the final 
outcome of these organizational changes.
    The Coast Guard must assure the safety, as well as the 
security, of the Nation's maritime commerce every day. Failure 
to provide adequate resources to the Coast Guard's marine 
safety and environmental stewardship programs are as much of a 
threat to the United States' economic interests as failure to 
provide adequate resources for maritime security.
    In the 113th Congress, the Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of the Coast Guard's mission balance and alignment to 
ensure the Service maintains and appropriately distributes the 
necessary resources, expertise, and organizational structure to 
successfully conduct all of its critical missions.
    4. Maritime Domain Awareness. In order to prevent 
accidents, protect U.S. borders, and effectively respond to 
incidents in the waters under the control of the United States, 
the Coast Guard must maintain Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA). 
In other words, the Service must have real time knowledge of 
the location and intention of vessels operating in U.S. waters, 
as well as such other background information as weather, tides, 
and currents. MDA requires access to many sources of data, 
including visual observations, weather predictions, long-range 
vessel tracking information, and data provided by vessel-based 
transponders. The integration of these data sources into a 
``Common Operating Picture'' shared by shore-side facilities, 
ships, and aircraft, forms the basis of the Coast Guard's 
future plans to deploy its assets more wisely and cost 
effectively, while also improving safety and security of our 
maritime transportation system.
    The Coast Guard relies on several new and developing 
technologies to assist in implementing MDA. The Subcommittee 
has been concerned with delays in fielding these new 
technologies, cost overruns, the development of seemingly 
duplicative systems, performance failures, and poor contract 
management. The Subcommittee is also concerned that plans to 
upgrade command, control, communication, computer, 
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, popularly known 
as C4ISR, are not achieving the level of integration needed to 
fully take advantage of existing and rapidly improving sensor 
and communication technologies.
    In the 113th Congress, the Subcommittee will continue its 
oversight of the Service's development and implementation of 
MDA to ensure the best system is fielded in a timely manner and 
at the best price for the American taxpayers.
    5. Maritime Transportation Safety. Over the next year, the 
Coast Guard will be implementing or proposing new regulations 
intended to improve the safety of commercial fishing vessels 
and towing vessels, as well as to enhance the mariner 
credentialing and fitness determination process. The Service 
may also propose new safety regulations on cruise vessels in 
the wake of the COSTA CONCORDIA marine casualty. Finally, later 
this year, the Coast Guard is expected to publish a major new 
rule governing the deployment of electronic readers for the 
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
    The recently enacted Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Act modified some of these rulemakings to afford 
the Coast Guard adequate time to fairly enforce them. In the 
113th Congress, the Subcommittee will continue oversight of the 
Coast Guard's regulatory program to ensure these regulations 
improve the safety of the maritime transportation system 
without unduly increasing costs and undermining job growth in 
the maritime industry.
    6. Marine Environmental Protection. In recent years, the 
Coast Guard and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have 
implemented several new regulations governing the 
transportation of oil and other hazardous substances on water; 
air emissions from vessels; and the discharge from vessels of 
plastics, ballast water, and over 25 other ``discharges 
incidental to the normal operation of a vessel,'' such as bilge 
water, deck wash, and air conditioning condensate. In addition, 
over 25 states have put in place regulations to govern ballast 
water and other incidental discharges. Many of these new 
requirements are inconsistent, costly, and burdensome. If not 
properly addressed, these regulations could significantly 
complicate vessel operations, drive up costs, threaten jobs, 
and impede the flow of commerce along our coasts, the Great 
Lakes, and inland rivers.
    In the 113th Congress, the Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of these regulations. The Subcommittee will also work 
to address the challenges posed by these new regulations and 
ensure the efficient movement of maritime commerce, defend 
seafaring and port jobs, and protect the environment.
    7. Oil Spill Prevention and Response. In fiscal year 2012, 
the Coast Guard received over 32,000 reports of an oil or 
hazardous materials spill. The Service continues to respond to 
the April 2010 explosion and sinking of the DEEPWATER HORIZON 
and has deployed assets to the Arctic to oversee permitted 
drilling activities.
    In the 113th Congress, the Subcommittee will continue 
oversight of oil spill prevention laws and regulations, as well 
as the Coast Guard's capability to respond to such incidents. 
The Subcommittee will work to ensure the Nation's oil spill 
prevention and response capabilities protect human lives and 
the environment while protecting U.S. jobs.
    8. Port and Vessel Security. On an annual basis, U.S. ports 
handle more than 2 billion tons of freight, 3 billion barrels 
of oil, more than 134 million ferry passengers, and more than 7 
million cruise ship passengers. Approximately 7,500 foreign 
ships, manned by 200,000 foreign sailors, enter U.S. ports 
every year to offload approximately six million truck-size 
cargo containers onto U.S. docks. Additionally, many of these 
seaports are critical military strategic sealift ports whose 
availability must be constantly assured.
    There are 361 public ports in the United States that handle 
over 95 percent of U.S. overseas trade. The top 50 ports in the 
United States account for over 90 percent of total cargo 
tonnage. Twenty-five U.S. ports account for over 98 percent of 
all container shipments. Cruise ships visiting foreign 
destinations embark from at least 16 U.S. ports. Generally, 
ports are often very open and exposed and are potentially 
susceptible to large-scale acts of terrorism that could cause 
catastrophic loss of life and economic disruption.
    In 2002, Congress enacted the Maritime Transportation 
Security Act (MTSA), now chapter 701 of title 46, United Sates 
Code. The measure establishes a comprehensive national maritime 
transportation security system; requires the Coast Guard to 
conduct vulnerability assessments of U.S. ports; requires the 
Coast Guard to develop national and regional area maritime 
transportation security plans; requires seaports, waterfront 
terminals, and certain types of vessels to develop security and 
incident response plans for the Coast Guard; and requires the 
Coast Guard to conduct an antiterrorism assessment of certain 
foreign ports. Vessel and facility plans went into effect on 
July 1, 2004.
    MTSA also established the TWIC program to ensure that 
transportation workers who have access to secure areas of 
maritime facilities do not pose a terrorism security risk. The 
Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 (SAFE 
Port Act) set deadlines for the deployment of TWIC to workers 
and the installation of TWIC reader devices at access points to 
secure areas. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) 
and Coast Guard missed the July 30, 2007, deadline to begin the 
deployment of TWIC and did not begin deployment of the 
credentials until October 2007. The TSA also missed the April 
2009 deadline for the installation of TWIC readers. The Coast 
Guard does not anticipate issuing final rules for the 
installation of readers until 2013.
    In the 113th Congress, the Subcommittee will continue to 
conduct oversight of these critical security issues with the 
goal of providing the highest level of security possible that 
does not impede the efficient flow of maritime commerce or 
interrupt employment opportunities in the maritime sector.
    9. Piracy. In 2012, pirates in the waters off the Horn of 
Africa captured 13 commercial vessels and held over 200 
merchant seamen hostage. Although these numbers have fallen in 
recent months, the pirates continue their violent attacks on 
vessels transiting those waters. Pirates are using larger 
vessels, more advanced weaponry, and traveling further into the 
Indian Ocean to intercept vessels traveling outside the regular 
shipping lanes. Ransoms are increasing and reports indicate 
that conditions for hostages are worsening. Incidents of piracy 
are also on the rise in the Gulf of Guinea off the coast of 
Nigeria further impacting commercial shipping around the 
African continent.
    In the 113th Congress, the Subcommittee will continue 
oversight of this issue. The Subcommittee will work to find 
ways to improve the security of U.S. seafarers, their vessels, 
and their cargo as they transit these high-risk waters.
    10. Arctic Transportation. The percentage of the Arctic 
Circle covered in ice during the summer months continues to 
shrink. As a result, waters previously blocked by ice have 
become navigable in the summer. This opens opportunities for 
ships to transit between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans 
through the Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea Route. It 
may also ease the difficulties faced in extracting potential 
oil and gas resources, as well as expand fishing and tourism 
activities.
    As the ice cap recedes, human presence in the Arctic may 
expand. The Coast Guard will likely need to deal with a growing 
caseload of search and rescue, marine pollution response, law 
enforcement, and defense missions. The Service currently lacks 
the infrastructure or assets required for extended operations 
in the Arctic.
    In the 113th Congress, the Subcommittee will continue its 
oversight of these issues. The Subcommittee will work to find 
ways to improve the safety and security of Arctic 
transportation routes, as well as enhance Coast Guard presence 
in the region in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
    11. Federal Maritime Commission, Maritime Administration, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Budget and 
Programs. The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over the Federal 
Maritime Commission (FMC) and the non-defense related programs 
of the Maritime Administration (MARAD). The FMC is responsible 
for the economic regulation of waterborne foreign commerce and 
unfair shipping practices. MARAD oversees several programs 
related to defense readiness, as well as programs designed to 
promote and develop the domestic merchant marine industry. The 
Subcommittee also has jurisdiction over the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of Response and 
Restoration (ORR). ORR provides technical and scientific 
assistance in the response to, and environmental restoration 
from, oil and hazardous material spills. It also administers 
the Marine Debris Program. The Subcommittee is also interested 
in NOAA programs that acquire and distribute data necessary for 
the safe operation of the Maritime Transportation System.
    Each of these agencies is operating under a fiscal year 
2013 continuing resolution which expires March 27, 2013. In 
fiscal year 2012, these agencies had a combined budget of over 
$399 million.
    In the 113th Congress, the Subcommittee will continue to 
conduct oversight of the FMC, MARAD, and ORR. The Subcommittee 
will explore ways to promote job growth in the domestic fleet, 
while improving operations and reducing costs at these 
agencies.

 SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, AND EMERGENCY 
                               MANAGEMENT

    1. Federal Courthouses. In June of 2010, GAO issued a 
report on the Federal courthouse program and found that of the 
33 courthouses built since 2000, there was 3.56 million square 
feet of extra space, costing the taxpayer $835 million plus $51 
million annually to operate and maintain. The Subcommittee will 
continue its oversight of the authorization of new Federal 
courthouses, encourage the full implementation of courtroom 
sharing formulae, and place strict requirements on any proposed 
courthouses to minimize overbuilding and reduce costs. The 
Subcommittee will also closely oversee the progress made on 
courthouses already authorized to ensure they are constructed 
within the limitations placed upon them by the Committee and to 
ensure they stay below or within budget. The Subcommittee will 
also work to ensure that courthouse construction projects 
include credible judgeship projections; courtroom sharing in a 
robust and efficient fashion in accordance with the empirical 
courtroom use data collected by the Federal Judicial Center; 
and faithful adherence by the General Services Administration 
(GSA) to congressionally authorized square-footage limitations, 
as well as dollar limitations, when executing projects.
    2. Leasing. On or about July 17, 2012, GSA entered into a 
lease agreement to occupy space on six floors at One World 
Trade Center. The lease agreement includes an initial lease 
term of 20 years starting in 2015 at a rent of approximately 
$17.5 million per year for a total of $351.4 million over the 
initial term of the lease. The lease also includes four 15-year 
renewal options. GSA entered into this lease agreement despite 
the fact that a resolution approving the lease had not yet been 
adopted by the Committee.
    While a prospectus as required by the Public Buildings Act 
was submitted to the Committee on June 6, 2012, the prospectus 
did not include a customary housing plan, identifying the 
proposed tenant agencies for the leased space and indicating 
how GSA proposed utilizing the space. Notwithstanding that the 
Committee had not passed a Committee resolution approving the 
lease or the fact GSA had submitted an incomplete prospectus, 
GSA obligated the government to more than $350 million. This 
broke decades of legal precedent. Subsequently, former Chairman 
Mica, former Subcommittee Chairman Denham and former 
Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services Chairwoman Jo 
Ann Emerson requested GSA provide a written legal analysis and 
briefing explaining the basis for GSA to sign the lease.
    In the 113th Congress, the Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of GSA to ensure effective oversight of GSA's 
authority to enter into leases that bind the taxpayer to 
significant sums of money.
    During the 112th Congress, problems with independent 
leasing authorities of agencies outside of GSA were made 
apparent. In 2010, the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(SEC), which has its own independent leasing authority, signed 
a sole-source 10-year lease for a state of the art building, 
binding the taxpayer to more than $500 million. Not long after 
signing the lease, SEC determined it did not need the space. 
The Subcommittee conducted an investigation and held hearings 
that revealed serious questions about SEC's management of its 
space and its leasing authority. In prior years, the Committee 
has also found similar mismanagement by other agencies, 
including the NTSB, in which poor decisions on leases resulted 
in taxpayer dollars being wasted. As a result, the Subcommittee 
will continue its oversight of leases outside of GSA.
    3. Real Property Management. The management of Federal Real 
Property has been on the GAO's ``high risk'' list since 2003 
due to a number of mismanagement issues, including the 
overreliance on costly leasing to meet long-term space needs 
and the overabundance of underused or vacant space. In 
addition, with nearly half of GSA's assets over 50 years old, 
GSA has faced challenges maintaining a balanced inventory, 
draining Federal resources and costing more to maintain old 
buildings that are often inefficient. At the same time, GSA 
continues to over-rely on expensive new commercial leases that 
very often result in the taxpayer paying for a building several 
times over without any ownership interest. The Office of 
Management and Budget's budget scorekeeping rules are key 
drivers on ``own vs. lease'' asset decision-making. Current 
budget scorekeeping rules generally leave GSA with only two 
options for meeting the Federal Government's general purpose 
space needs: direct appropriations for new construction or 
long-term leases. In addition, with the tight budget 
constraints and the lack of funds for new construction, GSA has 
begun exploring alternative arrangements for space acquisition 
and redevelopment.
    The Subcommittee will continue to conduct investigations 
and oversight of GSA's management of its real property 
portfolio and examine ways to ensure cost-effective choices are 
made. In addition, the Subcommittee will work to ensure GSA 
maximizes the utilization of existing space, renegotiates 
existing leases to reduce costs, and sells under-used or vacant 
properties that will generate revenue. Finally, the 
Subcommittee will work to ensure GSA fully utilizes its 
enhanced property management authority to make better use of 
space it retains, such as out-leasing empty Federal space to 
generate income for GSA's Federal Buildings Fund (FBF) and help 
offset costs, but will conduct close oversight of GSA's use of 
these authorities to ensure they are managed and used 
appropriately.
    4. Federal Buildings Fund. Congress established the FBF 
with the intent of making GSA's management of space self-
financed. Federal agencies who are tenants in GSA-owned or 
managed facilities, generally, pay rent to GSA for use of the 
space. Those funds are deposited into the FBF, which then is 
used to reinvest in GSA's assets for repairs and maintenance, 
as well as for construction or purchasing of new property. With 
nearly half of GSA's assets over 50 years old coupled with the 
increase in commercial leasing to fill space needs, serious 
questions have been raised regarding the viability of the FBF 
in the future. Old assets drain the resources of the FBF in 
repair and maintenance costs.
    In addition, the administrative expenses of GSA's Public 
Buildings Service (PBS) are paid out of the FBF. There has been 
little or no transparency in how PBS spends its administrative 
funds. The scandals related to conferences and bonuses and 
GSA's inability to fully respond to Committee questions about 
how it budgets for such activities have revealed the potential 
for significant waste. As a result, the Subcommittee will 
continue to conduct oversight of PBS's administrative costs and 
take steps to ensure greater transparency and accountability.
    5. Capital Investment and Leasing Program. As part of the 
Committee's annual work to review and authorize GSA's requests 
for authority to repair, alter, construct, and lease property 
for use by Federal agencies, the Subcommittee will review each 
prospectus presented to the Committee and recommend approval 
only after the Subcommittee is satisfied that the requests are 
cost-effective and in the best interest of the government. The 
Subcommittee will work aggressively with GSA and tenant 
agencies to shrink the space footprint.
    6. Federal Protective Service. As a part of the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002, the Federal Protective Service (FPS) was 
transferred from the Public Buildings Service of GSA to the 
Department of Homeland Security (DHS). However, responsibility 
for the protection of Federal buildings, generally, remains 
with the GSA. The Subcommittee will continue to monitor and 
review the policies, procedures, and requirements of security 
at public buildings, including a review of the implementation 
of these policies, procedures, and requirements of the FPS.
    7. Major Development Projects. The construction of the DHS 
headquarters is a multi-billion dollar Federal construction 
project that, when completed, will relocate much of DHS 
operations in the District of Columbia area into one campus 
located at the historic Saint Elizabeths Hospital site in the 
Southeast quadrant of the District of Columbia. Currently, the 
construction of the Coast Guard headquarters is underway at the 
site. In addition, various DHS components remain in leased 
space until the phased construction is completed. The 
Subcommittee plans to continue close oversight of this major 
project and its associated leases to guard against waste, and 
ensure jobs are maintained and created accordingly throughout 
the project.
    In addition, there are a number of other major construction 
and development projects proposed, underway, or anticipated by 
the GSA, including a proposal for a new FBI headquarters, the 
redevelopment of Federal Triangle South, and the redevelopment 
of the Old Post Office. The Subcommittee plans to conduct close 
review and oversight of these major development projects.
    8. Architect of the Capitol. The Subcommittee will continue 
ongoing oversight of projects being undertaken by the Architect 
of the Capitol, including redevelopment of the Federal Office 
Building 8 as well as other development pursuant to the Master 
Plan for the Capitol Complex. Consistent oversight will ensure 
proper prioritization and cost savings.
    9. Smithsonian Institution Facilities. The Subcommittee 
will continue its oversight of projects undertaken by the 
Smithsonian Institution including the acquisition, 
construction, and use of local and remote museum, research, and 
storage facilities of the Institution. The Subcommittee will 
continue to ensure the cost-effective solutions to the 
Smithsonian's space needs such as leveraging private dollars 
and disposal or effective reuse of underused assets. In 
addition, the Smithsonian is currently in the process of 
constructing the National Museum of African American History 
and Culture. Continued oversight of the construction is 
important to ensure the project stays within budget and on 
schedule.
    10. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. As a 
part of its ongoing oversight of the Kennedy Center's programs, 
the Subcommittee will regularly review the construction, 
alteration, and modernization activities of the Kennedy Center 
that are conducted using Federal funds to ensure appropriate 
management and cost savings.
    11. Economic Development Administration. The Economic 
Development Administration (EDA) was created in 1965 by the 
Public Works and Economic Development Act to leverage Federal 
funding to help spur economic growth in areas that are 
experiencing: chronic high unemployment, out-migration, and 
severe economic dislocations due to plant closings and natural 
disasters. Over the years, EDA's programs have generated new, 
permanent jobs with minimal Federal investment. For example, 
reviews of EDA's programs have revealed that its programs, on 
average, create jobs at a cost of $4,000 per job. In addition, 
studies have shown that $1 invested by EDA attracts $11 in 
private or other public funding. The leveraging of Federal 
dollars ensures that projects funded are viable and include a 
private interest that will ensure the jobs created are long-
lasting. In preparation for EDA's reauthorization, the 
Subcommittee will continue to oversee EDA programs to ensure 
they continue to leverage private dollars and create jobs. The 
Subcommittee will also identify and remove regulatory 
stovepipes that add costs and administrative hurdles to job 
creation.
    12. Appalachian Regional Commission. The Subcommittee will 
closely examine the activities of the Appalachian Regional 
Commission including how it meets the needs of distressed 
counties in Appalachia, how it uses new and innovative ways to 
promote economic development, and its track record of success 
since its last reauthorization to ensure, as with EDA, projects 
funded result in economic growth and job creation.
    13. Other Regional Economic Development Authorities. The 
Subcommittee will closely examine the activities of the other 
established development authorities, which are the Denali 
Commission, Delta Regional Authority, Northern Great Plains 
Regional Authority, Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, 
Southwest Border Regional Commission, and Northern Border 
Regional Commission. The Subcommittee will review these 
commissions and identify ways to streamline these programs and 
reduce any overlap to produce cost savings.
    14. Emergency Management. The Subcommittee intends to 
undertake a review and assessment of the Nation's ability to 
prevent, prepare for, mitigate against, respond to, and recover 
from disasters and emergencies of all types including 
terrorism. In the 113th Congress, continued oversight will be 
needed as states continue to recover from prior disasters, such 
as Hurricane Sandy. In addition, the Subcommittee will continue 
its oversight of the implementation of reforms to the national 
preparedness system by the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
(FEMA) as required under the Post-Katrina Emergency Management 
Reform Act of 2006, as well as its oversight of FEMA's 
development of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System.

                  SUBCOMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS AND TRANSIT

    1. MAP-21 Implementation. The Moving Ahead for Progress in 
the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) reauthorized Federal surface 
transportation programs for the first time since 2005. Enacted 
in July of 2012, MAP-21 represents an investment in the 
Nation's transportation infrastructure that translates into 
safer travel, more efficient commerce, faster project approval 
and delivery, and the creation of thousands of jobs. A large 
part of the Subcommittee's oversight activities in the 113th 
Congress will focus on implementation of MAP-21, specifically 
in the following areas:
     Streamlining Project Delivery. MAP-21 reformed the 
project approval and delivery process for transportation and 
infrastructure projects. Time delays and inefficiencies in 
project delivery not only postpone needed improvements in our 
Nation's transportation infrastructure, but often result in 
increases in the cost of projects. MAP-21 streamlined this 
process by: allowing Federal agencies to carry out their 
obligations for a project concurrently with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental review for that 
project; instituting a financial penalty to each Federal agency 
that misses a deadline as part of the NEPA environmental review 
process; and providing categorical exclusions from the NEPA 
process for repair or reconstruction of an existing facility 
damaged by an emergency, for projects within the right-of-way, 
and for projects that receive limited Federal funding. Most 
significantly, MAP-21 requires that all environmental reviews 
for a project be completed within four years. The Subcommittee 
will monitor and evaluate DOT's implementation of these project 
delivery provisions.
     Program Consolidation and Elimination. MAP-21 
consolidated or eliminated nearly seventy DOT programs. Many of 
these programs served similar purposes and several of them were 
no longer necessary because the nature of our transportation 
system has changed over time. By consolidating some DOT 
programs and eliminating others, MAP-21 allows DOT to become 
more effective and efficient. The Subcommittee will monitor the 
implementation and effectiveness of program consolidation, as 
well as the organizational and staffing level changes at DOT, 
to ensure the agencies are structured and staffed in a way that 
is consistent with the changes made in MAP-21.
     Performance and Accountability. MAP-21 emphasized 
performance management by incorporating performance measures 
into the highway, transit, and highway safety programs. These 
performance measures will provide a more efficient Federal 
investment by focusing Federal funding on national 
transportation goals, increasing accountability and 
transparency, and improving transportation planning and project 
selection. These changes require state DOTs, localities, and 
public transit agencies to consider performance objectives in 
their transportation plans and project selection. The 
Subcommittee will monitor DOT's implementation of these 
performance management requirements, as well as the ability of 
states and public transit agencies to accurately collect and 
utilize relevant performance data.
     Efficient Movement of Freight. The United States 
economy relies heavily on the surface transportation network 
for the efficient movement of freight. MAP-21 recognizes the 
importance of freight movement to all aspects of American life 
and incentivizes projects that improve freight movement by 
increasing the Federal share for such projects. The 
Subcommittee will conduct oversight of freight-related issues 
and the relevant provisions in MAP-21 to determine whether the 
surface transportation network is adequately accommodating 
current and future freight movement needs.
     New Starts. MAP-21 streamlines the project 
development process for the New Starts program by setting time 
limits on environmental reviews and consolidating the steps the 
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) must take in the project 
approval process. The Subcommittee will continue to conduct 
oversight on FTA's management of the New Starts program to 
ensure that the MAP-21 reforms are implemented in a way that 
expedites the lengthy process of moving a new fixed guideway 
transit project through development and into construction. The 
Subcommittee will also monitor the New Starts program to 
determine whether further reforms are warranted.
     Transit Safety Oversight. Statistically, rail 
transit is among the safest modes of transportation. However, 
there have been some high profile rail transit accidents 
resulting in fatalities and injuries around the country in 
recent years. MAP-21 included several provisions related to 
transit safety. Rather than granting FTA broad regulatory 
authority, MAP-21 built on the transit State Safety Oversight 
model that was already established in law and provided a 
dedicated stream of Federal funding for the state agencies that 
oversee the safety of rail transit systems. MAP-21 also 
required each recipient of Federal transit funding to institute 
a public transportation agency safety plan before it can 
obligate Federal funding. The Subcommittee will closely oversee 
FTA's implementation of the transit safety provisions in MAP-21 
to ensure that it is being done in a way that is consistent 
with Congressional intent.
     Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program. 
MAP-21 establishes a public transportation emergency relief 
program to fund transit projects that have suffered damage as a 
result of a natural disaster or a catastrophic failure. This 
program may also fund transit operating expenses in areas 
impacted by a disaster or catastrophic failure if the area 
meets certain eligibility criteria. In October 2012, Hurricane 
Sandy caused substantial damage to transit systems in New 
Jersey and New York. However, in October 2012 FTA was still in 
the process of implementing the provisions in MAP-21 
establishing the Public Transportation Emergency Relief 
program. The Subcommittee will oversee the implementation of 
the Public Transportation Emergency Relief program to ensure 
that the program is being established and implemented in 
accordance with Congressional intent and to ensure that the 
funding distributed through the program meets the eligibility 
requirements in law. The Subcommittee will also evaluate 
funding expenditures from the Public Transportation Emergency 
Relief program to determine whether projects to mitigate the 
impacts of future disasters should be funded through the 
Emergency Relief program or through other FTA programs.
    2. Sustainability of Surface Transportation Programs. The 
Federal highway, highway safety, and public transportation 
programs are user-fee financed through Federal excise taxes 
levied on motor fuels and on various highway-related products 
such as tires and heavy trucks. Revenues from these user fees 
are deposited into the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) and may be used 
only for eligible transportation projects and activities. 
Current projections show that the cash balances in the HTF's 
Highway Account will be depleted sometime in fiscal year 2015, 
while the HTF's Mass Transit Account will be depleted at some 
point late in fiscal year 2014. The Subcommittee will monitor 
the status and solvency of the HTF, and its ability to fully 
fund the programs authorized under MAP-21 and to meet future 
surface transportation investment needs.
    3. Innovative Financing. In order to provide the greatest 
number of project financing options to state DOTs, Congress has 
focused on implementing innovative financing measures. The 
Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act 
(TIFIA) program, tolling options, and public-private 
partnerships (PPPs) are all tools that state DOTs can use when 
capitalizing surface transportation projects. The Subcommittee 
will continue to evaluate and determine the proper role that 
innovative financing tools and private investment may play in 
financing transportation projects and the factors that should 
be considered in making such determinations. The Subcommittee 
will also assess the extent to which states and localities are 
already using innovative techniques to finance projects and the 
extent to which states and localities have the fiscal and 
technical capacity to take advantage of these innovative 
financing options.
     Transportation Infrastructure Finance and 
Innovation Act. MAP-21 amended the TIFIA program in order to 
increase the impact and efficacy of these funds. MAP-21 
increased the eligible Federal share of TIFIA projects to 49 
percent, increased the amount of TIFIA funds to $1.75 billion 
over two years, made key reforms to ensure that funds were more 
readily available for projects that qualify for the TIFIA 
program, and eliminated the unofficial political ``super-
qualifications'' that were sometimes imposed on TIFIA 
applications. The Subcommittee will monitor how these changes 
are implemented and determine whether any further amendments 
are necessary to maximize the usefulness of this program, as 
well as DOT's management of the program and oversight of 
projects receiving TIFIA credit assistance.
     Tolling. MAP-21 also expanded the ability of 
states to collect toll revenue from facilities on the Federal-
aid highway system. Specifically, any project that adds new 
lane capacity to the Interstate System can be tolled. States 
continue to have the ability to toll roads that are not on the 
Interstate System. Toll revenues can be used for debt service 
for the project, operating costs of the toll facility, or, if 
the toll facility is adequately maintained, then the revenue 
can be used for any other highway or transit project for which 
Federal funds may be used. The Subcommittee will evaluate how 
DOT is implementing the tolling provisions in MAP-21 and how 
states use this expanded tolling authority and determine 
whether any further changes are warranted.
     Innovative Finance Guidance to State and Local 
Governments. MAP-21 requires that DOT develop best practices 
for how state and local governments can work with the private 
sector to develop, finance, construct, and operate surface 
transportation projects in a manner that advances the public 
interest. While the decision to pursue a PPP is a state or 
local decision, MAP-21 requires DOT to provide technical 
assistance to states and local officials who are interested in 
pursuing PPPs for transportation projects. The Subcommittee 
will monitor DOT to ensure that they are providing requisite 
guidance to state and local governments interested in PPPs.
    4. Transportation Planning and Major Construction Projects. 
The Subcommittee will conduct oversight of statewide and 
metropolitan transportation planning, as well as major highway 
and transit construction projects. The Subcommittee will 
analyze the board structure of metropolitan planning 
organizations (MPOs) to determine whether they contain a 
requisite level of technical expertise. Furthermore, the 
Subcommittee will examine the relationship between MPOs and 
state DOTs and public transit agencies to determine the 
appropriate level of interaction and cooperation between these 
three entities. As part of the Subcommittee's oversight of 
transportation planning, major surface transportation 
construction projects will also be examined to ensure that the 
planned cost for these projects is not being overrun. Many of 
the Nation's largest transportation projects experience 
significant cost overruns, and the Subcommittee will 
investigate these overruns to determine if they are due to 
changes in the construction market, project mismanagement, or 
other causes.
    5. Compliance, Safety, Accountability Program. The Federal 
Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) identified 
limitations in its compliance and enforcement model used to 
measure the safety performance of motor carriers and target 
carriers for enforcement by the agency. On December 13, 2010, 
FMCSA launched its new Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) 
Program, which uses existing safety data collected by FMCSA and 
state agencies to better target enforcement activities at truck 
and bus companies that have a history of safety violations. 
FMCSA believes that CSA will allow them to ``do more with 
less'' by identifying high risk companies, focusing resources 
where they are most needed, and improving the safety records of 
those companies. During the 112th Congress, the Subcommittee 
held a hearing on the effectiveness of the CSA program and the 
impacts on truck and bus companies. As a result of the hearing, 
the Subcommittee requested an audit of the program by the DOT's 
Inspector General. The requested date for completion of the 
audit is late 2013, and the Subcommittee will continue to 
monitor developments with the CSA program.
    6. Hours of Service. Since 1937, the Federal Government has 
set limits on the number of hours commercial drivers may be on 
duty and spend behind the wheel in order to promote the safety 
of truck and bus operations. On January 4, 2003, in response to 
a Congressional mandate enacted in 1995, FMCSA published new 
hours-of-service (HOS) regulations for all property-carrying 
interstate motor carrier operators. The HOS rules have been the 
subject of ongoing litigation since 2003. On December 27, 2011, 
FMCSA issued a final rule revising the HOS requirements for 
commercial truck drivers. The new HOS final rule limits a truck 
driver's work week to 70 hours and stipulates that drivers 
cannot drive after working eight hours without first taking a 
break of at least 30 minutes. In addition, the rule requires 
truck drivers to take a ``34-hour restart'' in order to restart 
the clock on their work week. The ``34-hour restart'' provision 
must overlap during two periods between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. 
The new HOS regulations become effective on July 1, 2013. The 
trucking industry has raised concerns that the proposed changes 
are overly complex, potentially reducing productivity. Law 
enforcement personnel have questioned whether the rules will 
require additional training for effective enforcement. The 
Subcommittee will maintain close oversight of the rulemaking 
process to ensure it furthers FMCSA's primary mission of 
safety, while ensuring the efficient movement of freight 
throughout the U.S. economy.
    7. Highway Safety and Traffic Fatalities and Injuries. The 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 
that highway fatalities fell to 32,367 in 2011, marking the 
lowest level since 1949 and a 1.9 percent decrease from the 
previous year. This represents a 26 percent decline in traffic 
fatalities overall since 2005. However, fatalities increased in 
2011 among large truck occupants (20 percent), bicyclists (8.7 
percent), pedestrians (3.0 percent), and motorcycle riders (2.1 
percent). Highway fatalities have high societal costs. 
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) 
estimates, the average cost of a roadway fatality is $6 million 
and the average cost of a roadway injury is $126,000. The 
Subcommittee will monitor the efforts and effectiveness of 
programs carried out by NHTSA, FMCSA and FHWA to improve 
highway safety.
    8. Innovative Technologies. The Subcommittee will provide 
oversight on the development and demonstration of new 
transportation technologies that improve efficiency and safety 
on our Nation's highways and transit systems. Research in this 
area will help create jobs by encouraging development of 
sophisticated technologies that many state DOTs and localities 
could implement on their roads, transit systems, and bridges. 
Implementation of these technologies can improve operational 
performance of the surface transportation network, which allows 
for the better use of the existing capacity on roads and 
transit systems. DOT is currently researching connected vehicle 
technologies, which are designed to increase situational 
awareness and reduce or eliminate crashes through vehicle-to-
vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure data transmission that 
supports: driver advisories, driver warnings, and vehicle and 
infrastructure controls. The Subcommittee will monitor 
developments in this area and ensure that such developments 
maximize the efficiency of the Nation's transportation system 
and the safety of its users to ensure the research carried out 
under these programs achieves the objectives established by 
Congress, and is being conducted and deployed in an effective 
manner.
    9. Research Structure at the Department of Transportation. 
The Department of Transportation's research, development, and 
technology program is established to foster innovations leading 
to effective, integrated, and intermodal transportation 
solutions. MAP-21 established the following objectives for DOT 
research activities: improving highway safety, improving 
infrastructure integrity, strengthening transportation planning 
and environmental decision making, reducing congestion, 
improving highway operation, enhancing freight productivity, 
and exploratory advanced research. The Research and Innovative 
Technology Administration (RITA) oversees the Intelligent 
Transportation Systems (ITS) program. RITA's Joint Program 
Office has Department-wide authority in coordinating the ITS 
program and initiatives among FHWA, FMCSA, FTA, and NHTSA, as 
well as the Federal Railroad Administration, and the Maritime 
Administration. Research activities at DOT are scattered among 
many different agencies and offices. Concerns have been raised 
in regards to how this structure affects the overall research 
effectiveness of the Department. The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight activities to determine the appropriate way to 
administer the Department's research programs.

     SUBCOMMITTEE ON RAILROADS, PIPELINES, AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

    1. DOT Fiscal Year 2014 and 2015 Budgets. The Subcommittee 
will review and evaluate the fiscal year 2014 and fiscal year 
2015 budget proposals for the Federal Railroad Administration 
(FRA), Amtrak, the Surface Transportation Board, the Railroad 
Retirement Board, the National Mediation Board, and the 
Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 
(PHMSA).
    2. Reauthorization of the Federal Railroad Administration's 
Safety Program. The FRA's rail safety program was last 
authorized in the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA), 
which expires at the end of fiscal year 2013. In preparation 
for reauthorizing the FRA safety programs, the Subcommittee 
will conduct oversight on FRA's enforcement and rulemaking 
activities since the last authorization in RSIA, as well as the 
various safety laws that govern railroad operations.
    3. Reauthorization of the Federal Railroad Administration's 
Rail Infrastructure Programs. The FRA also administers several 
rail infrastructure programs, including the Railroad 
Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan program, 
the High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) program, and 
the Rail Line Relocation and Improvement Capital Grant (RLR) 
program. RRIF is a direct and guaranteed loan program for rail 
and rail-intermodal infrastructure projects with $35 billion in 
loan authority. The HSIPR program is a consolidation of two 
capital grant programs authorized in the Passenger Rail 
Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA)--the intercity 
passenger rail service grants to states, and the high-speed 
rail corridor development grants. These programs were 
appropriated a total of $10.1 billion and 99 percent of the 
funds have been obligated as of December 2012. The RLR program 
is a state grant program to aid in the mitigation of adverse 
effects caused by the presence of rail infrastructure. A total 
of $90 million has been appropriated to the program and all 
funding has been awarded. The Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight of these rail infrastructure programs, with a view 
toward reauthorization.
    4. Reauthorization of Amtrak. The Amtrak Reform and 
Accountability Act of 1997 fundamentally altered the statutory 
status of Amtrak, a corporation, by freeing Amtrak from a 
variety of detailed statutory restrictions governing the 
company's route system, capital structure, labor relations, and 
corporate governance. In 2008, PRIIA established more reforms 
and operational improvements along with authorizing 
appropriations for Amtrak capital grants, operating grants, and 
the Amtrak Inspector General. The Subcommittee will examine 
various aspects of Amtrak's performance with a view to 
reauthorization.
    5. Pipeline Safety Programs. The Pipeline Safety, 
Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 reauthorized 
Federal pipeline safety programs through fiscal year 2015. It 
provides for enhanced safety and reliability in pipeline 
transportation and ensures regulatory certainty, which will 
help create a positive environment for job development. The 
legislation was enacted on January 3, 2012. The Subcommittee 
will conduct oversight of the Office of Pipeline Safety at 
PHMSA regarding implementation of the Act.
    6. Hazardous Materials Safety Programs. The Moving Ahead 
for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) reauthorized 
PHMSA's hazardous materials safety programs. MAP-21 secured 
regulatory reforms, enhanced hazardous materials safety and 
enforcement, improved training, data collection, and research. 
As PHMSA's Office of Hazardous Materials Safety continues 
implementation of MAP-21, the Subcommittee will conduct 
oversight on that progress.

            SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

    1. Clean Water Act and Water Infrastructure Programs. The 
Subcommittee will conduct oversight of wastewater treatment and 
water pollution control funding issues, including levels and 
sources of funding and management of grant and loan programs; 
wastewater security; and infrastructure needs. Oversight also 
will include a review of the effectiveness of watershed, 
market, and performance-based approaches to addressing local 
water pollution concerns; issues involving the development and 
implementation of total maximum daily loads, water quality 
standards, effluent limitations, and permitting; nutrients 
policies under the Clean Water Act; data quality issues; and 
continued efforts to improve the management of combined and 
sanitary sewer overflows, stormwater, and nonpoint source 
pollution. Additionally, the Subcommittee's oversight will 
include a review of the Environmental Protection Agency's 
implementation of integrated approaches to municipal stormwater 
and wastewater management through EPA's integrated planning 
approach framework. The Subcommittee will investigate whether 
non-regulatory approaches, such as market-based approaches and 
other innovative approaches undertaken by state and local 
governments, may result in improvements to the environment. The 
Subcommittee may review the implications of addressing certain 
pollutant discharges, including discharges of pesticides, 
ballast water, incidental discharges from vessels, stormwater, 
and water transfers, through traditional Clean Water Act 
permitting requirements.
    Continued improvement of water quality will likely require 
a combination of regulatory and non-regulatory approaches, as 
well as continued investment in water infrastructure programs. 
The Subcommittee will pursue and examine finding innovative 
ways to finance new and replacement of old water infrastructure 
projects; providing states, counties, and towns with additional 
tools and flexibility to address local environmental 
challenges; and demanding increased efficiency from Federal 
expenditures.
    2. Army Corps of Engineers Water Resources Program. The 
Subcommittee will review efforts to improve the efficiency and 
effectiveness of the organization and the management and 
mission of the civil works program of the Army Corps of 
Engineers (Corps), including the selection, planning, and 
implementation of water resources projects; financing of harbor 
and inland waterways infrastructure, and utilization of large, 
medium, and small harbors; the backlog of uninitiated Corps 
construction projects, including prioritization of projects; 
asset management of projects in its operation and maintenance 
account, including existing and future levels of service; and 
efforts to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and 
consistent implementation of the Agency's regulatory programs, 
including those pertaining to wetlands (including the scope and 
procedural and substantive requirements of the permitting 
programs) and dredging activities. The Subcommittee will review 
the Corps' implementation of provisions of the Water Resources 
Development Act of 2007, including those that were intended to 
streamline the project planning process.
    Continued investments in our Nation's infrastructure will 
create jobs and support a healthy economy. The Subcommittee 
will focus on getting projects for the Nation built more 
efficiently and cost effectively, thereby more quickly 
delivering project benefits to the public, while ensuring 
compliance with existing planning and environmental laws.
    3. EPA--Superfund/Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act and Brownfields. The 
Subcommittee will review efforts to improve the efficiency and 
effectiveness of the contaminated site cleanup process and the 
process of assessing natural resources damages; review the 
liability, financing, and settlement mechanisms and procedures 
under the current Superfund program, including implementation 
of the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields 
Revitalization Act; review the role of the states in conducting 
and financing cleanups; review the relationships among the 
states, EPA, and other Federal entities in implementing the 
Superfund/Brownfields program; and review ongoing Federal, 
state, and local efforts to revitalize brownfields, including 
implementation of the expired Small Business Liability Relief 
and Brownfields Revitalization Act.
    Brownfields and Superfund sites drive down property values 
and tax revenues and are a major blight on many of our cities 
and towns. The Subcommittee will work to promote state, local, 
and private efforts to clean up and redevelop Superfund and 
brownfields sites.
    4. Tennessee Valley Authority. The Subcommittee will review 
the management of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and its 
programs, including its energy program and operations in the 
current marketplace and the impact of TVA debt on its long-term 
goals.
    Until mid-2006, the Tennessee Valley Authority had made 
significant payments on its long-term debt in an attempt to 
reduce its total financing obligations. Since 2006, however, 
TVA's debt has begun to steadily climb to levels that may place 
the taxpayer at risk. TVA's debt is statutorily capped at $30 
billion and at the end of fiscal year 2012 carried just over 
$25 billion in total debt. The Subcommittee will initiate a 
review of TVA's commitment to long-term financial 
sustainability to lessen the risk posed to bondholders, 
ratepayers, and the taxpayer.
                     COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS

                            OVERSIGHT AGENDA

    The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs conducts its 
oversight with the help of four Subcommittees: Oversight and 
Investigations; Economic Opportunity; Disability Assistance and 
Memorial Affairs; and Health. It is expected that oversight of 
the issues outlined below will be a shared responsibility of 
both the full Committee and the appropriate Subcommittees.

                     JOBS AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

    1. Licensing and Certification Barriers--The inability of 
servicemembers to quickly translate skills learned in the 
military to post-service employment remains a serious 
impediment to getting qualified workers into civilian-
equivalent jobs. The Committee will continue to oversee the 
efforts of the Departments of Labor and Defense in working with 
States and credentialing bodies to break down these barriers.
    2. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training 
Service (VETS)--In evaluating VETS' programs, the Committee 
will focus on interagency cooperation between VETS and the 
Department of Veterans Affairs' Vocational Rehabilitation and 
Employment (VRE) program to assess the effectiveness of 
combined efforts to place disabled veterans into jobs. We will 
also take a detailed look at the performance of the State Grant 
Program with an emphasis on promoting more consistent results. 
The Committee will also look into the overall effectiveness and 
timeliness of the information provided by employment assistance 
programs to veterans.
    The Committee will oversee the redesign of the Transition 
Assistance Program (TAP) for those leaving military service. 
Specifically, we intend to conduct a continuing review of the 
content of TAP provided under the mandatory attendance 
provisions of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011. The Committee 
will continue to conduct on-site visits to observe TAP classes 
and to gauge revision and deployment of the TAP curriculum.
    3. Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment--VA's 
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VRE) program provides 
veterans with service-connected disabilities the ability to 
obtain and maintain suitable employment, and enables certain 
other disabled veterans to achieve independence in daily 
living. The Committee will examine VRE's recent efforts to 
implement its 5-track program throughout the 57 regional 
offices. We will also focus on VRE's referral of rehabilitated 
veterans to the state employment services for job placement.
    4. Employment of National Guard and Reserve Members--The 
Committee will review the efforts of the Department of Labor 
and VA in facilitating employment opportunities to veterans, 
with a focus on recently separated service members returning 
from Iraq and Afghanistan, including demobilizing Reserve and 
National Guard personnel.
    5. Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)--The Committee 
will continue to provide oversight of SCRA compliance, with 
emphasis upon violations by financial institutions overcharging 
on mortgages, improperly foreclosing, and depriving military 
families of the protections afforded under SCRA.
    6. GI Bill--The Committee will continue monitoring VA's 
efforts to implement the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational 
Assistance with an emphasis on simplifying administration of 
the benefit. We will also examine ways to improve the delivery 
of all veterans' and survivors' education benefits. The 
Committee will also explore efforts to track long-term outcomes 
as well as compile data regarding the transferability of 
benefits.
    7. Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP)--Under the 
VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, VRAP offers up to 12 months of 
training for in-demand occupations to 99,000 unemployed 
veterans between 35 and 60 years old. The Committee will 
conduct continuing oversight of the roles of the state 
employment agencies, the Department of Labor, and VA in the 
application, approval and enrollment, and training of 
participants. Most importantly, we will monitor whether 
veterans who have been trained through VRAP actually receive 
employment in the high-demand jobs for which they've been 
trained.
    8. Reserve Component Transition Assistance and the 
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act 
(USERRA)--USERRA ensures that Guard and Reserve members are 
able to return to their civilian jobs following deployment. The 
Committee will assess the effectiveness of USERRA with special 
emphasis on employers' willingness to hire National Guard and 
Reserve members and employment-related issues related to 
returning to the workforce following activation, as well as 
issues related enforcement.
    9. State Approving Agencies (SAA)--SAAs approve educational 
programs to ensure that veterans' GI Bill resources are used 
only for legitimate purposes. The Committee will examine the 
SAAs' performance in ensuring compliance with VA policies and 
procedures, as well as educating school personnel, preventing 
fraud, and discovering questionable recruiting practices. We 
will examine how SAAs can become more accountable for the 
funding they receive from VA.
    10. Small Business Contracting Goals for Veteran and 
Service-Connected Disabled Business Owners--Overall, the 
Federal government continues to fall short in meeting the three 
percent procurement goal for service disabled veteran-owned 
small businesses (SDVOSB). In 2006, Congress passed Public Law 
109-461 which provided SDVOSB and veteran-owned small 
businesses (VOSB) several advantages in contracting with VA as 
well as additional tools for VA to contract with SDVOSB and 
VOSB. The Committee will continue its oversight of VA's 
progress implementing the small business provisions of P.L. 
109-461.
    11. VA Loan Guaranty Program--The Committee will review 
veterans' loan programs to determine whether existing laws, 
regulations and VA initiatives are sufficient to reduce 
foreclosures on veteran-owned homes. The Committee will include 
the views of the mortgage industry and other real estate 
experts to see if improvements can be made to the existing 
system including additional protections for mortgagors. We will 
also review VA operations in the secondary market, to include 
VA's Vendee Loan program.
    12. Paralympics--To foster the use of sports as part of 
rehabilitation, Public Law 110-389 authorized VA to provide a 
grant to the US Paralympic program to promote development of 
adaptive sports programs for disabled veterans from the 
grassroots to elite, competitive levels. The Committee will 
review VA's Paralympics grant program with an emphasis on the 
results of grassroots adaptive sports programs.
    13. Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs--The 
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) is an 
enforcement agency within the Department of Labor. In addition 
to other equal employment laws, OFCCP enforces the Vietnam Era 
Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA). The law 
requires that employers with Federal contracts of $100,000 or 
more provide equal opportunity and affirmative action for 
certain veterans. The Federal government awards prime 
contractors worth approximately $200 billion per year. The 
Committee will examine OFCCP's recent investigatory and 
enforcement actions related to VEVRAA, staffing matters, and 
the general complaint process.

                              HEALTH CARE

    1. Veterans Choice and Access to Fee Care--The Committee 
will examine the availability and means through which the 
Veterans Health Administration provides care to eligible 
veterans whose access to traditional medical services is 
limited by geography, disability, or other challenges. 
Specifically, the Committee is concerned about the 
implementation of two new national initiatives--the Patient 
Centered Community Care (PCCC) and Non-VA Care Coordination 
(NVCC) programs--both of which would make significant changes 
to VA's fee care program. Serious issues have been raised about 
the validity and accuracy of the business case and cost-benefit 
analysis VA used to develop PCCC and NVCC and whether their 
implementation will perpetuate the current broken fee care 
system. The Committee will also conduct oversight of the 
provision of dialysis services in regard to a May 2012 
Government Accountability Office report that found substantial 
weaknesses in the execution of the planning and early 
implementation phases of the ongoing VA Dialysis Pilot Program.
    2. Mental Health Care Quality, Access, and Staffing--The 
Committee will conduct rigorous oversight of the provision of 
mental health care to veteran patients. Serious questions have 
been raised about VA's ability to provide timely, effective, 
and accessible mental health care and benefits to veterans 
especially those struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS). 
An April 2012 VA Inspector General (IG) report exposed serious 
deficiencies with the accuracy and reliability of VA to 
determine whether or not VA's mental health care access goals 
are being met and are appropriate measures of quality care. 
Among the issues we will explore are: VA's efforts to establish 
usable data to assess patient demand, patient waiting times, 
appropriate staffing levels, and clinic capacity; VA's progress 
in hiring additional mental health staff; the usability and 
effectiveness of mental health provider performance and 
productivity measures; partnerships and collaborations with 
community providers to address service gaps; and, systematic 
issues impeding patient wellness.
    3. Beneficiary Travel--The Committee will evaluate the 
administration of VA's beneficiary travel program to include 
overall program accountability, the management of funds, and 
the manner of payments to eligible veterans. We will also 
oversee the implementation of section 104 of Public Law 112-
154, which directs VA to conduct a three-year pilot program to 
assess the feasibility and advisability of extending 
beneficiary travel for veterans obtaining care at Vet Centers.
    4. Caring for Veterans with Amputations--The Committee will 
continue to closely monitor and assess the provision of care to 
veterans with amputations. VA faces documented challenges in 
meeting the needs of younger and more active veterans with 
amputations with the latest technology and providing a strong 
system-wide prosthetic limb program that is consistent and 
coordinated. In the 112th Congress, the Committee held several 
hearings that exposed troubling concerns among veterans with 
amputations and community-based clinicians about the impact new 
VA policies on the approval of advanced technologies and the 
veteran's choice to utilize a community-based provider. Among 
the issues we will assess is the implementation and impact of 
prosthetic procurement reforms. Serious concerns have been 
raised by veterans with amputations and other stakeholders that 
VA's planned prosthetic procurement reforms will take 
prosthetic purchasing authority away from prosthetic 
specialists and transfer it to contracting officers, which 
would lead to substantial delays in care and clinical judgments 
regarding veterans' needs being overridden by individuals with 
little to no experience in prosthetic care.
    5. Guide and Service Dogs--The Committee will closely 
monitor the implementation of section 109 of Public Law 112-
154, which prohibits VA from denying the use of service dogs 
in, or on, any VA facility or property or any facility or 
property that receives VA funding. Contrary to the intent of 
Congress, concerns have been raised that this provision could 
prevent veterans with owner-trained or otherwise 
``unaccredited'' service dogs from accessing VA property. The 
Committee will also assess the implementation of regulations 
that provide veterans with visual, hearing, or mobility 
impairments with benefits to support the use of a service dog 
as part of the management of such impairments. In particular, 
we will closely monitor a recently suspended study to assess 
the benefits of providing service dogs to veterans with PTSD.
    6. Sexual Assault Prevention and Safety Measures--The 
Committee will closely monitor the implementation of section 
106 of Public Law 112-154, which directs VA to develop and 
implement a comprehensive policy on reporting, tracking, and 
prevention of sexual assault and other safety incidents at VA 
medical facilities. In June 2011, the Government Accountability 
Office issued a report which found 284 allegations of sexual 
assault in VA facilities between 2007 and 2010 resulting from 
significant deficiencies in risk assessment, reporting, 
tracking and oversight by VA leadership. The Committee will 
ensure that corrective actions are in place to effectively and 
efficiently respond to any and all unsafe incidents and ensure 
the safety of VA patients and employees. (Continuation of 
efforts from the 112th Congress.)
    7. Strategic and Policy Implications of the Affordable Care 
Act--The Committee will examine the impact of Public Law 111-
148, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), on 
the VA healthcare system. VA healthcare has been deemed to meet 
``minimum essential coverage'' requirements under the law. 
Nevertheless, the enactment of the ACA carries significant 
strategic and policy implications for VA, including potential 
impacts regarding VA enrollment and utilization, information 
technology and data collection requirements, and workforce 
recruitment and retention efforts.
    8. Women Veterans--The Committee will evaluate VA's 
progress in increasing access and overcoming barriers 
associated with health care quality and satisfaction for women 
veterans, the fastest growing segment of the veteran 
population. Among the many issues the Committee will focus on 
are the implementation of provisions in Public Law 111-163 
aimed to assist women veterans, including readjustment and 
child care pilot programs and the activities and 
recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans.
    9. Medical Recruitment, Retention and Staffing--VA faces a 
large nursing shortage in the next several years. The Committee 
will review efforts being made by the VA to recruit, hire and 
train medical staff. Of particular interest will be the recent 
contract to reintegrate and retain veterans at all levels in 
the VA.
    10. Support for Families and Caregivers--The Committee will 
continue to monitor the implementation of the caregiver 
assistance programs established in Public Law 111-163, the 
Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act. Among the 
issues are the provision of stipend payments, mental health 
care services, respite care, and training.
    11. Management of Major Medical Facility Projects--The 
Committee will continue its aggressive oversight of VA 
leadership failures with regard to VA's capital asset planning, 
approval, and budgeting process and the execution of major 
medical facility construction projects. We will also examine 
the status of ongoing projects, to include Orlando, Florida; 
New Orleans, Louisiana; and Denver, Colorado; and assess issues 
with the management and oversight of facility design, 
construction, and activation which have led to significant cost 
increases and scheduling delays.
    12. Recovering Servicemembers and Veterans--The Committee 
will continue to aggressively look at the VA and DOD systematic 
and persistent leadership, management, and oversight problems 
affecting the case management and care coordination of wounded 
warriors.
    13. Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) 
Structure--The Committee will examine the current VISN 
structure and ways to realign the VISNs to better manage 
performance, promote innovation, and establish uniformity of 
health care services and practices throughout the system. The 
VISN system has remained in place for fifteen years, with the 
only structural change taking place in 2002 when VISN 13 and 14 
were integrated and renamed VISN 23. With the rapid application 
of new information technology that has revolutionized the way 
we live, interact, and conduct business, the Committee will 
focus on opportunities to restructure the VISNs toward the goal 
of more patient-centered care.
    14. Medical and Prosthetic Research Program--The Committee 
will examine the value of VA research with respect to injuries 
and illnesses related to military service and the acceleration 
of discoveries and applications, especially for neurotrauma, 
sensory loss, amputation, polytrauma, and prosthetic needs. 
Among the issues we will also focus on are: the adequacy of 
research space and equipment and the development of a 
clearinghouse designed to promote VA and DOD researchers 
awareness collaboration and joint publication of research.--add 
in infrastructure
    15. Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT)--The Committee will 
provide aggressive oversight of the impact and effectiveness of 
a new initiative VA is implementing referred to as PACT which 
is intended to increase access, coordination, communication, 
and continuity of care by allowing patients to have a dedicated 
primary care team and a more active role in their health care.
    16. Pain Management--The Committee will examine VHA's pain 
management strategy. Managing pain is an increasingly 
significant issue, especially for recently returning combat 
veterans presenting with a wide range of physical and mental 
health problems, including musculoskeletal ailments and post 
traumatic stress. The Committee will focus on: pain awareness, 
education, intervention; utilization of best practices for the 
continuum of acute and chronic pain; and the challenge of 
prescription drug diversion and abuse.
    17. VA Partnerships With Faith-based and Community 
Organizations--The Committee will continue to examine the role 
of community providers and faith-based organizations in helping 
servicemembers transition to civilian life and the need to 
foster better communication, education, and collaboration 
between VA and these critical community resources. 
Specifically, the Committee will focus on VA's relationship 
with community organizations and actions necessary to establish 
meaningful and effective partnerships to better support 
veterans in their home communities. We will also closely 
monitor the implementation of Section 3 of the Executive Order 
on Improving Access to Mental Health Services for Veterans, 
Servicemembers, and Military Families, which directs VA and the 
Department of Health and Human Services to establish pilot 
projects to test the effectiveness of community partnerships in 
helping to meet the mental health needs of veterans.
    18. Vet Centers--The Committee will examine the services 
provided to servicemembers, veterans, and their families 
through Vet Centers and evaluate the role of such centers 
within the larger VA health care system. The Committee will 
also address the implementation of Section 304 of Public Law 
111-163, the Caregiver and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act 
of 2010, which requires VA to establish a program to provide 
mental health services to immediate family members of returning 
veterans particularly those who served in the National Guard 
and Reserve, and section 401, which made active-duty 
servicemembers eligible to receive readjustment counseling at 
VA Vet Centers.
    19. Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Veterans 
Affairs (VA) Electronic Health Records and Interoperability--
The Committee has and will continue to devote substantial 
attention to health information sharing between DOD and VA, 
understanding the need for this sharing to support the 
transition from active duty to veterans status. However, VA and 
DOD face significant challenges in achieving long-term data 
sharing capability. While the two Departments have developed a 
strategy at the higher levels, both Departments lack objective, 
quantifiable, and measurable goals to assess their success in 
achieving full electronic health record interoperability and VA 
and DOD lack mechanisms for identifying and implementing 
efficient and effective information technology solutions to 
jointly address both Departments' common health care system 
needs.
    20. Homeless Veterans Programs--The Committee will continue 
to provide meaningful oversight of VA's plan to end 
homelessness among the veteran population by 2015 and assure 
that homeless veterans gain access to the supportive services 
and meaningful employment they need to reintegrate into stable 
community environments. In particular, the Committee will work 
to ensure that VA's efforts regarding homeless veterans are 
sustainable and focused on the elimination of the factors 
underlying homelessness, including the aggressive diagnosis and 
treatment of mental health issues and substance use disorder. 
The Committee will also assess the use, effectiveness, and any 
duplication of the specialized programs to assist homeless 
veterans and examine ways to strengthen VA's ability to prevent 
at-risk veterans from becoming homeless.
    21. Camp Lejeune Veterans and Family Members--The Committee 
will monitor the implementation of section 102 of Public Law 
112-154, which provides hospital care, medical services, and 
nursing home care through the VA to certain veterans and their 
eligible family members who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, 
North Carolina, from January 1, 1957 to December 31, 1987, 
during which time the well water was contaminated. These 
veterans are eligible to receive medical care for the following 
fifteen illnesses or conditions: esophageal cancer; lung 
cancer; breast cancer; bladder cancer; kidney cancer; leukemia; 
multiple myeloma; myleodysplasic syndromes; renal toxicity; 
hepatic steatosis; female infertility; miscarriage; 
scleroderma; neurobehavioral effects; and non-Hodgkin's 
lymphoma, although the law acknowledges that there is 
insufficient medical evidence to conclude that any particular 
illnesses are attributable to military service during that 
period. The VA will be the final payer to other third-party 
health insurance plans for eligible family members.
    22. Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) and Traumatic Brain Injury 
(TBI)--The subcommittee will continue to investigate the role 
of post traumatic stress and/or brain injury with veteran 
suicides, including overmedication (chronic pain management) 
and other treatment plans. In the 112th Congress, O&I 
identified more than 2000 studies and projects, in both DoD and 
VA, related to PTS and TBI. Scores of these programs were 
duplicative.
    23. Gulf War Illness--Early in CY 2013, the Institute of 
Medicine will publish its latest studies on the relationship 
between Gulf War service (1990-1991), environmental and 
chemical exposure, and a host of illnesses that plague veterans 
from that war. Although service connection has been established 
for some health issues, VA is not properly utilizing the Gulf 
War Registry, nor is it connecting veteran reported illnesses 
to Gulf War service. This lack of attention to detail prevents 
veterans from receiving medical care for service related issues 
including sleep disturbances, heart problems, and memory 
failure.
    24. Veterans Courts--Many states have given veterans with 
legal troubles the opportunity to have their cases heard and 
resolved through special courts which liaise with community 
resources and VA to address the root causes of veterans' legal 
problems, e.g., substance abuse, PTSD, etc. In return for 
seeking and sustaining treatment for these issues, veterans are 
given the ability to keep their record clean and resolve their 
underlying issues. The Committee will assess VA's role in 
cooperating with these courts and monitor effectiveness.
    25. Telehealth and Telemedicine--The Committee will assess 
the VA's ongoing efforts as to provide greater access to 
telehealth and telemedicine as part of its overall outreach to 
rural veterans as well as looking into the effectiveness of 
these programs in providing greater access and quality health 
care.

                    ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY

    1. VA Budget Transparency--The Committee will continue to 
oversee the sufficiency and transparency of VA's budget and 
budgeting process. We will ensure that appropriated dollars are 
used for their intended purpose and not diverted to other uses 
without Congressional awareness and assent. This oversight will 
include every appropriation account and all programs under 
those accounts. The Committee also plans to explore VA's 
planning, programming, budgeting and execution efforts as well 
as fiscal management and control issues.
    2. VA's Acquisition Process--VA continues to spend billions 
annually for the procurement pharmaceuticals, medical and 
surgical supplies, prosthetic devices, information technology, 
construction, and services. VA still faces major challenges 
implementing a more efficient, effective, and coordinated 
acquisition program. The Committee will review VA's procurement 
practices, and discuss possible legislative remedies. In VA 
construction, the Committee will address the prevalent practice 
of contractors increasing their profits by submitting change 
orders through proposed legislation that will stipulate that if 
the actual contract price (e.g. construction on major medical 
facility) exceeds x% of authorized amount, contractor must 
cover difference.
    3. Competitive Sourcing and Alternative Management 
Systems--The VA is implementing the President's Management 
Agenda and Office of Management and Budget Directives through 
competitive sourcing and alternative management systems. The 
Committee is interested in the factual basis for the conduct of 
this program and the organizational benefits yielded.
    4. Energy Sustainability and Efficiencies--The Committee 
will continue to conduct oversight on VA's progress with 
sustainability and energy efficiencies at the various VA 
locations to include VA health care facilities and National 
Cemeteries. The examination will include a focused look at how 
the VA has spent funding authorized to enhance sustainability 
and efficiency programs and whether the funding is being well 
spent and the savings touted by VA are quantifiable.
    5. Fund Programs--The Committee will utilize a forensic 
accountant to conduct a detailed review of VA's medical care 
collection fund (including demonstrations, consolidations and 
outsourcing initiatives), the Supply Fund, the ADVANCE Fund, 
the VA plus One Fund, the Franchise Fund and others as 
identified. Of concern is how VA moves money to and from these 
funds, how they are categorized (whether obligated or 
unobligated) and whether or not this money is properly revealed 
to Congress.
    6. Consolidated Patient Accounting System (CPAC)--The 
Committee will continue to conduct oversight on VA's 
consolidation of VHA's business office functions into seven 
regional centers. The examination will focus on the 
transformation of VHA billing and collections activities, and 
to determine how closely VHA purports to be aligned with 
industry best practices.
    7. Evaluating Management Efficiencies--The VA plans to 
achieve specified savings each fiscal year by implementing 
various procedures to achieve cost avoidance. The Committee 
will examine the relationship of projected savings with 
demonstrated savings and assess the impact on delivery of 
quality services.
    8. Office of Resolution Management for EEO Complaints--
Public Law 105-114, the Veterans Benefits Act of 1997, included 
a requirement that the Department of Veterans Affairs take 
actions to improve its equal employment opportunity program and 
created the Office of Resolution Management. The Committee will 
review the effectiveness of the Office of Resolution 
Management, but also notes the large increase in both EEO 
complaints and the financial burden for VA.
    9. National Archives and Records Administration--The 
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) maintain 
the military personnel records of discharged members of the 
Armed Forces. The Committee will examine the security of 
veteran records maintained at NARA to ascertain the protection 
of personal identifying information of our nation's veterans, 
as well as the transmittal of these records to VA in order to 
assist veterans in the claims process, and to help reduce the 
claims backlog.
    10. VA Information Technology Programs--The Committee will 
continue its oversight of VA's IT programs. We will pay 
specific attention to the progress of VA's integrated 
enterprise architecture plan and efforts to improve its 
internal and external cyber security, as well as review the 
effectiveness of the VA's Project Management Accountability 
System (PMAS) and the new T-4 information technology 
contracting process, which is a five-year Indefinite Delivery/
Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Multiple Award Task Order contract 
with a program ceiling of $12 billion.
    11. Proprietary and Sensitive Information--Aside from 
storing personally identifiable information for millions of 
veterans, VA's IT architecture also stores proprietary 
information related to VA research on science, health, and IT. 
VA has made efforts at improving IT security pertaining to PII, 
but efforts aimed at storing proprietary information have not 
received the same amount of scrutiny. Additionally, the 
Committee has tracked VA's underperforming supply chain risk 
management efforts related to the electronic health record, and 
this lack of progress has raised concerns in other areas of IT 
storage. The Committee will continue its oversight work in this 
area.
    12. VA's Fourth Mission, Emergency Management 
Capabilities--The events of September 11, 2001 as well as the 
Hurricanes in the Gulf Coast region in 2005 raised national 
awareness of the role of the Federal government in times of 
emergency or disaster. The Committee will continue its 
oversight of VA's role and responsibilities as part of the 
National Response Framework.
    13. VA Senior Executive Service Bonuses--The Committee will 
continue its oversight of VA's bonus practices for its Senior 
Executive Service employees, as well as review performance 
measures including Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
mandates.
    14. Credentialing and Screening of VA Healthcare 
Employees--The Committee will examine VA's implementation of 
Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommendations that 
indicated serious flaws in screening the professional 
credentials of VA healthcare practitioners.
    15. VA/DOD Benefits Delivery at Discharge Program--The 
Committee will evaluate DOD's utilization of a single 
examination that meets both military services' separation 
requirements and VA's disability compensation criteria. The 
Committee will also review VA's efforts to co-locate Veterans 
Benefits Administration and Veterans Health Administration 
personnel involved in compensation and pension claims 
processing to provide more efficient one-stop claims processing 
centers. Further, we will examine the effectiveness of the 
implementation of the integrated DoD/VA Disability Evaluation 
System (iDES).
    16. Electronic Health Records--VA and DOD, through their 
joint Health Executive Council, have developed a plan to create 
an interoperable electronic medical record first by 2005, and 
more recently by 2017. The Committee will review the progress 
that has been made in interoperability and the timely bi-
directional exchange of medical information.
    17. Human Subjects Protection Program--The Committee will 
continue to review programs that involve human subjects, 
including any effort that must be approved by an Independent 
Review Board, to ensure veterans are properly protected as 
necessary.
    18. Controlled Substances Security--The IG's Combined 
Assessment Program Reviews have repeatedly found material 
weaknesses in VA medical center security of controlled 
substances. Poor security or lack of security seriously 
increases the potential for waste, fraud, abuse, and drug 
diversion. The Committee will examine how VA is addressing this 
issue.
    19. Laboratory and Clinical Select Agent Security--VA Level 
3 Laboratories and all VA Medical Centers are host to various 
chemical, biological and radiological agents. The Subcommittee 
will review the security of these agents. This is an ongoing 
Committee interest.
    20. Workers' Compensation Program--The IG previously 
reported on VA's poor case management of workers' compensation 
claims. VA is at risk for program abuse, fraud, and unnecessary 
costs because it has not fully implemented IG recommendations 
issued in 1999. The Committee will examine what should be done 
to improve the Workers Compensation Program.
    21. Enhanced Land Leases and Divestment of Federal 
Property--The Committee will review the adequacy of internal 
controls related to leasing or selling of VA assets and assess 
the tangible benefit to taxpayers, as well as exploring how VA 
efforts fit into its overall capital asset strategic plan.
    22. Historic Properties--The Committee will review the use 
and condition of historic properties owned and operated by VA, 
and whether the Department can sustain the costs and 
maintenance involved with these properties in the future.
    23. Whistleblower--Whistleblowers continue to be a vital 
source of accurate and timely information. Protecting an 
employee's legal right to communicate with Congress is 
essential to oversight and this subcommittee looks to 
strengthen whistleblower protections. The Committee will 
continue to monitor VA's adherence to whistleblower 
protections.
    24. Profitability Spectrum--The Committee will continue to 
review profits acquired by VA for licensing department rooftop 
space for cell towers (more than $3 million in FY12), for 
patents (at least $391,894 in FY12), and land leases. We will 
also review how the money is being accounted for and 
distributed.
    25. Financial Management Systems--In 2004 VA scrapped its 
CoreFLS program after spending $249 million. VA's FLITE 
program, a replacement for the failed CoreFLS program, was 
stopped in 2010 after more than $90.8 million was spent. In 
February 2011 SAM was also cancelled after more than $20 
million. VA is in dire need of an updated financial management 
system. The Committee will continue to oversee and investigate 
any efforts to modernize VA's financial management system.
    26. VA Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs 
(OCLA)--Frequently inconsistent, incomplete, and untimely 
responses to requests for information from the Committee, along 
with a lack of established procedures within OCLA, warrant 
further review so the Committee can get the information 
necessary to perform its oversight.
    27. Conferences & Training--In 2011, VA spent over $100 
million on conferences. Inspector General reports suggest 
widespread waste in conference spending. The Committee will 
continue to investigate VA's exorbitant conferences and 
training costs.

                     BENEFITS AND MEMORIAL AFFAIRS

    1. Rating Schedule Hearing--The current rating schedule was 
created after WWII. VA has recently undertaken an effort to 
comprehensively revise all 15 body systems in the VASRD. In 
September 2012, GAO issued a report finding that VA was over 12 
months behind schedule on this update and lacked a complete 
plan for the updates. Therefore, the Committee will continue 
its oversight to keep VA on track in reforming the rating 
schedule and determine whether a focused study or new 
legislation (as suggested by GAO) should be introduced.
    2. Temporary/Total Ratings--A majority of the temporary 
total ratings handed down by VA Regional Offices have been 
found to be in error. Although VA initially attributed these 
errors to a computer glitch, VA OIG regional office audits 
continue to reveal a high error rate as to these claims. The 
Committee will oversee how best to address this issue in the 
interest of saving VA time and money.
    3. National Cemeteries Hearing--The Committee will examine 
the immediate and long-term needs of the VA National Cemetery 
Administration (NCA) and the American Battle Monuments 
Commission (ABMC) to provide burial or commemoration to 
America's fallen heroes. Specifically, the Committee will 
follow up on the NCA audit, as well as the VA OIG's audit of 
the NCA audit, to determine if all burial errors have been 
corrected and if NCA has executed proper management controls to 
prevent such errors in the future.
    4. VA's Transformation Plan--A Committee hearing was held 
last June on VA's Transformation Plan. At the hearing, VA did 
not present a cohesive plan for transforming the agency, but 
rather listed a conglomerate of loosely tied initiatives. The 
Committee has made numerous requests for a copy of the 
Transformation Plan with no response from VA. Continued 
oversight of this effort is essential.
    5. Call Center and eBenefits Issues--The various Call 
Centers have been a constant area of consternation for veterans 
who complain about long wait times, no call backs and incorrect 
information about their claims status from the representatives. 
Although VA tries to re-direct many of these veterans to 
eBenefits (an electronic means for veterans to obtain 
information on their claims), recent briefings from VA reveal 
that eBenefits is not updated in a timely manner and is not 
providing veterans with the most up to date casetracking 
information. Continued oversight of this effort is necessary.
    6. The Current Appeals Process--The Committee will continue 
to monitor the compensation and pension claims appeal process 
at the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA), the Appeals Management 
Center (AMC) and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims 
(CAVC). The Committee plans to focus on exploring avenues to 
simplify the current appeal process, increase accountability 
and reduce avoidable remands.
    7. Blue Water Navy--Vietnam veterans who served in the 
waters offshore Vietnam are ineligible for Agent Orange 
compensation on a presumptive basis unless VA has registered 
the ships on which they served as eligible for the presumption 
of exposure to Agent Orange. Although organizations advocating 
for these ``Blue Water Navy'' veterans have been working with 
VA to add many ships to its registry, many advocates are still 
pushing for full recognition for this group. The Committee will 
continue to oversee this issue.
    8. Filipino Veterans--Recently, the Obama administration 
indicated that it will undertake a review of denied Filipino 
veterans' claims. The Committee will examine this effort as it 
is unclear exactly what standard will be used to review denied 
claims.
    9. VBA Staffing and Productivity--Since 2007, VA has 
consistently requested additional staffing to keep up with the 
claims backlog, requiring significantly more funding. Although 
VA has added approximately 3,000 new claims processors in the 
last five years, the backlog has continued to increase, rather 
than decrease. Accordingly, the Committee will examine the 
impact of additional staffing on productivity at VA's regional 
offices, as well as other alternatives to addressing the 
backlog besides additional staffing.
    10. VA Insurance Programs--The potential for in-service 
medical conditions may make it difficult or even impossible for 
servicemembers to obtain private insurance; therefore VA 
administers a variety of life insurance programs for 
servicemembers and veterans. The Committee will continue to 
oversee the effectiveness of these programs, to include the 
benefits of automatic enrollment, the addition of new 
conditions covered by traumatic injury protection; and 
additional coverage options for family members.
    11. VA Pension Program--In the 112th Congress, it was 
revealed that VA's pension program was being abused in some 
instances because veterans were hiding assets in order to 
qualify for the program. In addition, a whistleblower report 
showed evidence of problems processing payments, including 
duplicate payments for some veterans. Therefore, the Committee 
will continue to oversee all aspects of the pension program to 
ensure that pension claims are processed efficiently and that 
veterans are receiving the proper payment amount.
    12. Claims Processing Consistency--Recent reports have 
revealed that timeliness and accuracy statistics for VA claims 
vary widely with regional offices in major metropolitan areas 
(such as Oakland, Los Angeles, and New York City) having far 
lower performance metrics than those in less populated areas 
(such as Lincoln, NE; Sioux Falls, SD; and Togus, ME). Although 
VA uses a brokering system to transfer claims from some lower 
performing regional offices to higher performing offices, 
rigorous oversight of this aspect of the claims process will 
ensure that similarly situated veterans are treated equally 
regardless of their physical location.
    13. Coordination Between VBA and VHA--Although both VBA and 
VHA are within VA, veterans often complain that there is little 
to no communication or meaningful collaboration between the two 
departments, often causing complications. Oversight of the 
communication and collaboration process between VBA and VHA 
will ensure a more effective ``big picture'' method for 
treating disabled veterans.
                      COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                  House of Representatives,
                                 Washington, DC, February 15, 2013.
Hon. Darrell Issa,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight & Government Reform,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Candice S. Miller,
Chairman, Committee on House Administration,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Chairman Issa and Chairman Miller: In accordance with 
the requirements of clause 2 of rule X of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the following is a list of oversight 
hearings and oversight-related activities that the Committee on 
Ways and Means and its Subcommittees plan to conduct during the 
113th Congress.
Matters Under the Committee's Federal Budget Jurisdiction
     Economic and Budget Outlook. Oversight hearings 
with various Administration officials to discuss current 
economic and budget conditions, including the long-term 
outlook, the state of the economy, prospects for recovery and 
long-term growth, our economic competitiveness, private sector 
job creation, and limits on the public debt.
Matters Under the Committee's Tax Jurisdiction
     Tax Reform. Hearings and other activities related 
to comprehensive tax reform.
     Priorities of the Department of the Treasury. 
Hearings with the Treasury Secretary and other Administration 
officials to receive information regarding the Administration's 
tax-related priorities for the 113th Congress. Specifically, 
discuss and consider legislative and administrative proposals 
contained in the President's fiscal year 2014 and 2015 budgets.
     Appropriate Tax Relief for Individuals, Families, 
and Employers. Hearings and other activities regarding 
appropriate tax relief measures for individual taxpayers, 
families, and employers of all sizes.
      Tax Provisions Contained in the ``Affordable Care 
Act'' (ACA). Hearings and other activities regarding various 
tax provisions contained in the Patient Protection and 
Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) and the Health Care and 
Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152), known 
collectively as the ACA. Continued oversight and other 
activities related to ACA tax provisions, including especially 
those scheduled for implementation in 2013 or 2014, such as the 
individual mandate, the employer mandate, the Exchange 
subsidies, the medical device tax, and the 3.8 percent surtax 
on capital gains, dividends, and other investment income.
     Internal Revenue Service Operations/Administration 
of Tax Laws. Oversight of the major Internal Revenue Service 
programs, including enforcement, collection, taxpayer services, 
returns processing, and information systems. Consider analyses 
and reports provided to the Congress by the IRS National 
Taxpayer Advocate, Treasury Inspector General for Tax 
Administration, and the GAO. Oversight of IRS funding and 
staffing levels needed to provide taxpayer assistance and 
enforce the tax law fairly, effectively and efficiently. 
Evaluate tax return filing seasons, including electronic 
filing, and improper payments levels and fraud prevention 
efforts. Discuss proposed funding and staffing levels for the 
IRS, and legislative proposals and administrative proposals 
contained in the President's fiscal year 2014 and 2015 budgets.
     Tax-Exempt Organizations. Oversight of Federal tax 
laws, regulations, and filing requirements that affect tax-
exempt organizations, particularly charities and foundations. 
Evaluate overall IRS efforts to monitor tax-exempt 
organizations, identify areas of non-compliance, prevent abuse, 
and ensure timely disclosure to the public about tax-exempt 
organization activities and finances. Review IRS tax-exempt 
application process and agency oversight of new exempt 
organizations.
     Tax Code and Tax Form Simplification. Oversight of 
tax code and tax form complexity, particularly for individuals, 
with the goal of simplification. Review areas where taxpayers 
and professional return preparers have difficulty, including 
areas where they make the most errors, and consider solutions. 
Evaluate simplification of information returns to assist 
taxpayers in determining taxable income. Examine proposals to 
close the ``tax gap'' by simplifying compliance with our tax 
laws.
     Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Oversight of the 
refundable federal income tax credit designed to assist low to 
moderate income working individuals and families. Evaluate the 
participation and improper payment rates within the program, 
and IRS efforts to eliminate EITC abuse.
     Tax Scams and Improper Payments. Oversight of the 
latest tax scams and tax fraud activities with a goal of 
protecting taxpayers and preventing identity theft. Examine IRS 
initiatives and efforts to curb tax fraud and the abuse of tax 
credits, specifically improper payments in the administration 
of tax credits. Review IRS processes designed to identify and 
remedy identity theft.
     Federal Excise Taxes. Oversight review of Federal 
excise taxes, credits, and refunds, including the trust funds 
financed by these taxes.
     Pensions and Retirement Security. Oversight review 
of the financial condition, operations, and governance of the 
Pension Benefit Corporation (``PBGC''), including financial 
exposure of the PBGC.

Matters Under the Committee's Health Jurisdiction

     Priorities of the Department of Health and Human 
Services. Oversight hearing with the Health and Human Services 
Secretary to discuss priorities for the 113th Congress and 
concerns related to the delivery of health services and 
reimbursement under Medicare. Specifically, discuss and 
consider legislative and administrative proposals contained in 
the President's fiscal year 2014 and 2015 budgets.
     Medicare Part A and Part B (Fee-for-Service 
Providers). Oversight of the major Medicare programs to ensure 
efficient use of resources, quality of care, and access to 
providers for Medicare beneficiaries. Specific topics include: 
adequacy and appropriateness of provider reimbursements, 
including incentive payments; program benefits; cost sharing; 
workforce supply; the doctor-patient relationship; treatment of 
specific populations such as people with disabilities and low-
income beneficiaries; quality improvement efforts; 
implementation of the ACA and related regulations; and waste, 
fraud, and abuse activities.
     Medicare Advantage. Oversight of Medicare health 
plans, including: enrollment; reimbursements; benefit packages; 
quality; beneficiary choice; and recent statutory and 
regulatory changes affecting Medicare health plans and their 
enrollees.
     Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Plans). 
Oversight of the Medicare prescription drug program, including: 
drug pricing; beneficiary premiums and cost-sharing; 
beneficiary choice; impacts of recently enacted legislation and 
regulations and their impact on the Part D program; and access 
to retiree prescription drug coverage.
     Medicare Entitlement. Oversight of program changes 
on the Medicare Trust Funds; premium and copay levels; and 
benefit design.
     CMS Administration. Oversight of CMS, including 
issuance of regulations and their impact on Medicare 
beneficiaries and providers; the adequacy and use of CMS' 
budget and staff; contracting activities; communications with 
beneficiaries; adherence to the Administrative Procedures Act; 
and general agency accountability.
     Private Health Insurance Coverage. Oversight and 
review of private health coverage, including: cost, access, 
subsidies to purchase insurance, benefit design, coverage 
options, pooling mechanisms, and employer-sponsored benefits; 
COBRA; HCTC; health savings accounts and flexible spending 
arrangements; options to reduce the cost of health coverage, 
expand coverage, and address the rate of increase in health 
care costs; the impact of the ACA and related regulations on 
those with private insurance, employers, the economy, and state 
budgets; and adherence to the Administrative Procedures Act.

Matters Under the Committee's Human Resources Jurisdiction

     Welfare Reform. Review and consider proposals to 
reauthorize Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and 
related welfare reform programs. Review the U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services' July 2012 ``Information Memorandum'' 
suggesting that States could seek ``waivers'' of work 
requirements for welfare recipients. Investigate TANF 
Maintenance of Effort (MOE) spending requirements and their 
interaction with TANF work requirements. Examine barriers to 
increasing self-sufficiency among low-income families with 
children, and how changes may better address the needs of adult 
beneficiaries who face barriers to employment. Review the role 
that TANF and related programs such as child care and child 
support enforcement play in facilitating work and economic 
opportunity for low-income families. Oversee implementation of 
recent legislation that strengthened program integrity 
regarding accessing TANF benefits.
     Unemployment Compensation. Provide oversight of 
the nation's unemployment compensation benefits and employment 
security systems. Review implementation of program reforms 
contained in Public Law 112-96, The Middle Class Tax Relief and 
Job Creation Act of 2012, especially those designed to 
accelerate returns to work, prevent inappropriate benefit 
payments, and improve overpayment recovery.
     Child Welfare. Provide oversight of the nation's 
child welfare programs, including foster care, adoption 
assistance, and child and family service programs under Titles 
IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act. Review State efforts 
to promote adoption, strengthen family connections, and 
successfully address the health and educational needs of foster 
children. Consider proposals for reauthorizing several child 
welfare programs whose authorizations expire at the end of FY 
2013, including adoption incentives and family connection 
grants.
     Low-Income Disabled and Aged Individuals. Provide 
oversight of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program to 
examine trends in the program, agency program integrity 
efforts, and options to improve recipient outcomes and reduce 
administrative complexities in order to target program 
resources to those most in need.
     Review and, Where Appropriate, Identify 
Opportunities to Eliminate Duplicate Programs. Review 
interactions among programs serving low-income populations so 
they can more efficiently and effectively operate, including 
through the enhanced use of technology. Additional proposals 
and ideas, such as those identified by the GAO's annual report 
on duplication, overlap, and fragmentation, should also be 
examined to reduce program duplication and improve the overall 
effectiveness of efforts to serve low-income populations.

Matters Under the Committee's Social Security Jurisdiction

     Securing the Future of Social Security. Examine 
the role of Social Security benefits in ensuring retirement 
security for today's and future retirees, financing challenges 
facing Social Security, the cost to taxpayers and beneficiaries 
of delay in addressing those challenges, and options to 
strengthen Social Security, including how the program is 
meeting the needs of today's and tomorrow's beneficiaries.
     Strengthening the Disability Insurance (DI) 
program. Examine the effectiveness of DI benefits in meeting 
the needs of individuals with disabilities today and the 
process for both determining eligibility for benefits and 
appealing denied applications, along with options to strengthen 
the program.
     Stewardship of Social Security Programs. Provide 
oversight of the management, performance, and long-range 
strategic planning related to Social Security programs, 
including the challenges facing the new Commissioner, the 
impact of tight resources on the SSA's ability to conduct 
program integrity reviews, and planning for the future 
representative payee needs of aging beneficiaries.
     Protecting the Privacy of Social Security Numbers 
(SSN). Examine the integrity and protection of SSNs by the 
Social Security Administration (SSA), including the SSA's death 
records and SSN verification systems, and the use of SSNs as 
identifiers and in identity theft and other fraud, along with 
options for change.
     SSA's Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure. 
Assess the management, performance, and strategic planning for 
future programs and systems development related to the SSA's IT 
infrastructure.
     Deployment of Resources. Oversight of the SSA's 
deployment of tight resources to serve the public and 
taxpayers, including evolving service delivery approaches, 
policy administration and program implementation impacts, and 
the SSA's role in supporting other Federal programs through 
interagency and data sharing agreements.

Matters Under the Committee's Trade Jurisdiction

     Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). Consideration of 
authority for the President to negotiate and conclude trade 
agreements in consultation with Congress, and to provide a 
clear framework for Congressional consideration and 
implementation.
     Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB). Continue work 
begun in the 112th Congress concerning noncontroversial bills 
to eliminate or reduce duties on products not made in the 
United States, in accordance with bipartisan transparency 
guidelines.
     China. Oversight of systemic problems in U.S.-
China trade relations, including issues related to China's 
consistent lack of protection and enforcement of U.S. 
intellectual property rights, indigenous innovation 
requirements, use of industrial subsides, export restraints on 
key products such as rare earth minerals, and currency 
undervaluation.
     Customs Authorization. Continue work begun in the 
112th Congress to consider legislation to authorize U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection, particularly to streamline and 
facilitate legitimate and compliant trade at the border, 
automate CBP processes, and improve enforcement.
     Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Negotiations. 
Continued consultation with the Administration to evaluate the 
status of the negotiations and specify Member views on U.S. 
negotiating positions, with the goal of concluding the 
negotiations in 2013.
     Other Bilateral and Regional Negotiations. 
Evaluate prospect for additional trade negotiations, including 
the International Services Agreement and a U.S./EU free trade 
agreement, as well as bilateral investment treaty negotiations.
     Preference Programs. Oversight of major U.S. trade 
preference programs, including the Generalized System of 
Preferences (expiring July 2013), the Andean Trade Preferences 
Act (expiring July 2013), and the African Growth and 
Opportunity Act (expiring 2015).
     World Trade Organization (WTO). Oversight of U.S. 
goals, dispute settlement, the prospect for a trade 
facilitation agreement and expansion of the information 
technology agreement, and WTO accessions.
     Enforcement. Oversight of enforcement of U.S. 
rights and rights under trade agreements, including the WTO 
Agreements and bilateral and regional free trade agreements, to 
hold U.S. trading partners accountable. Evaluation of proposals 
to strengthen border enforcement related to U.S. intellectual 
property rights, import safety, and illegal transshipment. 
Oversight of administration of U.S. trade remedy laws, 
including border enforcement. Oversight of whether the United 
States is in compliance with its obligations, particularly 
where the United States is facing retaliation.
     Role of Trade in U.S. Job Creation. Oversight of 
the role of trade in creating U.S. jobs and how to create new 
market access for U.S. manufactured goods, agriculture, and 
services.
     Trade Sanctions. Oversight concerning import 
sanctions with, among others, Iran, Burma, North Korea, Syria, 
and Cuba.
     Implemented Trade Agreements. Oversight of 
implemented agreements with Colombia; Panama; Korea; Peru; 
Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, and 
Honduras (CAFTA-DR); Oman; Bahrain; Singapore; Chile; 
Australia; Morocco; Jordan; Canada and Mexico (NAFTA); and 
Israel.
     Trade Adjustment Assistance. Oversight concerning 
the Trade Adjustment Assistance programs for workers, firms, 
communities, and farmers.
     Priorities of the Office of the United States 
Trade Representative (USTR). Oversight over USTR to evaluate 
priorities for the 113th Congress and concerns related to the 
international trade agenda.
     Priorities of the United States International 
Trade Commission. Oversight over the Commission concerning 
overall priorities and operations.
    This list is not intended to be exclusive. The Committee 
anticipates that additional oversight hearings and activities 
will be scheduled as issues arise and as time permits. Also, 
the Committee's oversight priorities and particular concerns 
may change as the 113th Congress progresses over the coming two 
years.
            Sincerely,
                                                 Dave Camp,
                                                          Chairman.

                                  
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