[Senate Report 114-9]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
114th Congress } { Report
SENATE
1st Session } { 114-9
_______________________________________________________________________
R E P O R T
ON THE ACTIVITIES
of the
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
of the
UNITED STATES SENATE
during the
113th CONGRESS
pursuant to
Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules
of the
UNITED STATES SENATE
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
March 31, 2015.--Ordered to be printed
Filed under authority of the order of the Senate of March 27
(legislative day, March 26) 2015
______
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
49-010 WASHINGTON : 2015
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[113th Congress--Committee Membership]
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
MAX BAUCUS, Montana, Chairman\1\
RON WYDEN, Oregon, Chairman\2\
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West ORRIN G. HATCH, Utah
Virginia CHUCK GRASSLEY, Iowa
JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts\3\ MIKE CRAPO, Idaho
CHARLES E. SCHUMER, New York PAT ROBERTS, Kansas
DEBBIE STABENOW, Michigan MICHAEL B. ENZI, Wyoming
MARIA CANTWELL, Washington JOHN CORNYN, Texas
BILL NELSON, Florida JOHN THUNE, South Dakota
ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey RICHARD BURR, North Carolina
THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware JOHNNY ISAKSON, Georgia
BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland ROB PORTMAN, Ohio
SHERROD BROWN, Ohio PATRICK J. TOOMEY, Pennsylvania
MICHAEL F. BENNET, Colorado
ROBERT P. CASEY, Jr.,
Pennsylvania\4\
MARK R. WARNER, Virginia\5\
Amber Cottle, Staff Director for Chairman Baucus
Joshua Sheinkman, Staff Director for Chairman Wyden
Chris Campbell, Republican Staff Director
SUBCOMMITTEES
HEALTH CARE
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West Virginia, Chairman
DEBBIE STABENOW, Michigan PAT ROBERTS, Kansas
MARIA CANTWELL, Washington ORRIN G. HATCH, Utah
BILL NELSON, Florida CHUCK GRASSLEY, Iowa
ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey MICHAEL B. ENZI, Wyoming
THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware JOHN CORNYN, Texas
BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland RICHARD BURR, North Carolina
ROBERT P. CASEY, Jr., PATRICK J. TOOMEY, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania\4\
______
TAXATION AND IRS OVERSIGHT
MICHAEL F. BENNET, Colorado, Chairman\6\
ROBERT P. CASEY, Jr., Pennsylvania, Chairman\7\
MAX BAUCUS, Montana\1\ MICHAEL B. ENZI, Wyoming
RON WYDEN, Oregon\2\ ORRIN G. HATCH, Utah
CHARLES E. SCHUMER, New York MIKE CRAPO, Idaho
ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey PAT ROBERTS, Kansas
THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware JOHN CORNYN, Texas
BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland JOHN THUNE, South Dakota
MICHAEL F. BENNET, Colorado PATRICK J. TOOMEY, Pennsylvania
MARK R. WARNER, Virginia\5\
(ii)
ENERGY, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE
DEBBIE STABENOW, Michigan, Chairman\8\
MICHAEL F. BENNET, Colorado, Chairman\6\
MAX BAUCUS, Montana\1\ JOHN CORNYN, Texas
RON WYDEN, Oregon CHUCK GRASSLEY, Iowa
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West MIKE CRAPO, Idaho
Virginia MICHAEL B. ENZI, Wyoming
DEBBIE STABENOW, Michigan JOHN THUNE, South Dakota
ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey RICHARD BURR, North Carolina
MARIA CANTWELL, Washington JOHNNY ISAKSON, Georgia
BILL NELSON, Florida
THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware
______
INTERNATIONAL TRADE, CUSTOMS, AND GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS
RON WYDEN, Oregon, Chairman\2\
DEBBIE STABENOW, Michigan, Chairman\8\
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West JOHNNY ISAKSON, Georgia
Virginia ORRIN G. HATCH, Utah
CHARLES E. SCHUMER, New York CHUCK GRASSLEY, Iowa
MARIA CANTWELL, Washington PAT ROBERTS, Kansas
ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey JOHN THUNE, South Dakota
SHERROD BROWN, Ohio ROB PORTMAN, Ohio
MICHAEL F. BENNET, Colorado
MARK R. WARNER, Virginia\5\
______
SOCIAL SECURITY, PENSIONS, AND FAMILY POLICY
SHERROD BROWN, Ohio, Chairman
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West PATRICK J. TOOMEY, Pennsylvania
Virginia MIKE CRAPO, Idaho
CHARLES E. SCHUMER, New York JOHNNY ISAKSON, Georgia
BILL NELSON, Florida ROB PORTMAN, Ohio
BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland
______
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
ROBERT P. CASEY, Jr., Pennsylvania, Chairman\7\
MARK R. WARNER, Virginia, Chairman\9\
MAX BAUCUS, Montana\1\ ROB PORTMAN, Ohio
SHERROD BROWN, Ohio RICHARD BURR, North Carolina
ROBERT P. CASEY, Jr.,
Pennsylvania\4\
----------
\1\Resigned from the Senate February 6, 2014.
\2\Appointed committee chairman February 12, 2014.
\3\Resigned from the Senate February 1, 2013.
\4\Joined committee February 12, 2013.
\5\Joined committee February 13, 2014.
\6\Appointed chairman Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and
Infrastructure April 3, 2014.
\7\Appointed chairman Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight April
3, 2014.
\8\Appointed chairman Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and
Global Competitiveness April 3, 2014.
\9\Appointed chairman Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and
Economic Growth April 3, 2014.
(iii)
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
----------
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Finance,
Washington, DC, March 31, 2015.
Honorable Julie E. Adams,
Secretary, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Madam Secretary: In accordance with rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the United States Senate and the pertinent
unanimous consent order pertaining to this rule, I am
transmitting herewith a report on the activities of the
Committee on Finance of the United States Senate for the 113th
Congress.
Sincerely,
Orrin G. Hatch, Chairman.
(v)
C O N T E N T S
__________
Page
113th Congress--Committee Membership............................. ii
Letter of Transmittal............................................ v
Committee Jurisdiction........................................... 1
Rules of Procedure............................................... 2
Tax--Summary of Activities....................................... 5
Full Committee Hearings...................................... 6
Full Committee Executive Meetings............................ 9
Senators' Only Meetings...................................... 9
Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure 10
Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight................... 10
Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy. 11
Trade--Summary of Activities..................................... 13
Full Committee Hearings...................................... 13
Senators' Only Meetings...................................... 15
Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global
Competitiveness............................................ 15
Health--Summary of Activities.................................... 17
Legislation.................................................. 17
Full Committee Hearings...................................... 18
Senators' Only Meetings...................................... 21
Subcommittee on Health Care.................................. 21
Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight................... 21
Social Security--Summary of Activities........................... 23
Full Committee Hearings...................................... 23
Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy. 24
Federal Debt Limit--Summary of Activities........................ 25
Full Committee Hearings...................................... 25
Oversight and Investigations--Summary of Activities.............. 27
IRS 501(c)(4) Investigation.................................. 27
Tax Avoidance by Hedge Funds through Off-Shore Reinsurance
Companies.................................................. 27
Pricing of Specialty Drugs................................... 28
IRS Whistleblower Programs................................... 28
Avoidance and Evasion of Tobacco Excise Taxes................ 28
Nominations...................................................... 31
Bills and Resolutions Referred to the Committee.................. 47
Reports, Prints, and Studies..................................... 49
Official Communications.......................................... 51
(vii)
114th Congress } { Report
SENATE
1st Session } { 114-9
======================================================================
REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE DURING THE 113TH
CONGRESS
_______
March 31, 2015.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Hatch, from the Committee on Finance, submitted the following
REPORT
This report reviews the legislative and oversight
activities of the Committee on Finance during the 113th
Congress. These activities parallel the broad scope of
responsibilities vested in the committee by the Legislative
Reorganization Act of 1946, as amended, rule XXV(k) of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, and additional authorizing
resolutions.
COMMITTEE JURISDICTION
Rule XXV(i) of the Standing Rules of the Senate requires
reference to this committee of all proposed legislation, and
other matters, dealing with (i) Committee on Finance, to which
committee shall be referred all proposed legislation, messages,
petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the
following subjects:
1. Bonded debt of the United States, except as
provided in the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
2. Customs, collection districts, and ports of entry
and delivery.
3. Deposit of public moneys.
4. General revenue sharing.
5. Health programs under the Social Security Act and
health programs financed by a specific tax or trust
fund.
6. National social security.
7. Reciprocal trade agreements.
8. Revenue measures generally, except as provided in
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
9. Revenue measures relating to the insular
possessions.
10. Tariffs and import quotas, and matters related
thereto.
11. Transportation of dutiable goods.
(1)
COMMITTEE RULES
I. RULES OF PROCEDURE
Rule 1. Regular Meeting Days.--The regular meeting day of the
committee shall be the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, except
that if there be no business before the committee the regular meeting
shall be omitted.
Rule 2. Committee Meetings.--(a) Except as provided by paragraph 3
of Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate (relating to special
meetings called by a majority of the committee) and subsection (b) of
this rule, committee meetings, for the conduct of business, for the
purpose of holding hearings, or for any other purpose, shall be called
by the chairman. Members will be notified of committee meetings at
least 48 hours in advance, unless the chairman determines that an
emergency situation requires a meeting on shorter notice. The
notification will include a written agenda together with materials
prepared by the staff relating to that agenda. After the agenda for a
committee meeting is published and distributed, no nongermane items may
be brought up during that meeting unless at least two-thirds of the
members present agree to consider those items.
(b) In the absence of the chairman, meetings of the committee may
be called by the ranking majority member of the committee who is
present, provided authority to call meetings has been delegated to such
member by the chairman.
Rule 3. Presiding Officer.--(a) The chairman shall preside at all
meetings and hearings of the committee except that in his absence the
ranking majority member who is present at the meeting shall preside.
(b) Notwithstanding the rule prescribed by subsection (a) any
member of the committee may preside over the conduct of a hearing.
Rule 4. Quorums.--(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) one-
third of the membership of the committee, including not less than one
member of the majority party and one member of the minority party,
shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business.
(b) Notwithstanding the rule prescribed by subsection (a) one
member shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting a
hearing.
Rule 5. Reporting of Measures or Recommendations.--No measure or
recommendation shall be reported from the committee unless a majority
of the committee is actually present and a majority of those present
concur.
Rule 6. Proxy Voting; Polling.--(a) Except as provided by
paragraph 7(a)(3) of Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate
(relating to limitation on use of proxy voting to report a measure or
matter), members who are unable to be present may have their vote
recorded by proxy.
(b) At the discretion of the committee, members who are unable to
be present and whose vote has not been cast by proxy may be polled for
the purpose of recording their vote on any rollcall taken by the
committee.
Rule 7. Order of Motions.--When several motions are before the
committee dealing with related or overlapping matters, the chairman may
specify the order in which the motions shall be voted upon.
Rule 8. Bringing a Matter to a Vote.--If the chairman determines
that a motion or amendment has been adequately debated, he may call for
a vote on such motion or amendment, and the vote shall then be taken,
unless the committee votes to continue debate on such motion or
amendment, as the case may be. The vote on a motion to continue debate
on any motion or amendment shall be taken without debate.
Rule 9. Public Announcement of Committee Votes.--Pursuant to
paragraph 7(b) of Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate
(relating to public announcement of votes), the results of rollcall
votes taken by the committee on any measure (or amendment thereto) or
matter shall be announced publicly not later than the day on which such
measure or matter is ordered reported from the committee.
Rule 10. Subpoenas.--Subpoenas for attendance of witnesses and the
production of memoranda, documents, and records shall be issued by the
chairman, or by any other member of the committee designated by him.
Rule 11. Nominations.--In considering a nomination, the committee
may conduct an investigation or review of the nominee's experience,
qualifications, and suitability, to serve in the position to which he
or she has been nominated. To aid in such investigation or review, each
nominee may be required to submit a sworn detailed statement including
biographical, financial, policy, and other information which the
committee may request. The committee may specify which items in such
statement are to be received on a confidential basis. Witnesses called
to testify on the nomination may be required to testify under oath.
Rule 12. Open Committee Hearings.--To the extent required by
paragraph 5 of Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate (relating
to limitations on open hearings), each hearing conducted by the
committee shall be open to the public.
Rule 13. Announcement of Hearings.--The committee shall undertake
consistent with the provisions of paragraph 4(a) of Rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate (relating to public notice of committee
hearings) to issue public announcements of hearings it intends to hold
at least one week prior to the commencement of such hearings.
Rule 14. Witnesses at Hearings.--(a) Each witness who is scheduled
to testify at any hearing must submit his written testimony to the
staff director not later than noon of the business day immediately
before the last business day preceding the day on which he is scheduled
to appear. Such written testimony shall be accompanied by a brief
summary of the principal points covered in the written testimony.
Having submitted his written testimony, the witness shall be allowed
not more than 10 minutes for oral presentation of his statement.
(b) Witnesses may not read their entire written testimony, but
must confine their oral presentation to a summarization of their
arguments.
(c) Witnesses shall observe proper standards of dignity, decorum,
and propriety while presenting their views to the committee. Any
witness who violates this rule shall be dismissed, and his testimony
(both oral and written) shall not appear in the record of the hearing.
(d) In scheduling witnesses for hearings, the staff shall attempt
to schedule witnesses so as to attain a balance of views early in the
hearings. Every member of the committee may designate witnesses who
will appear before the committee to testify. To the extent that a
witness designated by a member cannot be scheduled to testify during
the time set aside for the hearing, a special time will be set aside
for the witness to testify if the member designating that witness is
available at that time to chair the hearing.
Rule 15. Audiences.--Persons admitted into the audience for open
hearings of the committee shall conduct themselves with the dignity,
decorum, courtesy, and propriety traditionally observed by the Senate.
Demonstrations of approval or disapproval of any statement or act by
any member or witness are not allowed. Persons creating confusion or
distractions or otherwise disrupting the orderly proceeding of the
hearing shall be expelled from the hearing.
Rule 16. Broadcasting of Hearings.--(a) Broadcasting of open
hearings by television or radio coverage shall be allowed upon approval
by the chairman of a request filed with the staff director not later
than noon of the day before the day on which such coverage is desired.
(b) If such approval is granted, broadcasting coverage of the
hearing shall be conducted unobtrusively and in accordance with the
standards of dignity, propriety, courtesy, and decorum traditionally
observed by the Senate.
(c) Equipment necessary for coverage by television and radio
media shall not be installed in, or removed from, the hearing room
while the committee is in session.
(d) Additional lighting may be installed in the hearing room by
the media in order to raise the ambient lighting level to the lowest
level necessary to provide adequate television coverage of the hearing
at the then current state of the art of television coverage.
(e) The additional lighting authorized by subsection (d) of this
rule shall not be directed into the eyes of any members of the
committee or of any witness, and at the request of any such member or
witness, offending lighting shall be extinguished.
Rule 17. Subcommittees.--(a) The chairman, subject to the approval
of the committee, shall appoint legislative subcommittees. All
legislation shall be kept on the full committee calendar unless a
majority of the members present and voting agree to refer specific
legislation to an appropriate subcommittee.
(b) The chairman may limit the period during which House-passed
legislation referred to a subcommittee under paragraph (a) will remain
in that subcommittee. At the end of that period, the legislation will
be restored to the full committee calendar. The period referred to in
the preceding sentences should be 6 weeks, but may be extended in the
event that adjournment or a long recess is imminent.
(c) All decisions of the chairman are subject to approval or
modification by a majority vote of the committee.
(d) The full committee may at any time by majority vote of those
members present discharge a subcommittee from further consideration of
a specific piece of legislation.
(e) The chairman and ranking minority member shall serve as
nonvoting ex officio members of the subcommittees on which they do not
serve as voting members.
(f) Any member of the committee may attend hearings held by any
subcommittee and question witnesses testifying before that
subcommittee.
(g) Subcommittee meeting times shall be coordinated by the staff
director to ensure that--
(1) no subcommittee meeting will be held when the committee
is in executive session, except by unanimous consent;
(2) no more than one subcommittee will meet when the full
committee is holding hearings; and
(3) not more than two subcommittees will meet at the same
time.
Notwithstanding paragraphs (2) and (3), a subcommittee may meet
when the full committee is holding hearings and two subcommittees may
meet at the same time only upon the approval of the chairman and the
ranking minority member of the committee and subcommittees involved.
(h) All nominations shall be considered by the full committee.
(i) The chairman will attempt to schedule reasonably frequent
meetings of the full committee to permit consideration of legislation
reported favorably to the committee by the subcommittees.
Rule 18. Transcripts of Committee Meetings.--An accurate record
shall be kept of all markups of the committee, whether they be open or
closed to the public. A transcript, marked as ``uncorrected,'' shall be
available for inspection by Members of the Senate, or members of the
committee together with their staffs, at any time. Not later than 21
business days after the meeting occurs, the committee shall make
publicly available through the Internet--
(a) a video recording;
(b) an audio recording; or
(c) after all members of the committee have had a reasonable
opportunity to correct their remarks for grammatical errors or to
accurately reflect statements, a corrected transcript.
Notwithstanding the above, in the case of the record of an
executive session of the committee that is closed to the public
pursuant to Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the record
shall not be published or made public in any way except by majority
vote of the committee after all members of the committee have had a
reasonable opportunity to correct their remarks for grammatical errors
or to accurately reflect statements made.
Rule 19. Amendment of Rules.--The foregoing rules may be added to,
modified, amended, or suspended at any time.
TAX
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES
During the 113th Congress, the Senate Finance Committee
played a critical role in maintaining funding for the nation's
infrastructure and in preventing tax increases from expiring
provisions for American families and businesses. The Committee
also continued the push for comprehensive tax reform,
publishing ten bipartisan papers on tax reform options, which
covered important policy questions on individual and corporate
taxation.
A series of hearings held by the Senate Finance Committee
during the 113th Congress examined several options related to
tax reform and tax compliance, including hearings on education
incentives, international taxation, retirement savings, and
energy tax incentives.
2014 Legislation
On April 3, 2014, the Committee reported S. 2260, the
Expiring Provisions Improvement, Reform, and Efficiency
(EXPIRE) Act, which provided a 2-year extension of various
expired and expiring tax code provisions in order to provide
taxpayers with certainty and to build a bridge to tax reform.
On May 7, 2014, Chairman Wyden proposed the text of S. 2260 as
an amendment to a House-passed revenue bill, H.R. 3474, but the
Senate failed to invoke cloture on the Wyden amendment by a
vote of 53-40.
On April 3, 2014, the Committee reported S. 2261, the Tax
Technical Corrections Act of 2014.
On July 10, 2014, the Committee voted to report an original
bill, The Preserving America's Transit and Highways (PATH) Act.
The bill provided an extension of highway fund expenditures and
provided revenue for highway programs primarily through
improvements in tax compliance. On July 29, 2014, the Senate
agreed to the provisions of the PATH Act as an amendment to
H.R. 5021, the Highway and Transportation Funding Act, which
provided revenue for highway programs primarily by reducing
private pension funding requirements and increasing customs
fees. The bill was further amended by Senate amendment no.
3583. On July 31, 2014, the House of Representatives disagreed
to the Senate amendments, and the Senate receded from its
amendments and passed H.R. 5021, which became law on August 8,
2014 (Pub. L. No. 113-159).
On December 16, 2014, H.R. 5771, the Tax Increase
Prevention Act, was passed in the Senate. The bill extends
certain expiring provisions and makes technical corrections,
and provides for the tax treatment of ABLE accounts established
under State programs for the care of family members with
disabilities. It became law on December 19, 2014 (Pub. L. No.
113-295).
Full Committee Hearings
2013
February 26, 2013--``The Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal
Years 2013-2023.'' The hearing covered the budget and
economic outlook for fiscal years 2013-2023 with an
emphasis on employment and balancing budgets. Testimony was
heard from Dr. Douglas W. Elmendorf, Director,
Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC; Mr. Robert
Greenstein, President, Center on Budget and Policy
Priorities, Washington, DC; and Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Ph.D.,
President, American Action Forum, Washington, DC.
April 11, 2013--``President's Fiscal Year 2014 Budget.'' The
hearing covered the President's 2014 budget and touched on
health care, tax reform, and employment. Testimony was
heard from Hon. Jacob J. Lew, Secretary, United States
Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC.
April 16, 2013--``Tax Fraud and ID Theft: Moving Forward with
Solutions.'' The hearing examined tax-related identity
theft and identified concrete legislative proposals to
effectively address the issue. Testimony was heard from Mr.
Steven Miller, Acting Commissioner, Internal Revenue
Service, Washington, DC; Ms. Nina E. Olson, National
Taxpayer Advocate, Internal Revenue Service, Washington,
DC; Mr. Jeffrey A. Porter, Chair of the Tax Executive
Committee, American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants, and Founder, Porter and Associates,
Huntington, WV; and Ms. Marianna LaCanfora, Acting Deputy
Commissioner, Retirement and Disability Policy, Social
Security Administration, Baltimore, MD.
May 21, 2013--``A Review of Criteria Used by the IRS to
Identify 501(c)(4) Applications for Greater Scrutiny.'' The
hearing covered the rules applying to major tax-exempt
organizations--501(c)(4), (c)(5), and (c)(6)--and the
criteria used by the IRS to identify 501(c)(3) and
501(c)(4) organizations for greater scrutiny. Testimony was
heard from Mr. Steven Miller, Acting Commissioner, Internal
Revenue Service, Washington, DC; Hon. J. Russell George,
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, United
States Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC; and Hon.
Douglas Shulman, Former IRS Commissioner, and Guest
Scholar, Brookings Institution, Washington, DC.
2014
March 5, 2014--``President's Fiscal Year 2015 Budget.'' The
hearing covered the President's fiscal year 2015 budget and
included commentary on the following policy areas:
employment, infrastructure, workforce training and
education, safety and security, health care, tax reform,
and immigration reform. Testimony was heard from Hon. Jacob
J. Lew, Secretary, United States Department of the
Treasury, Washington, DC.
March 13, 2014--``Innovative Ideas to Strengthen and Expand the
Middle Class.'' The hearing examined the economic
underpinnings of the middle class and what policies could
expand the number and strengthen the economic security of
middle-class Americans. Testimony was heard from Ms. Diane
Swonk, Chief Economist and Senior Managing Director,
Mesirow Financial, Chicago, IL; Mr. George Packer, Staff
Writer, Author, The New Yorker magazine, ``The Unwinding:
An Inner History of the New America,'' Brooklyn, NY; Dr.
William C. Dunkelberg, Chief Economist, National Federation
of Independent Business, Washington, DC; Dr. Lawrence B.
Lindsey, President and CEO, The Lindsey Group, Fairfax, VA;
and Dr. Leonard Burman, Ph.D., Director, Tax Policy Center,
The Urban Institute, Washington, DC.
April 8, 2014--``Protecting Taxpayers from Incompetent and
Unethical Return Preparers.'' The hearing highlighted the
problems created by unqualified or unscrupulous tax return
preparers and solicited ways to protect taxpayers and
maintain an effective tax collection system. Testimony was
heard from Hon. John A. Koskinen, Commissioner, Internal
Revenue Service, Washington, DC; Ms. Nina E. Olson,
National Taxpayer Advocate, Internal Revenue Service,
Washington, DC; Mr. James R. McTigue Jr., Director, Tax
Issues, Government Accountability Office, Washington, DC;
Mr. Wayne A. McElrath, Director, Investigative Services,
Government Accountability Office, Washington, DC; Mr.
William Cobb, President and CEO, H&R Block, Kansas City,
MO; Ms. Janis Salisbury, Chair, Oregon Board of Tax
Practitioners, Oregon City, OR; Dr. John Barrick, Associate
Professor, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT; Ms. Chi Chi
Wu, Staff Attorney, National Consumer Law Center, Boston,
MA; and Mr. Dan Alban, Attorney, Institute for Justice,
Arlington, VA.
May 6, 2014--``New Routes for Funding and Financing Highways
and Transit.'' The hearing focused on methods for
addressing the long-term gap between revenues and outlays
for the highway trust fund, including new funding sources,
increasing private financing of public infrastructure, and
examining the federal government's overall role in
infrastructure. Testimony was heard from Hon. Barbara
Boxer, U.S. Senator, State of California; Dr. Joseph Kile,
Assisant Director for Microeconomic Studies Division,
Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC; Hon. Aubrey L.
Layne, Jr., Secretary of Transportation, State of Virginia,
Richmond, VA; Mr. Jayan Dhru, Managing Director, Corporate
and Infrastructure Ratings, Standard and Poor's Ratings
Services, New York, NY; Ms. Samara Barend, Senior Vice
President and P3 Development Director, AECOM Capital, New
York, NY; and Mr. Chris Edwards, Director, Tax Policy
Studies, Cato Institute, Washington, DC.
June 24, 2014--``Less Student Debt from the Start: What Role
Should the Tax System Play?'' The hearing focused on the
complexity and effectiveness of education tax incentives
and whether the tax system should play a role in reducing
the amount that students borrow up front to attend college.
Testimony was heard from Ms. Amber Lee, Graduate,
Willamette High School, Eugene, OR; Hon. Mark J. Mazur,
Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy, United States
Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC; Ms. Jayne
Caflin Fonash, Director of School Counseling, Loudoun
Academy of Science, Sterling, VA; Mr. Dean Zerbe, National
Managing Director, alliantgroup, Washington, DC; and Mr.
Scott A. Hodge, President, Tax Foundation, Washington, DC.
July 22, 2014--``The U.S. Tax Code: Love It, Leave It, or
Reform It.'' The hearing examined the United States'
current system of international corporate taxation and
recent proposals to reform and improve it. Testimony was
heard from Mr. Robert B. Stack, Deputy Assistant Secretary
for International Tax Affairs, U.S. Department of the
Treasury, Washington, DC; Mr. Pascal Saint-Amans, Director,
Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Paris,
France; Dr. Mihir A. Desai, Mizuho Financial Group
Professor of Finance and Professor of Law, Harvard
University, Cambridge, MA; Dr. Peter R. Merrill, Director,
National Economics and Statistics Group,
PricewaterhouseCoopers, Washington, DC; Dr. Leslie
Robinson, Associate Professor of Business Administration,
Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH;
and Mr. Allan Sloan, Senior Editor at Large, Fortune, New
York, NY.
July 29, 2014--``Tobacco: Taxes Owed, Avoided, and Evaded.''
The hearing examined the extent to which legislation is
needed to combat tobacco tax avoidance and evasion, and
also possible unintended consequences of legislation.
Testimony was heard from Mr. John J. Manfreda,
Administrator, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau,
Washington, DC; Dr. David B. Gootnick, Director,
International Affairs and Trade, Government Accountability
Office, Washington, DC; Mr. Ronald J. Bernstein, President
and CEO, Liggett Vector Brands LLC, Morrisville, NC; Mr.
Rocky Patel, Owner, Board Member, Rocky Patel Premium
Cigars Inc., Cigar Rights of America, Naples, FL; Mr.
Michael Tynan, Policy Officer, Oregon Public Health
Division, Portland, OR; and Mr. Scott Drenkard, Economist
and Manager of State Projects, Tax Foundation, Washington,
DC.
September 16, 2014--``Retirement Savings 2.0: Updating Savings
Policy for the Modern Economy.'' The hearing examined the
current system of tax incentives for retirement savings in
the United States, and covered options for improvement and
reform. Testimony was received from Mr. John C. Bogle,
Founder and Former CEO, Vanguard, Valley Forge, PA; Dr.
Brian Reid, Chief Economist, Investment Company Institute,
Washington, DC; Mr. Scott Betts, Senior Vice President,
National Benefit Services, West Jordan, UT; Dr. Brigitte C.
Madrian, Aetna Professor of Public Policy and Corporate
Management, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of
Government, Cambridge, MA; Dr. Andrew G. Biggs, Resident
Scholar, American Enterprise Institute, Washington, DC; and
Ms. Ellen Schultz, Author and Investigative Reporter,
formerly with The Wall Street Journal, New York, NY.
September 17, 2014--``Reforming America's Outdated Energy Tax
Code.'' The hearing covered reforms to the Code as it
relates to the energy sector and made business and
environmental cases for both energy tax reform and energy
policy updates. Testimony was heard from Hon. Don Nickles,
Chairman and CEO, The Nickles Group, LLC, Washington, DC;
Mr. Norman R. Augustine, Retired Chairman and CEO, Lockheed
Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Gilbert Metcalf,
Professor of Economics, Tufts University, Medford, MA; Mr.
Ethan Zindler, Head of Policy Analysis, Bloomberg New
Energy Finance, Washington, DC; and Dr. David W. Kreutzer,
Research Fellow in Energy Economics and Climate Change,
Center for Data Analysis, The Heritage Foundation,
Washington, DC.
Full Committee Executive Meetings
2014
April 3, 2014--Open Executive Session to consider a Chairman's
Mark entitled, ``Expiring Provisions Improvement, Reform,
and Efficiency (EXPIRE) Act;'' a Chairman's Mark entitled,
``The Tax Technical Corrections Act of 2014;'' and to fill
vacancies on subcommittees, the Joint Committee on
Taxation, the Congressional Oversight Group, and the
Congressional Trade Advisors on Trade Policy and
Negotiations.
June 26, 2014--Open Executive Session to consider a Chairman's
Mark entitled, ``The Preserving America's Transit and
Highways (PATH) Act.''
July 10, 2014--Continuation of the Open Executive Session to
consider a Chairman's Mark entitled, ``The Preserving
America's Transit and Highways (PATH) Act.''
Senators' Only Meetings
2013
January 30, 2013--Senators' Meeting to discuss the Committee
agenda.
March 21, 2013--Senators' Meeting to discuss tax reform options
related to families and businesses.
April 11, 2013--Senators' Meeting to discuss tax reform options
related to business investment and innovation.
April 18, 2013--Senators' Meeting to discuss tax reform options
related to family, education, and opportunity.
April 25, 2013--Senators' Meeting to discuss tax reform options
related to infrastructure, energy, and natural resources.
May 9, 2013--Senators' Meeting to discuss tax reform options
related to international competitiveness.
May 15, 2013--Senators' Meeting to discuss tax reform options
related to economic and community development.
May 23, 2013--Senators' Meeting to discuss tax reform options
related to health, retirement, life insurance, fringe
benefits, and executive compensation.
June 4, 2013--Senators' Meeting with Secretary Jacob Lew to
discuss the Federal debt limit.
June 6, 2013--Senators' Meeting to discuss tax reform options
related to types of income and business entities.
June 13, 2013--Senators' Meeting to discuss tax reform options
related to tax exempt organizations and charitable giving.
June 20, 2013--Senators' Meeting to discuss tax reform options
related to non-income tax issues and related areas.
June 27, 2013--Senators' Meeting to discuss tax reform.
September 18, 2013--Senators' Meeting with Secretary Jacob Lew
to discuss the Federal debt limit.
November 19, 2013--Senators' Meeting to discuss tax reform
options related to international business taxation.
2014
June 4, 2014--Senators' Meeting to discuss options for funding
the Highway Trust Fund.
Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources,
and Infrastructure
2013
July 31, 2013--``Powering Our Future: Principles for Energy Tax
Reform.'' The hearing covered principles of energy tax
reform around which consensus can be built. Testimony was
heard from Hon. Christopher A. Coons, U.S. Senator, State
of Delaware; Hon. Jerry Moran, U.S. Senator, State of
Kansas; Ms. Phyllis Cuttino, Director, Clean Energy, The
Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, DC; Mr. Dan Reicher,
Executive Director, Steyer-
Taylor Center for Energy Policy Finance, Professor,
Stanford Law School, and Lecturer, Stanford Graduate School
of Business, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA; Mr. Will
Coleman, Partner, OnRamp Capital, San Francisco, CA; and
Ms. Margo Thorning, Senior Vice President and Chief
Economist, American Council for Capital Formation,
Washington, DC.
2014
December 3, 2014--``Natural Gas Vehicles: Fueling American
Jobs, Enhancing Energy Security, and Achieving Emissions
Benefits.'' The hearing discussed the use of natural gas as
a transportation fuel and considered a range of policy
proposals that would encourage additional investment in
natural gas infrastructure. Testimony was heard from Mr.
Robert Carrick, Natural Gas Sales Manager, Daimler Trucks
North America, Portland, OR; Mr. Mike Whitlatch, Senior
Director of Global Energy and Procurement, UPS, Atlanta,
GA; Mr. Joseph A. Calabrese, CEO, General Manager, and
Secretary-Treasurer, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit
Authority, Cleveland, OH; Mr. Ronald W. Jibson, Chairman,
President, and CEO, Questar, Salt Lake City, UT; Mr. Rich
Kassel, Senior Vice President, East Coast Operations,
Gladstein, Neandross, and Associates, New York, NY; and Mr.
Harrison Clay, President, Clean Energy Renewable Fuels,
Newport Beach, CA.
Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight
2014
July 23, 2014--``Saving for an Uncertain Future: How the ABLE
Act Can Help People With Disabilities and Their Families.''
The hearing addressed the policy needs for the Achieving a
Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act (S. 313) from the
perspective of individuals living with disabilities,
advocates, lawmakers, and financial planners. Testimony was
heard from Ms. Sara C. Wolf, Self-Advocate and Board
Member, National Down Syndrome Society, Moscow, PA; Hon.
Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Member, United States House of
Representatives, Spokane, WA; Mr. Robert D'Amelio,
Volunteer Advocate, Autism Speaks, Charlotte, NC; and Mr.
Chase Alston Phillips, Financial Advisor, Alexandria, VA.
November 18, 2014--``Tax Relief after a Disaster: How
Individuals, Small Businesses, and Communities Recover.''
The hearing examined how the tax code can help areas
recover and rebuild after major disasters. Testimony was
heard from Hon. Andy Berke, Mayor, City of Chattanooga,
Chattanooga, TN; Hon. Robert G. Loughery, Chairman, Bucks
County Board of Commissioners, Doylestown, PA; Hon. Vincent
Ignizio, Council Member, New York City Council, New York,
NY; Mr. Sean T. Cronin, Executive Director, St. Vrain and
Left Hand Water Conservancy District, Longmont, CO; Mr.
Steve Ellis, Vice President, Taxpayers for Common Sense,
Washington, DC; and Mr. Troy K. Lewis, Chair, AICPA Tax
Executive Committee, Draper, UT.
Subcommittee on Social Security,
Pensions, and Family Policy
2013
December 18, 2013--``The Role of Social Security, Defined
Benefits, and Private Retirement Accounts in the Face of
the Retirement Crisis.'' The hearing discussed the
challenges facing Social Security along with the lack of
individual saving happening in America and the potential
negative impact in terms of future poverty rates among
senior citizens. Testimony was heard from Mr. Robert G.
Romasco, President, AARP, Washington, DC; Mr. Andrew G.
Biggs, Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute,
Washington, DC; Mr. Dean Baker, Co-Director, Center for
Economic and Policy Research, Washington, DC; and Mr. John
F. Sweeney, Executive Vice President, Fidelity Investments,
Boston, MA.
2014
February 26, 2014--``Retirement Savings for Low-Income
Workers.'' The hearing considered the status of private-
sector retirement options offered to low-income workers and
allowed for the discussion of a range of policy responses.
Testimony was heard from Mr. J. Mark Iwry, Senior Advisor
to the Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Retirement and Health Policy, United States Department of
the Treasury, Washington, DC; Ms. Diane Oakley, Executive
Director, National Institute on Retirement Security,
Washington, DC; Mr. Stephen P. Utkus, Principal and
Director, Vanguard Center for Retirement Research, Malvern,
PA; and Ms. Judy A. Miller, MSPA, FSA, MAAA, Director of
Retirement Policy, American Society of Pension
Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA), ASPPA College of
Pension Actuaries, Arlington, VA.
TRADE
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES
In the 113th Congress, the Senate Finance Committee played
a key role on trade issues, with a focus on growing the
American economy by expanding trade- and investment-related
opportunities overseas. The Committee held a variety of
hearings to examine the successes and challenges of current
U.S. trade agreements, as well as the potential for growth
presented by deeper trade relationships with Europe, Africa,
and the Asia-Pacific. The Committee also debated the renewal of
Trade Promotion Authority, which, among other things, provides
Congressional direction to the President on trade negotiating
objectives, establishes consultation requirements with
Congress, and sets out expedited procedures for Congressional
consideration of trade agreements.
Full Committee Hearings
2013
March 19, 2013--``President's 2013 Trade Agenda.'' This hearing
examined the President's trade priorities for 2013,
including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), and
agreements governing services and information technology.
The Committee also discussed Trade Promotion Authority
(TPA). Acting U.S. Trade Representative Hon. Demetrios
Marantis testified at the hearing.
April 24, 2013--``The Trans-Pacific Partnership: Opportunities
and Challenges.'' At this hearing, the Committee discussed
the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), with a focus on
further opening new markets in the Asia Pacific region and
encouraging exports while removing barriers to trade and
protecting American intellectual property. The Committee
heard testimony from Hon. Karan Bhatia, Vice President and
Senior Counsel of Global Government Affairs and Policy for
General Electric; Mr. Bob Hanson, President of the Montana
Farm Bureau Federation; Mr. David Hirschmann, President and
CEO of the Global Intellectual Property Center at the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce; and Mr. Tom Suber, President of the
U.S. Dairy Export Council.
May 22, 2013--``S. 662, The Trade Facilitation and Trade
Enforcement Act of 2013.'' This hearing focused on
legislation to reauthorize Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the
agencies that secure U.S. borders and facilitate trade
through American ports. Priorities in the bill included the
facilitation of trade and the protection of intellectual
property rights. Witnesses included Mr. William A. Cook,
Director of Worldwide Logistics and Customs for Chrysler
Group; Mr. David Cooper, Global Customs Compliance Manager
for Procter and Gamble; Mr. Clark Silcox, General Counsel
and Secretary of the National Electrical Manufacturers
Association; and Ms. Mary Ann Comstock, Brokerage
Compliance Manager for UPS Supply Chain Solutions.
October 30, 2013--``The Transatlantic Trade and Investment
Partnership: Achieving the Potential.'' This hearing
focused on the U.S.-E.U. Transatlantic Trade and Investment
Partnership (TTIP) and the opportunities it presents to
increase trade, boost U.S. exports, and grow jobs. The
Committee also addressed hurdles that must be overcome,
including the protection of intellectual property rights
and barriers to digital trade. The witnesses were Mr.
Michael L. Ducker, Executive Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer of FedEx; Mr. Ryan McCormick, President
of the Montana Grain Growers Association; Mr. Dave Ricks,
Senior Vice President of Eli Lilly and Company and
President of Lilly Bio-Medicines; and Mr. William Roenigk,
Senior Vice President of the National Chicken Council.
2014
January 16, 2014--``Advancing Congress's Trade Agenda: The Role
of Trade Negotiating Authority.'' This hearing addressed
Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), with a focus on increasing
American exports, enabling the growth of the manufacturing
sector, reducing tariffs, and increasing American
competitiveness in the global market. Witnesses were Mr.
David M. Cote, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Honeywell International; Mr. Jim Allen, President of New
York Apple Association, Inc.; Ms. Elena M. Stegemann,
Director of International Business of NuStep Inc.; and Mr.
Larry Cohen, President of Communications Workers of
America.
May 1, 2014--``President Obama's 2014 Trade Policy Agenda.''
This hearing focused on the President's trade agenda,
including Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), protecting
American intellectual property abroad, and maintaining
America's competitiveness in light of trade barriers
erected by China, India, and others. The Committee heard
testimony from Hon. Michael Froman, the U.S. Trade
Representative.
June 25, 2014--``Trade Enforcement: Using Trade Rules to Level
the Playing Field for U.S. Companies and Workers.'' The
hearing explored proposals to improve the enforcement of
U.S. trade laws. Witnesses were Mr. Kevin Brosch, Trade
Consultant, BroschTrade LLC, on behalf of the National
Chicken Council, Washington, DC; Mr. Richard Wilkins,
Treasurer, American Soybean Association, Greenwood, DE; Mr.
Bart Peterson, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and
Communications, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN;
Mr. Leo W. Gerard, International President, The United
Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy,
Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union
(United Steelworkers), Pittsburgh, PA; and Mr. Mario
Longhi, President and Chief Executive Officier, United
States Steel Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA.
July 17, 2014--``The Role of Trade and Technology in 21st-
Century Manufacturing.'' At this hearing, the Committee
discussed opportunities for strengthening American
manufacturing in the technology sector, with a focus on
trade agreements that can open new markets abroad and
increase exports. Witnesses were Mr. Stephen Ezell, Senior
Analyst for the Information Technology and Innovation
Foundation; Ms. Jacklyn A. Sturm, Vice President and
General Manager of Global Supply Management at Intel; and
Mr. Ray Kimber, Founder, Owner, and President of Kimber
Kable, on behalf of himself and the Consumer Electronics
Association.
July 30, 2014--``The African Growth and Opportunity Act at 14:
The Road Ahead.'' This hearing focused on the successes and
challenges of the African Growth and Opportunity Act
(AGOA), which was enacted to strengthen the economies of
sub-Saharan African countries by allowing many of their
goods to be imported duty-free. The Committee discussed
improvements that could be built into a reauthorization of
AGOA, including steps to strengthen intellectual property
rights and reduce unnecessary regulations. Hon. Michael
Froman, the U.S. Trade Representative, testified at the
hearing.
Senators' Only Meetings
2014
March 12, 2014--Senators' Meeting to discuss the status of the
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement with United
States Trade Representative Michael Froman.
Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs,
and Global Competitiveness
2014
July 29, 2014--``The U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement: Lessons
Learned Two Years Later.'' The purpose of this hearing was
to examine the economic impact of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade
Agreement, as well as the opportunities and challenges it
presented to U.S. businesses and workers. Testimony was
heard from Mr. Stephen E. Biegun, Vice President of
International Governmental Affairs for the Ford Motor
Company; Mr. Sean Murphy, Vice President and Counsel for
Qualcomm; Ms. Shawna Morris, Vice President of Trade Policy
for the National Milk Producers Federation and U.S. Dairy
Export Council; and Mr. Michael Rue, Owner of Rue and
Forsman Ranch, Inc., on behalf of the USA Rice Federation.
HEALTH
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES
Throughout the 113th Congress, the committee held hearings
on and favorably reported a bipartisan bill to permanently
repeal and replace Medicare's flawed physician sustainable
growth rate (SGR) formula. The bill replaces the SGR formula
with a payment system that emphasizes quality and value while
ensuring that physicians do not receive arbitrary payment cuts
that are currently mandated by the SGR formula.
During the course of the Congress, the committee also held
hearings that focused on improving the Medicare and Medicaid
Programs for beneficiaries and providers alike.
The committee also focused on oversight of the
implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Multiple hearings
were held to receive and discuss progress reports from the
implementing agencies and departments, both at the Federal and
state levels. The committee produced bipartisan, bicameral
legislation which standardized post-acute care assessment data
for quality, payment, and discharge planning, called the
Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation (IMPACT) Act.
The IMPACT Act, specifically increased oversight of hospice
agencies through a survey and certification process, audits of
agencies with long hospice stays above a set threshold, and an
updated method for calculating the hospice payment cap. The
House passed companion legislation, H.R. 4994, unanimously on
September 16, 2014, and on September 18, 2014, the Senate
passed the same bill by unanimous consent. H.R. 4994 was signed
by the President and became law on October 2, 2014 (Pub. L.
113-185).
During the second session, Sylvia Mathews Burwell's
nomination for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human
Services was favorably reported out of Committee. Her
nomination was later confirmed by the full Senate by a 78-17
vote.
Legislation
December 12, 2013--Mark up: ``An Original Bill to Repeal the
Sustainable Growth Rate System and to Consider Health Care
Extenders,'' S. 1871. The purpose of this mark-up was to
consider legislation that would repeal Medicare's SGR and
replace it with policies that improve the existing fee-for-
service system through a value-based performance program,
provide an accurate valuation of services, improve chronic
care management, and encourage evidence-based care. The
legislation also would encourage the adoption of
alternative payment models, such as accountable care
organizations, patient-centered medical homes, bundled
payments, and data transparency among providers. Finally,
the bill would extend funding for other health services for
Medicare and Medicaid and other programs. Although S. 1871
was not taken up on the Senate floor, on March 31, 2014,
the Senate passed H.R. 4302, the Protecting Access to
Medicare Act of 2014, which suspended the SGR increase, and
extended various health programs, until March 31, 2015. The
bill was signed by the President and became law on April 1,
2014 (Pub. L. 113-93).
Full Committee Hearings
2013
February 14, 2013--``Health Insurance Exchanges: Progress
Report.'' The purpose of this hearing was to receive an
update on the progress of establishing Exchanges as part of
the Affordable Care Act. Testimony was received for Panel I
from Mr. Gary Cohen, Deputy Administrator and Director of
the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight
(CCIIO), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC.
Testimony for Panel II was received from Ms. Christine
Ferguson, Director of Rhode Island Health Benefit Exchange,
State of Rhode Island, Providence, RI; Ms. Bettina Tweardy
Riveros, Advisor to the Governor and Chair of the Delaware
Health Care Commission, State of Delaware, Wilmington, DE;
and Mr. Don Hughes, Advisor to the Office of the Governor,
State of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ.
February 28, 2013--``Delivery System Reform: Progress Report
from CMS.'' The purpose of this hearing was to receive an
update from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
on delivery system reforms and the implementation of the
Affordable Care Act. Testimony was received from Mr.
Jonathan Blum, Acting Principal Deputy Administrator and
Director, Center for Medicare, Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services, Baltimore, MD.
March 20, 2013--``Reforming the Delivery System: The Center for
Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.'' The purpose of this
hearing was to review the activities of the Center for
Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). Testimony was
received from Richard J. Gilfillan, M.D., Director, Center
for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services, Baltimore, MD.
April 17, 2013--``President's Fiscal Year 2014 Health Care
Proposals.'' The purpose of this hearing was to review and
ask questions about the President's fiscal year 2014
proposed budget. Testimony was received from Hon. Kathleen
Sebelius, Secretary, United States Department of Health and
Human Services, Washington, DC.
April 23, 2013--``The Antwone Fisher Story as a Case Study for
Child Welfare.'' The purpose of this this hearing was to
discuss solutions to the challenges faced by youth in the
foster care system and the ways which legislation is
helping to strengthen and improve the child welfare system.
Key witness Antwon Fisher's life story was used to view the
evolution of America's foster care system. Testimony was
received from Mr. Antwone Fisher, Author, Director and Film
Producer, Los Angeles, CA; Mr. Gary Stangler, Executive
Director, Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, St.
Louis, MO; Mr. Eric Fenner, Managing Director, Casey Family
Programs, Westerville, OH; and Mr. Kevin Campbell, Founder,
Center for Family Finding and Youth Connectedness,
Lakewood, WA.
May 14, 2013--``Advancing Reform: Medicare Physicians
Payments.'' The purpose of this hearing was to discuss
repealing the flawed SGR formula and what Congress can do
to improve the physician payment system to incentivize and
reward high-
quality, high-value care. Testimony was received from Mark
E. Miller, Ph.D., Executive Director, Medicare Payment
Advisory Commission, Washington, DC; A. Bruce Steinwald,
MBA, President, Bruce Steinwald Consulting, Washington, DC;
and Kavita K. Patel, MD, MSHS, Fellow and Managing
Director, The Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform, The
Brookings Institution, Washington, DC.
June 11, 2013--``Sex Trafficking and Exploitation in America:
Child Welfare's Role in Prevention and Intervention.'' The
purpose of this this hearing was to discuss the limitations
of the child welfare system in preventing sex trafficking
of foster youth. Testimony was received from Ms. Asia
Graves, Maryland Outreach Services Coordinator and Survivor
Advocate, FAIR Girls, Baltimore, MD; Ms. Michelle Guymon,
Probation Director, Los Angeles County Probation
Department: Innocence Lost LA Task Force, Los Angeles, CA;
Ms. Susan Goldfarb, Executive Director, Children's Advocacy
Center of Suffolk County, Boston, MA; and Hon. Joette Katz,
Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Children and
Families, Hartford, CT.
June 18, 2013--``High Prices, Low Transparency: The Bitter Pill
of Health Care Costs.'' The purpose of the hearing was to
discuss the issues raised by the March 4, 2013, Time
magazine article by journalist Steven Brill entitled
``Bitter Pill: Why Medical Bills are Killing Us.''
Testimony was received from Mr. Steven Brill, J.D.,
Contributing Editor, Time, New York, NY; Dr. Suzanne
Delbanco, Executive Director, Catalyst for Payment Reform,
San Francisco, CA; Dr. Paul Ginsburg, President, Center for
Studying Health System Change, Washington, DC; and Dr.
Giovanni Colella, CEO and Co-Founder, Castlight Health, San
Francisco, CA.
June 25, 2013--``Program Integrity: Oversight of Recovery Audit
Contractors.'' The purpose of this hearing was to provide a
broad overview of the Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC)
program from the vantage point of a RAC and health care
providers. Testimony was received from Ms. J.J. Carmody,
Director of Reimbursement, Billings Clinic, Billings, MT;
Ms. Suzie Draper, Vice President, Business Ethics and
Compliance, Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, UT;
and Mr. Robert Rolf, Vice President, CGI Federal Inc.,
Fairfax, VA.
June 26, 2013--``Health Care Quality: The Path Forward.'' The
purpose of this hearing was to discuss the state of quality
in healthcare and issues related to quality measure
development, quality reporting, and pay-for-performance.
Testimony was received from Hon. Mark McClellan, M.D.,
Ph.D., Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution, Washington,
DC; Dr. Christine K. Cassel, President and CEO, National
Quality Forum, Washington, DC; Dr. David Lansky, President
and CEO, Pacific Business Group on Health, San Francisco,
CA; and Dr. Elizabeth A. McGlynn, Director, Kaiser
Permanente Center for Effectiveness and Safety Research,
Pasadena, CA.
July 10, 2013--``Repealing the SGR and the Path Forward: A View
from CMS.'' The purpose of this hearing was to hear the
views of the Center from Medicare and Medicaid Services on
repealing the SGR and improving the Medicare physician
payment system. Testimony was received from Mr. Jonathan
Blum, Acting Principal Deputy Administrator and Director,
Center for Medicare, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services, Baltimore, MD.
July 17, 2013--``Health Information Technology: A Building
Block to Quality Health Care.'' The purpose of this hearing
was to hear from the Administration and discuss their
actions to encourage, incentivize, and help eligible
professionals and eligible hospitals to implement the
health information technology ``meaningful use'' program.
Testimony was received from Farzad Mostashari, MD, ScM,
National Coordinator for Health Information Technology,
Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC;
and Patrick Conway, MD, MSc, Chief Medical Officer and
Director, Center for Clinical Standards and Quality, and
Acting Director, Center for Medicare and Medicaid
Innovation, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,
Washington, DC.
July 24, 2013--``Health Information Technology: Using it to
Improve Care.'' The purpose of this hearing was to hear the
views of heath information technology vendors, eligible
professionals, and eligible hospitals as they implement
health information technology to improve care. Testimony
was received from Ms. Janet Marchibroda, Director, Health
Innovation Initiative, Bipartisan Policy Center,
Washington, DC; Dr. John Glaser, Ph.D., Chief Executive
Officer, Health Services, Siemens Healthcare, Malvern, PA;
Mr. Marty Fattig, Administrator and Chief Executive
Officer, Nemaha County Hospital, Auburn, NE; and Dr. Colin
Banas, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer and Associate
Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.
November 6, 2013--``Health Insurance Exchanges: An Update from
the Administration.'' The purpose of this hearing was to
receive an update from the Administration regarding
Healthcare.gov and their plan to improve the functionality
of the website. Testimony was received from Hon. Kathleen
Sebelius, Secretary, United States Department of Health and
Human Services, Washington, DC.
2014
April 10, 2014--``President's Fiscal Year 2015 Health Care
Proposals.'' The purpose of this hearing was to review and
ask questions about the President's fiscal year 2015
proposed budget. Testimony was received from Hon. Kathleen
Sebelius, Secretary, United States Department of Health and
Human Services, Washington, DC.
July 15, 2014--``Chronic Illness: Addressing Patients' Unmet
Needs.'' The purpose of this hearing was to hear from
patients, caregivers, and providers about the challenges of
living with chronic illness and the challenges faced in
care coordination. Testimony was received from Ms.
Stephanie Dempsey, Patient, Blairsville, GA; Mrs. Mary
Margaret Lehmann, Caregiver, Minneapolis, MN; Dr. William
A. Bornstein, Chief Quality and Medical Officer, Emory
Healthcare, Atlanta, GA; Ms. Cheryl DeMars, President and
CEO, The Alliance, Fitchburg, WI; and Mr. Chet Burrell,
President and CEO, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield,
Baltimore, MD.
Senators' Only Meetings
2013
March 14, 2013--Senators' Meeting to discuss the implementation
of the Affordable Care Act with Hon. Kathleen Sebelius,
Secretary, United States Department of Health and Human
Services.
July 31, 2013--Senators' Meeting to discuss the Medicare
physician sustainable growth rate system.
October 20, 2013--Senators' Meeting to discuss the Medicare
physician sustainable growth rate system.
December 11, 2013--Senators' Meeting to discuss the original
bill to repeal the sustainable growth rate system, health
care extenders, and The Supporting At-Risk Children Act.
Subcommittee on Health Care
2014
September 16, 2014--``The Children's Health Insurance Program:
Protecting America's Children and Families.'' The purpose
of this hearing was to provide background on the history of
the program and an overview of the role and importance of
the Children's Health Insurance Program in the changing
insurance landscape. Testimony was received from Mr. Bruce
D. Lesley, President, First Focus, Washington, DC; Dr.
James M. Perrin, President, American Academy of Pediatrics,
Elk Grove Village, IL; Ms. Cathy Caldwell, Director, Bureau
of Children's Health Insurance, Alabama Department of
Public Health, Montgomery, AL; and Douglas Holtz-Eakin,
Ph.D., President, American Action Forum, Washington, DC.
Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight
2014
July 23, 2014--``Saving for an Uncertain Future: How the ABLE
Act Can Help People With Disabilities and Their Families.''
The purpose of this hearing was to discuss a bill that
would create tax-advantaged savings accounts for people
with disabilities similar to accounts set up to pay for
higher education expenses under section 529, known as the
Achieving a Better Life Experience Act. Testimony was
received from Ms. Sara C. Wolff, Self-
Advocate and Board Member, National Down Syndrome Society,
Moscow, PA; Hon. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Member, United
States House of Representatives, Spokane, WA; Mr. Robert
D'Amelio, Volunteer Advocate, Autism Speaks, Charlotte, NC;
and Mr. Chase Alston Phillips, Financial Advisor,
Alexandria, VA.
SOCIAL SECURITY
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES
During the 113th Congress, the Committee and Subcommittee
held hearings about the Federal policies and programs that
provide income during retirement, and the Social Security
Disability Insurance program administered by the Social
Security Administration.
Full Committee Hearings
2014
July 24, 2014--``Social Security: A Fresh Look at Workers'
Disability Insurance.'' This hearing featured the testimony
of Mr. Stephen Goss, Chief Actuary, Social Security
Administration, Baltimore, MD; Ms. Marianna LaCanfora,
Acting Deputy Commissioner, Retirement and Disability
Policy, Social Security Administration, Baltimore, MD; Ms.
Rebecca Vallas, Associate Director, Poverty to Prosperity
Program, Center for American Progress Action Fund,
Washington, DC; and Dr. Richard Burkhauser, Professor,
Adjunct Scholar, Cornell University, American Enterprise
Institute, Washington, DC. The testimony focused on the
past, present, and future performance of the Disability
Insurance (DI) portion of the Social Security program,
including the circumstances surrounding the projected
exhaustion date of the DI trust fund in 2016.
December 9, 2014--``Social Security: Is a Key Foundation of
Economic Security Working for Women?'' The hearing featured
the testimony of Ms. Barbara Perrin, Beneficiary, Eugene,
OR; Catherine J. Dodd, Ph.D., RN, Chair of the Board of
Directors, National Committee to Preserve Social Security
and Medicare, Washington, DC; Sita Nataraj Slavov, Ph.D.,
Professor of Public Policy, George Mason University,
Visiting Scholar, American Enterprise Institute,
Washington, DC; and Ms. Janet M. Barr, MAAA, ASA, EA,
Actuary, on behalf of the American Academy of Actuaries,
Chicago, IL. The testimony focused on the impact of Social
Security benefits on women while working and during
retirement, and options to strengthen Social Security for
women and families. Compelling testimony was delivered by
Ms. Perrin who, despite doing almost everything right in
terms of trying to prepare for retirement, found herself at
age 68 living solely on a Social Security benefit of $775 a
month.
Subcommittee on Social Security,
Pensions, and Family Policy
2013
December 18, 2013--``The Role of Social Security, Defined
Benefits, and Private Retirement Accounts in the Face of
the Retirement Crisis.'' This hearing featured the
testimony of Mr. Robert G. Romasco, President, AARP,
Washington, DC; Dr. Andrew G. Biggs, Resident Scholar,
American Enterprise Institute, Washington, DC; Mr. Dean
Baker, Co-Director, Center for Economic and Policy
Research, Washington, DC; and Mr. John F. Sweeney,
Executive Vice President, Fidelity Investments, Boston, MA.
The testimony focused on how the current system for
retirement savings is or is not meeting the needs of
workers and retirees.
2014
February 26, 2014--``Retirement Savings for Low-Income
Workers.'' This hearing featured the testimony of Mr. J.
Mark Iwry, Senior Advisor to the Secretary and Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Retirement and Health Policy,
United States Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC;
Ms. Diane Oakley, Executive Director, National Institute on
Retirement Security, Washington, DC; Mr. Stephen P. Utkus,
Principal and Director, Vanguard Center for Retirement
Research, Malvern, PA; and Ms. Judy A. Miller, MSPA, FSA,
MAAA, Director of Retirement Policy, American Society of
Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA), ASPPA College
of Pension Actuaries, Arlington, VA. The testimony focused
on how current polices to promote retirement savings are or
are not meeting the needs of low-income workers. The
witness from the Administration described the President's
proposal to increase retirement savings for low-income
workers: myRA.
May 21, 2014--``Strengthening Social Security to Meet the Needs
of Tomorrow's Retirees.'' This hearing featured the
testimony of Mr. Stephen Goss, Chief Actuary, Social
Security Administration, Baltimore, MD; Dr. Teresa
Ghilarducci, Chair of the Economics Department, New School
for Social Research, The New School, New York, NY; Dr.
Jason J. Fichtner, Senior Research Fellow, Mercatus Center,
George Mason University, Arlington, VA; and Dr. Maya
Rockeymoore, President and CEO, Center for Global Policy
Solutions, Washington, DC. The testimony focused on whether
Social Security benefits are adequate to meet the
challenges facing current and future retirees and what
policies should be considered to expand Social Security.
FEDERAL DEBT LIMIT
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES
During the 113th Congress, the Committee held a hearing
about the Federal Debt Limit.
Full Committee Hearings
2013
October 10, 2013--``The Debt Limit.'' This hearing featured the
testimony of Hon. Jacob J. Lew, Secretary, United States
Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC. The hearing was
held during a ``shut down'' of the Federal Government. The
testimony focused on the potential impacts of a failure to
increase the debt ceiling.
OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES
IRS 501(c)(4) Investigation
Chairman Baucus and Chairman Wyden, working with Ranking
Member Hatch, undertook a bipartisan investigation into the
IRS's processing of applications for tax-exempt status. In May,
2013, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
(TIGTA) found that the IRS ``used inappropriate criteria that
identified for review Tea Party and other organizations
applying for tax-exempt status.'' In response, on May 21, 2013,
the Committee held a hearing on the matter, ``A Review of
Criteria Used by the IRS to Identify 501(c)(4) Applications for
Greater Scrutiny.'' The Committee also undertook an extensive
bipartisan investigation. In total, Committee investigators
interviewed 30 IRS and Treasury Department employees and
reviewed nearly a million documents. On June 13, 2014, the IRS
informed Chairman Wyden and Ranking Member Hatch that it could
not produce all responsive emails sent and received from
January 2009 through April 2011 by the former director of the
IRS Exempt Organizations Division Lois Lerner, who is a central
figure in the alleged misconduct at the IRS, due to a hard
drive crash. On June 23, 2014, the Chairman and Ranking Member
requested that TIGTA investigate the nature of the hard drive
crash and whether emails sent or received by Lerner could be
recovered. Committee staff closely monitored TIGTA's efforts as
it undertook a forensic analysis of IRS data backups. In
November 2014, TIGTA informed the Committee that it has
potentially identified missing Lerner emails on IRS disaster
recovery tapes and would produce them to the Committee in a
readable format as soon as it was feasible. Chairman Wyden and
Ranking Member Hatch issued a joint press release stating that
they are unable to release their report before the end of the
113th Congress but expect to release it in early 2015 after
they review TIGTA's findings along with any additional
recovered emails.
Tax Avoidance by Hedge Funds through Off-Shore Reinsurance Companies
In June 2014, Chairman Wyden initiated an inquiry into a
growing trend of the formation and investment in off-shore
reinsurance companies by U.S.-based hedge funds. Under the tax
code, investments in insurance companies are subject to
exceptions from foreign passive investment tax rules. At issue
is whether or not the offshore companies are substantially
engaged in the insurance business as defined by U.S. tax law.
Chairman Wyden wrote to the Secretary of the Treasury and to
the IRS Commissioner asking what actions had been taken to stem
this practice. He also asked the Joint Committee on Taxation
(JCT) to prepare an analysis of the use of this tax avoidance
practice. The Joint Committee staff provided a memorandum to
the Chairman at the end of July 2014 in response to this
request. Among other findings, the JCT staff documented the
fact that several U.S. hedge fund-backed reinsurance companies
were only representationally in the insurance business with two
such companies having insurance risk equal to less than 1
percent of their invested assets. Chairman Wyden formally
forwarded the JCT analysis to the Treasury Department in
September, 2014, with a follow-up request for clarification on
why such practices were consistent with U.S. tax law and asked
that Treasury identify countries which presented obstacles to
IRS enforcement.
Pricing of Specialty Drugs
In July 2014, Chairman Wyden and Senator Grassley, in his
capacity as a member of the Committee, initiated an
investigation into the pricing of Sovaldi, a drug for treatment
of Hepatitis C, a viral disease affecting roughly 2.7 million
Americans. The high cost of the drug, between $84,000 and
$168,000 for a standard course of treatment depending upon the
genotype of the disease and patient characteristics, represents
a substantial cost to the U.S. health care system, especially
to Medicare and Medicaid programs within the Committee's
jurisdiction. The cost of specialty drugs is a growing share of
the total cost of prescription drugs within the U.S. health
care system. By one recent estimate, specialty drugs, such as
Sovaldi, could account for 50 percent of U.S. drug spending by
2019. While the manufacturer of Sovaldi--Gilead Science, Inc.--
has provided some of the information and documentation
requested, a substantial amount of the information requested in
the Senators' initial July 2014 letter has not yet been
provided, and additional collection and investigation is
continuing.
IRS Whistleblower Programs
In June 2014, Chairman Wyden and Ranking Member Hatch made
two related requests to the U.S. Government Accountability
Office (GAO) to ask GAO to conduct reviews of IRS programs
where information on suspected tax violations is collected from
outside parties. Under Section 7623 of the Internal Revenue
Code, the IRS is required to pay informants rewards for
information that successfully results in high-value tax
collections of $2 million or more. Between 9,000 and 10,000
such claims are made a year to the IRS Whistleblower Office.
The IRS also has a program for receiving information from any
informant that may relate to tax violations which receives
upwards of 100,000 tips a year, which operates separately from
the Section 7623 program. The GAO has been asked to look at
each program to evaluate how effectively the IRS is using
outside information it receives from these sources.
Avoidance and Evasion of Tobacco Excise Taxes
In March 2014, Chairman Wyden requested that the GAO update
work that it had previously done concerning efforts by tobacco
companies to avoid and evade tobacco excise taxes related to
cigarettes. Cigarette excise taxes were increased in 2009 to
provide funding for reauthorization of the Children's Health
Insurance Program (CHIP), legislation reported by the
Committee--the Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act
of 2009. This legislation not only increased the tax on
cigarettes, but it also applied this rate to roll-your-own
cigarette tobacco and to small cigars that could be substituted
for cigarettes in an effort to prevent circumvention of the new
tax rates. As documented by GAO, tobacco companies are
circumventing the higher tax on cigarettes by deliberately re-
labeling and selling roll-your-own tobacco as pipe tobacco,
which is taxed at a lower rate, and adding additional weight
and fillers to small cigars to allow them be classified as
large cigars, which are also generally taxed at a lower ad
valorem rate. In its update, GAO concluded that between $2.6
billion and $3.7 billion in excise tax revenue has been lost,
to date, as a result of these practices. The Treasury
Department's regulatory arm--the Alcohol, Tobacco Tax and Trade
Bureau (TTB)--has intermittently contemplated regulations to
tighten the definitions of cigarettes and cigars and pipe
tobacco to close these loopholes, but has failed to complete
any of them. The Committee held a hearing on this subject in
July 2014 entitled ``Tobacco: Taxes Owed, Avoided, and
Evaded.'' TTB testified that it would propose new regulations,
at least with regard to pipe tobacco, by the beginning of 2015.
In August 2014, Chairman Wyden and Ranking Member Hatch
requested that GAO pursue inquiries regarding two related
tobacco tax issues: illicit imports that evade Federal taxation
and e-cigarette manufacture and distribution. E-cigarettes
constitute a growing part of the smoking market, but are not
subject to Federal excise taxes because they are not tobacco
products under the tax code even if the nicotine they contain
is derived from tobacco.
NOMINATIONS
Antonio F. Weiss, of New York, to be an Under Secretary of the
Treasury, vice Mary John Miller.
Nov. 12, 2014--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Dec. 17, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
Marisa Lago, of New York, to be a Deputy United States Trade
Representative, with the rank of Ambassador, vice
Miriam E. Sapiro, resigned.
Nov. 12, 2014--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Dec. 17, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
Seth B. Carpenter, of the District of Columbia, to be an
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, vice Matthew S.
Rutherford.
Sept. 8, 2014--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Dec. 17, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
Ronald Alan Pearlman, of the District of Columbia, to be a
Member of the Internal Revenue Service Oversight Board
for a term expiring September 14, 2015, vice Nancy
Killefer, term expired.
Sept. 8, 2014--Received in the Senate.
Sept. 8, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar in the
Privileged Nomination section with nominee
information requested by the Committee on Finance,
pursuant to S. Res. 116, 112th Congress.
Dec. 17, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
Brodi L. Fontenot, of Louisiana, to be Chief Financial Officer,
Department of the Treasury, vice Daniel M. Tangherlini,
resigned.
July 31, 2014--Received in the Senate.
July 31, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar in the
Privileged Nomination section with nominee
information requested by the Committee on Finance,
pursuant to S. Res. 116, 112th Congress.
Dec. 17, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
Rafael J. Lopez, of Maryland, to be Commissioner on Children,
Youth, and Families, Department of Health and Human
Services, vice Bryan Hayes Samuels, resigned.
July 31, 2014--Received in the Senate.
July 31, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar in the
Privileged Nomination section with nominee
information requested by the Committee on Finance,
pursuant to S. Res. 116, 112th Congress.
Dec. 17, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
Andrew LaMont Eanes, of Kansas, to be Deputy Commissioner of
Social Security for the term expiring January 19, 2019,
vice Carolyn W. Colvin, term expired.
July 31, 2014--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Dec. 17, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
Carolyn Watts Colvin, of Maryland, to be Commissioner of Social
Security for the term expiring January 19, 2019, vice
Michael J. Astrue, resigned.
June 23, 2014--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
July 31, 2014--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
Sept. 18, 2014--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
Sept. 18, 2014--Reported by Senator Wyden, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
Sept. 18, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 1058. Subject to nominee's commitment to
respond to requests to appear and testify before
any duly constituted committee of the Senate.
Dec. 13, 2014--Motion to proceed to executive session to
consideration of nomination agreed to in Senate by
Yea-Nay Vote. 52-41. Record Vote Number: 329.
Dec. 13, 2014--Cloture motion presented in Senate.
Dec. 13, 2014--By unanimous consent agreement, mandatory
quorum under Rule XXII waived.
Dec. 13, 2014--Cloture motion withdrawn by unanimous consent
in Senate.
Dec. 17, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
Cary Douglas Pugh, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United
States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years, vice
Robert Allen Wherry, Jr., retired.
June 9, 2014--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
July 16, 2014--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
July 31, 2014--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
July 31, 2014--Reported by Senator Wyden, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
July 31, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 999. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
Nov. 19, 2014--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote November 20, 2014.
Nov. 20, 2014--Considered by Senate.
Nov. 20, 2014--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Sylvia Mathews Burwell, of West Virginia, to be Secretary of
Health and Human Services, vice Kathleen Sebelius.
Apr. 11, 2014--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
May 14, 2014--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
May 21, 2014--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
May 8, 2014--Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions. Hearings held.
May 21, 2014--Reported by Senator Wyden, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
May 21, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 798. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
May 22, 2014--Motion to proceed to executive session to
consideration of nomination in Senate by Voice
Vote.
May 22, 2014--Cloture motion presented in Senate.
May 22, 2014--By unanimous consent agreement, mandatory
quorum under Rule XXII waived.
June 4, 2014--Cloture invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 67-
28. Record Vote Number: 174.
June 4, 2014--Considered by Senate.
June 4, 2014--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote June 5, 2014.
June 5, 2014--Considered by Senate.
June 5, 2014--Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 78-17.
Record Vote Number: 175.
Ramin Toloui, of Iowa, to be a Deputy Under Secretary of the
Treasury, vice Charles Collyns, resigned.
Apr. 10, 2014--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
June 25, 2014--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
July 31, 2014--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
July 31, 2014--Reported by Senator Wyden, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
July 31, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 998. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
Nov. 19, 2014--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote November 20, 2014.
Nov. 20, 2014--Considered by Senate.
Nov. 20, 2014--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Linda Struyk Millsaps, of North Carolina, to be a Member of the
Internal Revenue Service Oversight Board for a term
expiring September 14, 2018, vice Paul Jones, term
expired.
Mar. 31, 2014--Received in the Senate.
Mar. 31, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar in the
Privileged Nomination section with nominee
information requested by the Committee on Finance,
pursuant to S. Res. 116, 112th Congress.
Dec. 17, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
Robert W. Holleyman II, of Louisiana, to be a Deputy United
States Trade Representative, with the rank of
Ambassador, vice Demetrios J. Marantis, resigned.
Feb. 27, 2014--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
July 16, 2014--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
July 31, 2014--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
July 31, 2014--Reported by Senator Wyden, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
July 31, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 997. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
Sept. 17, 2014--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote September 18, 2014.
Sept. 18, 2014--Considered by Senate.
Sept. 18, 2014--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
D. Nathan Sheets, of Maryland, to be an Under Secretary of the
Treasury, vice Lael Brainard, resigned.
Feb. 12, 2014--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
June 25, 2014--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
July 31, 2014--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
July 31, 2014--Reported by Senator Wyden, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
July 31, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 996. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
Sept. 17, 2014--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote September 18, 2014.
Sept. 18, 2014--Considered by Senate.
Sept. 18, 2014--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Maria Cancian, of Wisconsin, to be Assistant Secretary for
Family Support, Department of Health and Human
Services, vice Carmen R. Nazario.
Feb. 12, 2014--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
June 25, 2014--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
July 31, 2014--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
July 31, 2014--Reported by Senator Wyden, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
July 31, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 995. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
Dec. 17, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
Darci L. Vetter, of Nebraska, to be Chief Agricultural
Negotiator, Office of the United States Trade
Representative, with the rank of Ambassador, vice Islam
A. Siddiqui.
Jan. 7, 2014--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
May 8, 2014--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
May 21, 2014--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
May 21, 2014--Reported by Senator Wyden, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
May 21, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 797. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
July 8, 2014--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote July 9, 2014.
July 9, 2014--Considered by Senate.
July 9, 2014--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Nani A. Coloretti, of California, to be Chief Financial
Officer, Department of the Treasury, vice Daniel M.
Tangherlini, resigned.
Jan. 6, 2014--Received in the Senate.
Jan. 6, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar in the
Privileged Nomination section with nominee
information requested by the Committee on Finance,
pursuant to S. Res. 116, 112th Congress.
Mar. 10, 2014--Received message of withdrawal of nomination
from the President.
Stefan M. Selig, of New York, to be Under Secretary of Commerce
for International Trade, vice Francisco J. Sanchez,
resigned.
Jan. 6, 2014--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
May 8, 2014--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
May 21, 2014--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
May 21, 2014--Reported by Senator Wyden, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
May 21, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 796. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
June 4, 2014--Considered by Senate.
June 4, 2014--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, of Missouri, to be a Member of the
United States International Trade Commission for a term
expiring December 16, 2021, vice Shara L. Aranoff, term
expired.
Jan. 6, 2014--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Jan. 15, 2014--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
Jan. 15, 2014--Reported by Senator Baucus, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
Jan. 15, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 513. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
Mar. 6, 2014--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote on March 6, 2014.
Mar. 6, 2014--Considered by Senate.
Mar. 6, 2014--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Sarah Bloom Raskin, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of the
Treasury, vice Neal S. Wolin.
Jan. 6, 2014--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Jan. 15, 2014--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
Jan. 15, 2014--Reported by Senator Baucus, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
Jan. 15, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 512. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
March 6, 2014--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote at a time to be determined.
March 10, 2014--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote March 12, 2014.
March 12, 2014--Considered by Senate.
March 12, 2014--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
L. Paige Marvel, of Maryland, to be a Judge of the United
States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years
(reappointment).
Jan. 6, 2014--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Feb. 4, 2014--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
Jan. 15, 2014--Committee on Finance. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 113-381.
Feb. 4, 2014--Reported by Senator Baucus, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
Feb. 4, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 641. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
Nov. 19, 2014--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote November 20, 2014.
Nov. 20, 2014--Considered by Senate.
Nov. 20, 2014--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
R. Gil Kerlikowske, of the District of Columbia, to be
Commissioner of Customs, Department of Homeland
Security, vice Alan D. Bersin, resigned.
Jan. 6, 2014--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Feb. 4, 2014--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
Jan. 15, 2014--Committee on Finance. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 113-381.
Feb. 4, 2014--Reported by Senator Baucus, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
Feb. 4, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 640. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
Mar. 6, 2014--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote on March 6, 2014.
Mar. 6, 2014--Considered by Senate.
Mar. 6, 2014--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Apr. 8, 2014--Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry. Ordered to be reported favorably.
Karen Dynan, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury, vice Janice Eberly.
Jan. 6, 2014--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Feb. 6, 2014--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
Jan. 30, 2014--Committee on Finance. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 113-380.
Feb. 6, 2014--Reported by Senator Baucus, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
Feb. 6, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 654. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
June 25, 2014--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote June 26, 2014.
June 26, 2014--Considered by Senate.
June 26, 2014--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Tamara Wenda Ashford, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United
States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years, vice Mary
Ann Cohen, retired.
Jan. 6, 2014--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Feb. 4, 2014--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
Jan. 15, 2014--Committee on Finance. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 113-381.
Feb. 4, 2014--Reported by Senator Baucus, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
Feb. 4, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 639. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
Nov. 19, 2014--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote November 20, 2014.
Nov. 20, 2014--Considered by Senate.
Nov. 20, 2014--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Richard G. Frank, of Massachusetts, to be an Assistant
Secretary of Health and Human Services, vice Sherry
Glied, resigned.
Jan. 6, 2014--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Feb. 4, 2014--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
Jan. 30, 2014--Committee on Finance. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 113-380.
Feb. 4, 2014--Reported by Senator Baucus, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
Feb. 4, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 638. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
May 22, 2014--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote May 22, 2014.
May 22, 2014--Considered by Senate.
May 22, 2014--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Alan L. Cohen, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Social
Security Advisory Board for a term expiring September
30, 2016, vice Dana K. Bilyeu, term expired.
Jan. 6, 2014--Received in the Senate.
Jan. 6, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar in the
Privileged Nomination section with nominee
information requested by the Committee on Finance,
pursuant to S. Res. 116, 112th Congress.
May 8, 2014--Committee on Finance. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 113-538.
June 19, 2014--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
June 19, 2014--Committee requested information was received.
July 10, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar pursuant
to S. Res. 116, 112th Congress. Calendar No. 908.
Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to
requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
Aug. 1, 2014--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote September 8, 2014.
Sept. 8, 2014--Considered by Senate.
Sept. 8, 2014--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Lanhee J. Chen, of California, to be a Member of the Social
Security Advisory Board for a term expiring September
30, 2018, vice Mark J. Warshawsky, term expired.
Jan. 6, 2014--Received in the Senate.
Jan. 6, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar in the
Privileged Nomination section with nominee
information requested by the Committee on Finance,
pursuant to S. Res. 116, 112th Congress.
May 8, 2014--Committee on Finance. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 113-538.
June 19, 2014--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
June 19, 2014--Committee requested information was received.
July 10, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar pursuant
to S. Res. 116, 112th Congress. Calendar No. 909.
Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to
requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
Aug. 1, 2014--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote September 8, 2014.
Sept. 8, 2014--Considered by Senate.
Sept. 8, 2014--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Henry J. Aaron, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of
the Social Security Advisory Board for a term expiring
September 30, 2020 (reappointment).
Jan. 6, 2014--Received in the Senate.
Jan. 6, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar in the
Privileged Nomination section with nominee
information requested by the Committee on Finance,
pursuant to S. Res. 116, 112th Congress.
May 8, 2014--Committee on Finance. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 113-538.
June 19, 2014--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
June 19, 2014--Committee requested information was received.
July 10, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar pursuant to
S. Res. 116, 112th Congress. Calendar No. 911.
Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to
requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
Aug. 1, 2014--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and vote
September 8, 2014.
Sept. 8, 2014--Considered by Senate.
Sept. 8, 2014--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Henry J. Aaron, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of
the Social Security Advisory Board for a term expiring
September 30, 2014, vice Jeffrey Robert Brown, term
expired.
Jan. 6, 2014--Received in the Senate.
Jan. 6, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar in the
Privileged Nomination section with nominee
information requested by the Committee on Finance,
pursuant to S. Res. 116, 112th Congress.
May 8, 2014--Committee on Finance. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 113-538.
June 19, 2014--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
June 19, 2014--Committee requested information was received.
July 10, 2014--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar pursuant
to S. Res. 116, 112th Congress. Calendar No. 910.
Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to
requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
Aug. 1, 2014--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote September 8, 2014.
Sept. 8, 2014--Considered by Senate.
Sept. 8, 2014--Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 54-
43. Record Vote Number: 258.
Stefan M. Selig, of New York, to be Under Secretary of Commerce
for International Trade, vice Francisco J. Sanchez,
resigned.
Nov. 12, 2013--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Jan. 3, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
Nani A. Coloretti, of California, to be Chief Financial
Officer, Department of the Treasury, vice Daniel M.
Tangherlini, resigned.
Oct. 30, 2013--Received in the Senate.
Oct. 30, 2013--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar in the
Privileged Nomination section with nominee
information requested by the Committee on Finance,
pursuant to S. Res. 116, 112th Congress.
Jan. 3, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
Alan L. Cohen, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Social
Security Advisory Board for a term expiring September
30, 2016, vice Dana K. Bilyeu, term expired.
Sept. 30, 2013--Received in the Senate.
Sept. 30, 2013--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar in the
Privileged Nomination section with nominee
information requested by the Committee on Finance,
pursuant to S. Res. 116, 112th Congress.
Jan. 3, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
Lanhee J. Chen, of California, to be a Member of the Social
Security Advisory Board for a term expiring September
30, 2018, vice Mark J. Warshawsky, term expired.
Sept. 30, 2013--Received in the Senate.
Sept. 30, 2013--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar in the
Privileged Nomination section with nominee
information requested by the Committee on Finance,
pursuant to S. Res. 116, 112th Congress.
Jan. 3, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
Tamara Wenda Ashford, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United
States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years, vice Mary
Ann Cohen, retired.
Sept. 18, 2013--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Jan. 3, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
Richard G. Frank, of Massachusetts, to be an Assistant
Secretary of Health and Human Services, vice Sherry
Glied, resigned.
Sept. 11, 2013--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Jan. 3, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
John Andrew Koskinen, of the District of Columbia, to be
Commissioner of Internal Revenue for the term expiring
November 12, 2017, vice Douglas H. Shulman, term
expired.
Aug. 1, 2013--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Dec. 10, 2013--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
Dec. 13, 2013--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
Dec. 11, 2013--Committee on Finance. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 113-390.
Dec. 13, 2013--Reported by Senator Baucus, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
Dec. 13, 2013--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 459. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
Dec. 16, 2013--Motion to proceed to consideration of
nomination in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 55-37. Record
Vote Number: 278.
Dec. 16, 2013--Considered by Senate.
Dec. 16, 2013--Cloture motion presented in Senate.
Dec. 19, 2013--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote December 20, 2013.
Dec. 20, 2013--Cloture invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 56-
39. Record Vote Number: 287.
Dec. 20, 2013--Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 59-
36. Record Vote Number: 288.
R. Gil Kerlikowske, of the District of Columbia, to be
Commissioner of Customs, Department of Homeland
Security, vice Alan D. Bersin, resigned.
Aug. 1, 2013--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Jan. 3, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
Karen Dynan, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury, vice Janice Eberly.
Aug. 1, 2013--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Jan. 3, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
L. Paige Marvel, of Maryland, to be a Judge of the United
States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years
(reappointment).
July 31, 2013--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Jan. 3, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
Sarah Bloom Raskin, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of the
Treasury, vice Neal S. Wolin.
July 31, 2013--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Nov. 20, 2013--Finance Committee. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 113-389.
Jan. 3, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, of Missouri, to be a Member of the
United States International Trade Commission for a term
expiring December 16, 2021, vice Shara L. Aranoff, term
expired.
July 15, 2013--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Nov. 20, 2013--Finance Committee. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 113-389.
Jan. 3, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
Michael B. Thornton, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United
States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years
(reappointment).
May 9, 2013--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
July 25, 2013--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
July 18, 2013--Committee on Finance. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 113-388.
July 25, 2013--Reported by Senator Baucus, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
July 25, 2013--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 232. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
Aug. 1, 2013--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Joseph W. Nega, of Illinois, to be a Judge of the United States
Tax Court for a term of fifteen years, vice Thomas B.
Wells, retired.
May 9, 2013--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
July 25, 2013--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
July 18, 2013--Committee on Finance. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 113-388.
July 25, 2013--Reported by Senator Baucus, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
July 25, 2013--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 231. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
Aug. 1, 2013--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Michael Froman, of New York, to be United States Trade
Representative, with the rank of Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, vice Ronald Kirk,
resigned.
May 7, 2013--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
June 6, 2013--Committee on Finance. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 113-227.
June 11, 2013--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
June 11, 2013--Reported by Senator Baucus, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
June 11, 2013--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 182. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
June 19, 2013--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote at a time to be determined.
June 19, 2013--Considered by Senate.
June 19, 2013--Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 93-4.
Record Vote Number: 158.
Henry J. Aaron, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of
the Social Security Advisory Board for a term expiring
September 30, 2020 (reappointment).
Apr. 18, 2013--Received in the Senate.
Apr. 18, 2013--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar in the
Privileged Nomination section with nominee
information requested by the Committee on Finance,
pursuant to S. Res. 116, 112th Congress.
Jan. 3, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
Henry J. Aaron, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of
the Social Security Advisory Board for a term expiring
September 30, 2014, vice Jeffrey Robert Brown, term
expired.
Apr. 18, 2013--Received in the Senate.
Apr. 18, 2013--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar in the
Privileged Nomination section with nominee
information requested by the Committee on Finance,
pursuant to S. Res. 116, 112th Congress.
Jan. 3, 2014--Returned to the President under the provisions
of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
Marilyn B. Tavenner, of Virginia, to be Administrator of the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, vice Donald
M. Berwick, resigned.
Feb. 7, 2013--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Apr. 9, 2013--Committee on Finance. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 113-205.
Apr. 23, 2013--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
Apr. 23, 2013--Reported by Senator Baucus, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
Apr. 23, 2013--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 92. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
May 9, 2013--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and vote
at a time to be determined.
May 15, 2013--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote May 15, 2013.
May 15, 2013--Considered by Senate.
May 15, 2013--Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 91-7.
Record Vote Number: 126.
F. Scott Kieff, of Illinois, to be a Member of the United
States International Trade Commission for the term
expiring June 16, 2020, vice Daniel Pearson, term
expired.
Feb. 4, 2013--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
July 18, 2013--Committee on Finance. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 113-388.
July 25, 2013--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
July 25, 2013--Reported by Senator Baucus, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
July 25, 2013--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 230. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
Aug. 1, 2013--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Jacob J. Lew, of New York, to be Secretary of the Treasury,
vice Timothy F. Geithner.
Jan. 22, 2013--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Feb. 13, 2013--Committee on Finance. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 113-166.
Feb. 26, 2013--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
Feb. 26, 2013--Reported by Senator Baucus, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
Feb. 26, 2013--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 26. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
Feb. 27, 2013--By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote today.
Feb. 27, 2013--Considered by Senate.
Feb. 27, 2013--Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 71-
26. Record Vote Number: 25.
William B. Schultz, of the District of Columbia, to be General
Counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services,
vice Daniel Meron.
Jan. 22, 2013--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Feb. 26, 2013--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
Feb. 26, 2013--Reported by Senator Baucus, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
Feb. 26, 2013--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 25. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
Apr. 25, 2013--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Christopher J. Meade, of New York, to be General Counsel for
the Department of the Treasury, vice George Wheeler
Madison, resigned.
Jan. 22, 2013--Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Feb. 26, 2013--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
Feb. 26, 2013--Reported by Senator Baucus, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
Feb. 26, 2013--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 24. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
Apr. 25, 2013--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS REFERRED
TO THE COMMITTEE
There were 542 Senate bills and 15 House bills referred to
the committee for consideration during the 113th Congress.In
addition, 12 Senate and House resolutions (joint, concurrent,
or simple resolutions) were referred to the committee.
REPORTS, PRINTS, AND STUDIES
During the 113th Congress, the committee and supporting
joint committees, prepared and issued 8 reports, special
prints, and studies on the following topics:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title Document no. To accompany
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAX TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT OF 113-155........... S. 2261
2014.
EXPIRING PROVISIONS IMPROVEMENT 113-154........... S. 2260
REFORM AND EFFICIENCY (EXPIRE)
ACT OF 2014.
THE SUPPORTING AT-RISK KIDS ACT. 113-137........... S. 1870
TO AMEND TITLE XVIII OF THE 113-135........... S. 1871
SOCIAL SECURITY ACT TO REPEAL
THE MEDICARE SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
RATE FORMULA AND TO IMPROVE
BENEFICIARY ACCESS UNDER THE
MEDICARE PROGRAM, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
STAFF REPORT ON COMPREHENSIVE 113-31............ ..................
TAX REFORM FOR 2015 AND BEYOND.
JOINT STAFF REPORT ON THE 113-16............ ..................
CORPORATE PRACTICE OF DENTISTRY
IN THE MEDICAID PROGRAM.
REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE 113-5............. ..................
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE OF THE
UNITED STATES SENATE DURING THE
112TH CONGRESS.
RULES OF PROCEDURE, SENATE 113-2............. ..................
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS
During the 113th Congress, a total of 565 official
communications were submitted to the committee. Of these, 5
were Presidential Messages; 538 were Executive Communications--
these communications include reports to advise and inform the
Congress, required annual or semi-annual agency budget and
activities summaries, and requests for legislative action. The
committee also received 22 Petitions and Memorials.
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