[Senate Report 115-25]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
115th Congress } { Report
SENATE
1st Session } { 115-25
_______________________________________________________________________
R E P O R T
ON THE ACTIVITIES
of the
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
of the
UNITED STATES SENATE
during the
114th CONGRESS
pursuant to
Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules
of the
UNITED STATES SENATE
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
April 5 (legislative day, April 4), 2017.--Ordered to be printed
_________
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
69-010 WASHINGTON : 2017
[114th Congress--Committee Membership]
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
ORRIN G. HATCH, Utah, Chairman
CHUCK GRASSLEY, Iowa RON WYDEN, Oregon
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
DANIEL COATS, Indiana ROBERT P. CASEY, Jr., Pennsylvania
DEAN HELLER, Nevada MARK R. WARNER, Virginia
TIM SCOTT, South Carolina
Chris Campbell, Staff Director
Joshua Sheinkman, Democratic Staff Director
SUBCOMMITTEES
HEALTH CARE
PATRICK J. TOOMEY, Pennsylvania, Chairman
CHUCK GRASSLEY, Iowa DEBBIE STABENOW, Michigan
PAT ROBERTS, Kansas MARIA CANTWELL, Washington
MICHAEL B. ENZI, Wyoming ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey
RICHARD BURR, North Carolina BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland
DANIEL COATS, Indiana SHERROD BROWN, Ohio
DEAN HELLER, Nevada MARK R. WARNER, Virginia
TIM SCOTT, South Carolina
______
INTERNATIONAL TRADE, CUSTOMS, AND GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS
JOHN CORNYN, Texas, Chairman
CHUCK GRASSLEY, Iowa RON WYDEN, Oregon
PAT ROBERTS, Kansas CHARLES E. SCHUMER, New York
JOHN THUNE, South Dakota DEBBIE STABENOW, Michigan
JOHNNY ISAKSON, Georgia BILL NELSON, Florida
ROB PORTMAN, Ohio
(ii)
ENERGY, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE
DANIEL COATS, Indiana, Chairman
CHUCK GRASSLEY, Iowa MICHAEL F. BENNET, Colorado
MIKE CRAPO, Idaho MARIA CANTWELL, Washington
MICHAEL B. ENZI, Wyoming BILL NELSON, Florida
JOHN CORNYN, Texas THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware
JOHN THUNE, South Dakota ROBERT P. CASEY, JR. Pennsylvania
RICHARD BURR, North Carolina
______
SOCIAL SECURITY, PENSIONS, AND FAMILY POLICY
DEAN HELLER, Nevada, Chairman
JOHNNY ISAKSON, Georgia SHERROD BROWN, Ohio,
PATRICK J. TOOMEY, Pennsylvania CHARLES E. SCHUMER, New York
TIM SCOTT, South Carolina
______
TAXATION AND IRS OVERSIGHT
MIKE CRAPO, Idaho, Chairman
PAT ROBERTS, Kansas ROBERT P. CASEY, Jr., Pennsylvania
MICHAEL B. ENZI, Wyoming CHARLES E. SCHUMER, New York
JOHN CORNYN, Texas BILL NELSON, Florida
JOHN THUNE, South Dakota ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey
JOHNNY ISAKSON, Georgia THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware
ROB PORTMAN, Ohio BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland
PATRICK J. TOOMEY, Pennsylvania MICHAEL F. BENNET, Colorado
DANIEL COATS, Indiana MARK R. WARNER, Virginia
DEAN HELLER, Nevada RON WYDEN, Oregon
TIM SCOTT, South Carolina
______
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
ROB PORTMAN, Ohio, Chairman
MIKE CRAPO, Idaho MARK R. WARNER, Virginia
RICHARD BURR, North Carolina
(iii)
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
----------
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Finance,
Washington, DC, April 5, 2017.
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 114th
Congress.
Sincerely,
Orrin G. Hatch, Chairman.
(v)
C O N T E N T S
__________
Page
114th Congress--Committee Membership............................. ii
Letter of Transmittal............................................ v
Committee Jurisdiction........................................... 1
Rules of Procedure............................................... 2
Tax--Summary of Activities....................................... 5
Full Committee Hearings...................................... 5
Full Committee Executive Meetings............................ 10
Senators Only Meetings....................................... 10
Trade--Summary of Activities..................................... 13
Full Committee Hearings...................................... 13
Full Committee Executive Meetings............................ 14
Senators Only Meetings....................................... 15
Conference Committees........................................ 15
Senate Advisory Group on Negotiations........................ 15
Health--Summary of Activities.................................... 17
Legislation.................................................. 18
Full Committee Hearings...................................... 18
Subcommittee on Health Care.................................. 21
Human Resources--Summary of Activities........................... 23
Full Committee Hearings...................................... 23
Social Security--Summary of Activities........................... 25
Full Committee Hearings...................................... 25
Full Committee Executive Meetings............................ 25
Federal Debt Limit--Summary of Activities........................ 27
Full Committee Hearing....................................... 27
Oversight and Investigations--Summary of Activities.............. 29
Full Committee Hearings...................................... 32
Full Committee Executive Meetings............................ 33
Senators Only Meetings....................................... 33
Nominations...................................................... 35
Bills and Resolutions Referred to the Committee.................. 43
Reports, Prints, and Studies..................................... 45
Official Communications.......................................... 49
(vii)
115th Congress } { Report
SENATE
1st Session } { 115-25
======================================================================
REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE DURING THE 114TH
CONGRESS
_______
April 5 (legislative day April 4), 2017.--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 114th
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
In the 114th Congress, the Senate Finance Committee played
a leading role in efforts to find a path forward on reforming
the United States Tax Code, providing funding for national
infrastructure spending, and preventing tax increases from
expiring provisions for American families and businesses.
Particularly noteworthy successes include the formation of five
bipartisan working groups to identify possible paths forward on
various tax reform options, and publishing of the findings
shortly thereafter.
A series of hearings held by the Senate Finance Committee
during the 114th Congress examined several options related to
tax reform and tax compliance, including hearings on corporate
integration, international taxation, retirement savings, and
energy tax incentives.
Full Committee Hearings
2015
January 22, 2015--``Jobs and a Healthy Economy.'' This hearing
addressed the best paths forward to tackle tax reform and
provide ways to make the tax code a better tool for
promoting job and economic growth. Testimony was heard from
the Honorable John M. Engler, president, Business
Roundtable, Washington, DC; Dr. Robert E. Hall, senior
fellow, Stanford University's Hoover Institution, and
professor of economics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA;
and Dr. Justin Wolfers, senior fellow, Peterson Institute
for International Economics, professor of public policy,
Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, and professor of
economics, College of Literature, Arts, and Sciences,
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
February 3, 2015--``Internal Revenue Service Operations and the
President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2016.'' This hearing
addressed the operations of the IRS and oversight issues
related to investigations held in the previous Congress.
Testimony was heard from the Honorable John Koskinen,
Commissioner, Internal Revenue Service, Washington, DC.
February 5, 2015--``President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2016.''
The hearing covered the President's 2016 budget and touched
on health care, tax reform, and employment. Testimony was
heard from the Honorable Jacob J. Lew, Secretary,
Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC.
February 10, 2015--``Getting to `Yes' on Tax Reform: What
Lessons Can Congress Learn From the Tax Reform Act of
1986?'' This hearing covered the issues surrounding
potential future tax reform in the context of the Tax
Reform Act of 1986. Testimony was heard from the Honorable
Bob Packwood, former chairman, Senate Committee on Finance,
Portland, OR; and the Honorable Bill Bradley, former
member, Senate Committee on Finance, New York, NY.
February 24, 2015--``Tax Reform, Growth, and Efficiency.'' This
hearing addressed bipartisan tax reform proposals and how
said proposals would either help or hinder the growth of
the economy and creation of jobs. Testimony was heard from
Dr. Michael Boskin, T.M. Friedman professor of economics
and Hoover Institution senior fellow, Stanford University,
Stanford, CA; Dr. John Diamond, fellow in public finance,
Baker School of Public Policy, Rice University, Houston,
TX; Dr. Laura D'Andrea Tyson, professor of business
administration and economics and director, Institute for
Business and Social Impact, Haas School of Business,
University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA; and Dr.
Jane G. Gravelle, Senior Specialist in Economic Policy,
Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress,
Washington, DC.
March 3, 2015--``Fairness in Taxation.'' This hearing addressed
the large number of credits, deductions, exclusions, and
exemptions in the tax code, and how future tax reform
efforts could seek to develop a fairer system. Testimony
was heard from Dr. Lawrence B. Lindsey, president and chief
executive officer, The Lindsey Group, Fairfax, VA; Mr.
Deroy Murdock, journalist, Fox News contributor, and senior
fellow, Atlas Network, New York, NY; Dr. Heather Boushey,
executive director and chief economist, Washington Center
for Equitable Growth, Washington, DC; and Mr. Steven
Rattner, chairman, Willett Advisors LLC, New York, NY.
March 10, 2015--``Tax Complexity, Compliance, and
Administration: The Merits of Simplification in Tax
Reform.'' This hearing focused on some of the negatives of
an overly complex tax code and the benefits that could be
seen from a more transparent and simpler code. Testimony
was heard from Ms. Carol Markman, certified public
accountant and tax director, EP Caine and Associates CPA,
LLC, Westbury, NY; Dr. Mihir A. Desai, Mizuho Financial
Group professor of finance, Harvard Business School, and
professor of law, Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA; Mr.
Bruce Bartlett, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Economic Policy, 1988-1993, Department of the Treasury,
Great Falls, VA; and Mr. T. Keith Fogg, professor of law
and director, Villanova University School of Law Federal
Tax Clinic, Villanova, PA.
March 12, 2015--``Protecting Taxpayers from Schemes and Scams
During the 2015 Tax Filing Season.'' 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 Ms. Caroline D. Ciraolo,
Acting Assistant Attorney General, Tax Division, Department
of Justice, Washington, DC; Mr. Timothy P. Camus, Deputy
Inspector General for Investigations, Treasury Inspector
General for Tax Administration, Department of the Treasury,
Washington, DC; the Honorable Mike Alley, Commissioner,
Indiana Department of Revenue, Indianapolis, IN; the
Honorable John L. Valentine, Commission Chair, Utah State
Tax Commission, Salt Lake City, UT; and Ms. Ellen M. Klem,
Director of Consumer Outreach and Education, Office of the
Attorney General, Oregon Department of Justice, Salem, OR.
March 17, 2015--``Building a Competitive U.S. International Tax
System.'' This hearing addressed some of the challenges of
the international tax system (such as corporate inversions)
and proposals that would remedy some of these challenges.
Testimony was heard from the Honorable Pamela F. Olson,
U.S. Deputy Tax Leader and Washington National Tax Services
Leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Washington, DC; Mr.
Anthony H. Smith, vice president of tax and treasurer,
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, MA; Dr. Rosanne
Altshuler, professor of economics and dean of social and
behavioral sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ;
and Mr. Stephen E. Shay, professor of practice, Harvard Law
School, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
June 2, 2015--``Internal Revenue Service Data Theft Affecting
Taxpayer Information.'' This hearing addressed the then-
recent theft of taxpayer data from the IRS, and a
discussion was held on the best way to remedy the situation
and prevent a repeat. Testimony was heard from the
Honorable John Koskinen, Commissioner, Internal Revenue
Service, Washington, DC; and the Honorable J. Russell
George, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration,
Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC.
June 18, 2015--``Dead End, No Turn Around, Danger Ahead:
Challenges to the Future of Highway Funding.'' This hearing
addressed the challenges faced in providing funding for the
Federal Highway Trust Fund. Testimony was heard from Dr.
Joseph Kile, Assistant Director for Microeconomic Studies
Division, Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC; the
Honorable Ray LaHood, senior policy advisor, DLA Piper,
Washington, DC; and Mr. Stephen Moore, distinguished
visiting fellow, The Heritage Foundation, Washington, DC.
June 25, 2015--``Unlocking the Private Sector: State
Innovations in Financing Transportation Infrastructure.''
This hearing addressed possible methods to provide funding
for a long-term Federal Highway Trust Fund reauthorization.
Testimony was heard from the Honorable Mitchell E. Daniels,
Jr., president, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; the
Honorable Shailen P. Bhatt, Executive Director, Colorado
Department of Transportation, Denver, CO; Mr. David
Narefsky, partner and co-leader, Infrastructure Practice
Group, Mayer Brown, Chicago, IL; and Mr. Baruch Feigenbaum,
assistant director of transportation policy, Reason
Foundation, Los Angeles, CA.
September 29, 2015--``Financial and Economic Challenges in
Puerto Rico.'' This hearing addressed the fiscal challenges
posed by the debt situation in Puerto Rico. Testimony was
heard from the Honorable Pedro R. Pierluisi, Congressman
for Puerto Rico, House of Representatives, Washington, DC;
Ms. Melba Acosta, president, Government Development Bank
for Puerto Rico, Old San Juan, PR; Dr. Douglas Holtz-Eakin,
president, American Action Forum, Washington, DC; and Mr.
Sergio M. Marxuach, public policy director, Center for a
New Economy, Old San Juan, PR.
December 1, 2015--``International Tax: OECD BEPS and EU State
Aid.'' This hearing focused on the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development's Base-Erosion and
Profit Shifting plan and actions taken by the European
Union towards U.S. companies, as well as the subject of
corporate inversions. Testimony was heard from Mr. Robert
B. Stack, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Tax
Affairs, Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC; Ms.
Dorothy B. Coleman, vice president, tax and domestic
economic policy, National Association of Manufacturers,
Washington, DC; and Mr. Michael Danilack, principal,
PricewaterhouseCoopers, Washington, DC.
2016
January 28, 2016--``Helping Americans Prepare for Retirement:
Increasing Access, Participation, and Coverage in
Retirement Savings Plans.'' This hearing examined the
findings of the Savings and Investment Working Group and
heard recommendations from witnesses on how to improve the
retirement savings system. Testimony was heard from Dr.
Alicia Munnell, Peter F. Drucker professor of management
science, Boston College Carroll School of Management, and
director, Center for Retirement Research, Boston College,
Chestnut Hill, MA; Mr. John J. Kalamarides, head of
institutional investment solutions, Prudential Financial,
Hartford, CT; and Mr. Thomas A. Barthold, Chief of Staff,
Joint Committee on Taxation, Washington, DC.
February 10, 2016--``President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2017.''
This hearing addressed the President's 2017 budget and
touched on health care, tax reform, and employment.
Testimony was heard from the Honorable Jacob J. Lew,
Secretary, Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC.
February 10, 2016--``President's Fiscal Year 2017 Budget.''
This hearing addressed the President's 2017 budget and
touched on IRS oversight and customer service. Testimony
was heard from the Honorable John Koskinen, Commissioner,
Internal Revenue Service, Washington, DC.
March 1, 2016--``The Multiemployer Pension Plan System: Recent
Reforms and Current Challenges.'' This hearing addressed
the challenges facing underfunded multiemployer pension
plans and the effects of the Multiemployer Pension Reform
Act (MPRA). Testimony was heard from the Honorable Joshua
Gotbaum, guest scholar, Economic Studies Program, The
Brookings Institution, Washington, DC; Mrs. Rita Lewis,
beneficiary, Central States Pension Plan, West Chester, OH;
Mr. Cecil E. Roberts, Jr., international president, United
Mine Workers of America, Triangle, VA; and Dr. Andrew G.
Biggs, resident scholar, American Enterprise Institute,
Washington, DC.
April 12, 2016--``Cybersecurity and Protecting Taxpayer
Information.'' This hearing addressed the issue of personal
data theft from a number of government organizations and
insurers and steps being taken to combat this issue.
Testimony was heard from the Honorable John Koskinen,
Commissioner, Internal Revenue Service, Washington, DC; Mr.
Terence V. Milholland, Chief Technology Officer, Internal
Revenue Service, Washington, DC; the Honorable J. Russell
George, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration,
Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC; Mr. Michael
McKenney, Deputy Inspector General for Audit, Treasury
Inspector General for Tax Administration, Department of the
Treasury, Washington, DC; the Honorable Gene L. Dodaro,
Comptroller General of the United States, Government
Accountability Office, Washington, DC; and Mr. Gregory C.
Wilshusen, Director, Information Security Issues,
Government Accountability Office, Washington, DC.
April 26, 2016--``Navigating Business Tax Reform.'' This
hearing addressed the findings of the Business Income Tax
Reform Working Group, the subject of corporate integration,
and the general background of business tax reform.
Testimony was heard from Mr. Thomas A. Barthold, Chief of
Staff, Joint Committee on Taxation, Washington, DC; Dr.
James R. Hines, Jr., L. Hart Wright collegiate professor of
law and Richard A. Musgrave collegiate professor of
economics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Dr. Eric
Toder, institute fellow and co-director, Urban-Brookings
Tax Policy Center, Urban Institute, Washington, DC; Mr.
Sanford E. Zinman, owner, Sanford E. Zinman, CPA, PC,
Tarrytown, NY; and Ms. Gayle Goschie, vice president,
Goschie Farms, Inc., Silverton, OR.
May 17, 2016--``Integrating the Corporate and Individual Tax
Systems: The Dividends Paid Deduction Considered.'' This
hearing addressed the pros and cons of a dividends paid
deduction, corporate integration, and the pros and cons of
these policies. Testimony was heard from Mr. Michael J.
Graetz, Wilbur H. Friedman professor of tax law and
Columbia alumni professor of tax law, Columbia University,
New York, NY; Ms. Judy A. Miller, director of retirement
policy for the American Retirement Association and
executive director of the American Society of Pension
Professionals and Actuaries, College of Pension Actuaries,
Arlington, VA; Mr. Steven M. Rosenthal, senior fellow,
Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, Urban Institute,
Washington, DC; and Mr. Bret Wells, associate professor of
law, Law Center, University of Houston, Houston, TX.
May 24, 2016--``Debt Versus Equity: Corporate Integration
Considerations.'' This hearing considered corporate
integration and the differing tax treatment of debt and
equity. Testimony was heard from Mr. Alvin C. Warren, Jr.,
Ropes and Gray professor of law, Harvard Law School,
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA; Ms. Jody K. Lurie, CFA,
vice president and corporate credit analyst, fixed income
strategy and research, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC,
Philadelphia, PA; Mr. John Buckley, former Chief Tax
Counsel, Committee on Ways and Means, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC; and Mr. John McDonald,
partner, Baker and McKenzie LLP, Chicago, IL.
June 14, 2016--``Energy Tax Policy in 2016 and Beyond.'' This
hearing addressed current tax policy and the possibilities
for energy tax reform consensus. Testimony was heard from
Dr. Benjamin Zycher, John G. Searle chair and resident
scholar, American Enterprise Institute, Washington, DC; Mr.
Steve Miller, chief executive officer, Bulk Handling
Systems, Eugene, OR; Ms. Susan Kennedy, chief executive
officer and board member, Advanced Microgrid Solutions, San
Francisco, CA; and the Honorable Karen Alderman Harbert,
president and chief executive officer, Institute for 21st
Century Energy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Washington, DC.
Full Committee Executive Meetings
2015
January 28, 2015--Open Executive Session to consider H.R. 22,
The Hire More Heroes Act of 2015.
February 11, 2015--Open Executive Session to consider various
original tax bills.
April 29, 2015--Open Executive Session to consider S. 335, a
bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve
529 plans, as modified.
July 21, 2015--Open Executive Session to consider an original
bill to extend certain expired tax provisions.
2016
April 20, 2016--Open Executive Session to consider an original
bill to prevent identity theft and tax refund fraud and the
Taxpayer Protection Act of 2016.
Senators Only Meetings
2015
January 27, 2015--Full Committee Members' Meeting on Bipartisan
Tax Reform Working Groups and upcoming Finance Committee
agenda.
May 5, 2015--Full Committee Members' Meeting on International
Tax Working Group.
May 5, 2015--Full Committee Members' Meeting on Community
Development and Infrastructure Working Group.
May 5, 2015--Full Committee Members' Meeting to discuss
financing the Nation's highway system.
May 12, 2015--Full Committee Members' Meeting on Business Tax
Income Working Group.
May 13, 2015--Full Committee Members' Meeting on Individual
Income Tax Working Group.
May 14, 2015--Full Committee Members' Meeting on Savings and
Investment Working Group.
July 28, 2015--Full Committee Members' Meeting to discuss the
committee's report on the IRS handling of tax-exempt status
under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(4).
July 29, 2015--Full Committee Members' Meeting to continue
discussion of the committee's report on the IRS handling of
tax-
exempt status under Internal Revenue Code section
501(c)(4).
October 20, 2015--Full Committee Members' Meeting with the
Honorable Jacob J. Lew, Secretary of the Treasury, and
Federal Reserve Governor Jerome H. Powell regarding the
debt limit and fiscal outlook.
2016
July 6, 2016--Joint Senate Committee on Finance and House
Committee on Ways and Means Members' Meeting with the Joint
Committee on Taxation briefing and discussion of issues
related to the Treasury's proposed regulations under the
Internal Revenue Code section 385.
July 7, 2016--Full Committee Members' Meeting to discuss the
Treasury Department's proposed regulations under section
385 of the Internal Revenue Code with the Honorable Jacob
J. Lew, Secretary of the Treasury.
September 21, 2016--Open Executive Session to consider the
Miners Protection Act of 2016 and the Retirement
Enhancement and Savings Act of 2016.
TRADE
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES
In the 114th Congress, the Senate Committee on Finance
played an important role on trade issues, including by debating
and approving the following major trade legislation that became
law:
(i) the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and
Accountability Act, which established trade negotiating
objectives, instituted congressional-executive notification and
consultation mechanisms for trade negotiations, and authorized
expedited procedures for congressional consideration of trade
agreements; (ii) the Trade Preferences Extension Act, which
authorized tariff preferences for developing countries, amended
antidumping and countervailing duty laws, and authorized Trade
Adjustment Assistance; and (iii) the Trade Facilitation and
Trade Enforcement Act, which streamlined procedures for
legitimate trade, strengthened trade law enforcement, and
provided the first comprehensive authorization of U.S. Customs
and Border Protection. The committee also debated and worked to
pass into law the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act,
which established a process for Congress to consider temporary
import duty suspensions. In addition, the committee held
several hearings to examine the successes and challenges of
U.S. trade policies, to assess opportunities to improve and
increase trade, and to consider ways to address foreign
barriers to trade.
Full Committee Hearings
2015
January 17, 2015--``President Obama's 2015 Trade Agenda.''
During this hearing, the committee examined the President's
trade priorities for 2015, including the Trans-Pacific
Partnership, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment
Partnership, and plurilateral agreements governing trade in
services, information technology, and environmental goods.
The committee also examined the importance of Trade
Promotion Authority. U.S. Trade Representative Michael
Froman testified.
April 16, 2015--``Congress and U.S. Tariff Policy.'' During
this hearing, the committee examined the trade policy
responsibilities of the Congress and the President and
considered the importance of Trade Promotion Authority to
achieve the trade policy priorities of the Congress.
Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew, Secretary of
Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and U.S. Trade Representative
Michael Froman testified.
April 21, 2015--``Congress and U.S. Tariff Policy''
continuation. During this hearing, the committee further
examined the importance of Trade Promotion Authority to
achieve the trade policy priorities of the Congress. The
committee heard testimony from Mr. Thomas J. Donohue,
president and chief executive officer, United States
Chamber of Commerce, Washington, DC; and Mr. Richard L.
Trumka, president, American Federation of Labor and
Congress of Industrial Organizations, Washington, DC.
2016
March 3, 2016--``Free Trade Agreement Implementation: Lessons
From the Past.'' During this hearing, the committee
examined the importance of full and faithful implementation
of and compliance with trade agreements. The committee
reviewed the implementation and compliance records of our
trading partners, discussed the negative effects of limited
implementation and compliance, and considered methods to
improve implementation and compliance. The committee heard
testimony from Mr. Jim Mulhern, president and chief
executive officer, National Milk Producers Federation,
Arlington, VA; Mr. Sean P. Murphy, vice president and
counsel for international government affairs, Qualcomm
Incorporated, San Diego, CA; Mr. Glenn Prickett, chief
external affairs officer, The Nature Conservancy,
Arlington, VA; and Mr. Steven Tepp, president and founder,
Sentinel Worldwide, Vienna, VA.
May 11, 2016--``Oversight of the U.S. Customs and Border
Protection Agency.'' During this hearing, the committee
examined and discussed Customs and Border Protection's
efforts to enhance trade facilitation, enforce trade laws,
and implement the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement
Act. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner R. Gil
Kerlikowske testified.
June 15, 2016--``Challenges and Opportunities for U.S. Business
in the Digital Age.'' During this hearing, the committee
examined the challenges and opportunities of trade in
digital goods and services. In particular, the committee
considered methods to strengthen digital trade and to
address digital trade concerns, especially the
proliferation of trade in counterfeit goods. The committee
heard testimony from Mr. Bruce Foucart, Assistant Director,
National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland
Security, Arlington,VA; Mr. Norman T. Schenk, vice
president, global customs policy and public affairs, UPS,
Washington, DC; and Mr. Tom Triggs, general counsel and
chief legal officer, Belkin International, Inc., Playa
Vista, CA.
Full Committee Executive Meetings
2015
April 22, 2015--Open Executive Session to consider an original
bill relating to the extension of the Trade Adjustment
Assistance program; an original bill to extend the African
Growth and Opportunity Act, the Generalized System of
Preferences, and the preferential duty treatment program
for Haiti; an original bill to reauthorize trade
facilitation and trade enforcement functions and
activities; and S. 995, a bill to establish trade
negotiating objectives, institute congressional-executive
notification and consultation mechanisms for trade
negotiations, and authorize expedited procedures for
congressional consideration of trade agreements.
Senators Only Meetings
2015
July 9, 2015--Senators' Meeting with U.S. Trade Representative
Michael Froman to discuss the international trade agenda,
including the status of the Trans-Pacific Partnership
agreement negotiations.
Conference Committees
2015
December 7, 2015--Conference Committee Meeting that resulted in
Senate-House agreement on the final legislative text of
H.R. 644, the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act.
The Conference Committee reconciled differences between the
amendment of the Senate to H.R. 644 and the amendment of
the House to the amendment of the Senate to H.R. 644.
Senate Advisory Group on Negotiations
2015
August 4, 2015--Senate Advisory Group on Negotiations, convened
by the chairman and comprised of the ranking member, three
members of the committee, and the chairman and ranking
member of committees with jurisdiction over provisions of
law affected by trade agreement negotiations, meeting with
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman to discuss the
status of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement
negotiations.
HEALTH
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES
During the course of the 114th Congress, the committee
focused on improving the Medicare and Medicaid programs for
beneficiaries and providers alike. The committee held a hearing
on and favorably reported a bipartisan bill to reform and
address inefficiencies in the Medicare Audit and Appeals
process. The bill establishes a separate process for high-level
appeals and keeps lower-cost cases out of court in order to
make reimbursement dollars tied up in the appeals process more
accessible. The committee also favorably reported twelve
bipartisan health-care bills that addressed miscellaneous
issues in health-care programs including legislation to deal
with improved access to care and services, quality measurement,
and improper expenditures within Medicare and Medicaid.
Several hearings were held to review and improve Federal
programs: a hearing to examine a Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS)-proposed Medicare Part B drug
demonstration, a hearing to explore the initial CMS proposal to
implement the physician payment reforms included in the
historic Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015
(MACRA), a hearing to explore the status of mental health in
America, and hearing to consider how to effectively deliver
high-quality, coordinated medical care to Medicare
beneficiaries living with multiple chronic conditions, as well
as others.
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, including: a hearing to
examine the impact of the Affordable Care Act in effectively
providing affordable and quality health care to Americans, two
hearings to examine HealthCare.gov enrollment controls in
response to GAO tests of internal controls, and a hearing to
examine the financial and oversight controls for Consumer
Operated and Oriented Plans (CO-OPs).
In addition, the committee's investigative reports and
analyses shed light on agency oversight activities that affect
beneficiaries and taxpayers. For example, the committee's
report on physician-owned distributorships concluded that these
financial relationships can and do alter surgeon behavior and
result in a higher utilization rate by surgeons involved in
them; the report made several recommendations to the Department
of Health and Human Services to address some of the problems
identified. Other ongoing work focuses on the oversight of the
practice of teaching surgeons scheduling and conducting
operations on two different patients during the same period of
time.
Legislation
June 3, 2015--Mark-up: ``An original bill to amend title XVIII
of the Social Security Act to improve the efficiency of the
Medicare appeals process, and for other purposes,'' S.
2368. The purpose of this mark-up was to consider
legislation that would improve the efficiency of the
Medicare appeals process. The bipartisan bill came in
response to a GAO report that detailed an increase in
appeals at CMS, creating a backlog at the third and fourth
levels of appeals where independent hearings are conducted.
The legislation would attempt to free up reimbursement
dollars tied up in the appeals process as well as reduce
the burden on providers by establishing a separate process
for high-level appeals and keeping lower-cost cases from
going to court, among other changes. On December 8, 2015,
the committee introduced the original bill and it was
placed on the Senate legislative calendar under general
orders (Calendar No. 317).
June 24, 2015--Mark-up: Open Executive Session to consider
miscellaneous health bills. The purpose of this mark-up was
to consider twelve bipartisan health-care bills, addressing
various areas of health care ranging from rural community
hospital demonstrations to preventing interruptions in
physical therapy, and from quality care for moms and babies
to preventing and reducing improper Medicare and Medicaid
expenditures. All twelve pieces of legislation were
reported favorably to the full Senate.
Full Committee Hearings
2015
February 4, 2015--``President's Fiscal Year 2016 Health Care
Proposals.'' The purpose of this hearing was to review and
ask questions about the President's fiscal year 2016
proposed budget for the Department of Health and Human
Services. Testimony was received from the Honorable Sylvia
Mathews Burwell, Secretary, Department of Health and Human
Services, Washington, DC.
March 19, 2015--``The Affordable Care Act at Five Years.'' The
purpose of this hearing was to examine the impact of the
Affordable Care Act in effectively providing affordable and
quality health care to Americans. Testimony was received
from Dr. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president, American Action
Forum, Washington, DC; Ms. Holly S. Wade, director of
research and policy analysis, National Federation of
Independent Business, Washington, DC; and Dr. David
Blumenthal, president, The Commonwealth Fund, Washington,
DC.
April 28, 2015--``Creating a More Efficient and Level Playing
Field: Audit and Appeals Issues in Medicare.'' The purpose
of this hearing was to consider audit and appeals issues in
Medicare in order to introduce reforms that reduce the time
it takes for an appeal to make its way through the system.
Testimony was received from Ms. Sandy Coston, chief
executive officer and president, Diversified Service
Options, Inc., Jacksonville, FL; Mr. Thomas Naughton,
senior vice president, MAXIMUS Federal Services, Inc.,
Reston, VA; and the Honorable Nancy Griswold, Chief
Administrative Law Judge, Office of Medicare Hearings and
Appeals, Department of Health and Human Services,
Washington, DC.
May 14, 2015--``A Pathway to Improving Care for Medicare
Patients with Chronic Conditions.'' The purpose of this
hearing was twofold. First, Chairman Hatch and Ranking
Member Wyden announced the formation of a bipartisan, full
Finance Committee chronic care working group. The group was
tasked with analyzing current law, discussing alternative
policy options, and developing bipartisan legislative
solutions. Second, the hearing launched those discussions
by examining how current Medicare chronic care coordination
programs are working today, learning about the inherent
limitations of traditional Medicare's fee-for-service
payment system that create barriers and restrict care
coordination efforts, and identifying effective--and cost-
saving--policies with the greatest potential to improve
health outcomes for beneficiaries. Testimony was received
from Dr. Patrick Conway, Acting Principal Deputy
Administrator, Deputy Administrator for Innovation and
Quality, and Chief Medical Officer, Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human
Services, Baltimore, MD; and Dr. Mark E. Miller, Executive
Director, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, Washington,
DC.
July 16, 2015--``Reviewing HealthCare.gov Controls.'' The
purpose of this hearing was to discuss Government
Accountability Office (GAO) testing of certain internal
controls intended to prevent fraud and abuse by individuals
enrolling in health insurance coverage through
HealthCare.gov. Testimony was received from Mr. Seto J.
Bagdoyan, Director, Audit Services, Forensic Audits and
Investigative Service, Government Accountability Office,
Washington, DC.
October 1, 2015--``Improper Payments in Federal Programs.'' The
purpose of this hearing was to examine how improper
payments, including overpayments and underpayments, impact
Federal programs (primarily Medicare, Medicaid, and the
Earned Income Tax Credit) and divert resources away from
vital operations. Testimony was received from the Honorable
Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States,
Government Accountability Office, Washington, DC.
October 29, 2015--``Welfare and Poverty in America.'' The
purpose of this hearing was to gain a greater understanding
of poverty in America and explore solutions that promote
economic mobility through reforms to the Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families program. Testimony was
received from Dr. Pamela Loprest, labor economist and
senior fellow, Income and Benefits Policy Center, Urban
Institute, Washington, DC; Ms. Aretha J. Jackson, disabled
veteran and TANF Recipient, Washington, DC; Dr. H. Luke
Shaefer, associate professor and co-author of ``$2.00 a
Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America,'' School of
Social Work and the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy,
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; and Mr. Jon
Pierpont, Executive Director, Utah Department of Workforce
Services, Salt Lake City, UT.
November 17, 2015--``Physician-Owned Distributors: Are They
Harmful to Patients and Payers?'' The purpose of this
hearing was to examine physician-owned distributors (PODs),
entities in which physicians derive revenue from the sale
of medical devices they prescribe to patients, and whether
these arrangements and the apparent conflicts of interest
have had a negative impact on our health-care system and
the well-being of patients. Testimony was received from Dr.
Scott Lederhaus, president, Association for Medical Ethics,
Monarch Beach, CA; Dr. John Steinmann, board advisor,
American Association of Surgical Distributors, Redlands,
CA; Ms. Suzie Draper, vice president of business ethics and
compliance, Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, UT;
and Mr. Kevin Reynolds, son of a patient of a surgeon
affiliated with a Physician-Owned Distributor, Ventura, CA.
2016
January 21, 2016--``Healthcare CO-OPs: A Review of the
Financial and Oversight Controls.'' The purpose of this
hearing was to examine the financial and oversight controls
for Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans (CO-OPs), as well
as to ask questions about how CMS has responded to concerns
about their solvency. Testimony was received from Mr.
Andrew Slavitt, Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human
Services, Baltimore, MD.
February 11, 2016--``President's Fiscal Year 2017 Health Care
Proposals.'' The purpose of this hearing was to examine the
Obama administration's fiscal year 2017 budget request for
the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Testimony was received from the Honorable Sylvia Mathews
Burwell, Secretary, Department of Health and Human
Services, Washington, DC.
February 23, 2016--``Examining the Opioid Epidemic: Challenges
and Opportunities.'' The purpose of this hearing was to
examine the opioid abuse epidemic and its effect on
Medicare and the child welfare system, as well as to
consider a legislative solution to this complicated
problem. Testimony was received from Mr. Allan Coukell,
senior director, health programs, The Pew Charitable
Trusts, Washington, DC; Dr. Nancy K. Young, director,
Children and Family Futures, Lake Forest, CA; and Mr. David
Hart, Assistant Attorney-in-Charge, Civil Enforcement,
Financial Fraud and Consumer Protection Section, Oregon
Department of Justice, Salem, OR.
March 17, 2016--``HealthCare.gov: A Review of Operations and
Enrollment.'' The purpose of this hearing was to examine
findings from the GAO testing described above as well as to
discuss a case study from the Office of the Inspector
General (OIG) on the management of HealthCare.gov by the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Testimony
was received from Ms. Erin Bliss, Assistant Inspector
General for Evaluation and Inspection, Office of Inspector
General, Department of Health and Human Services,
Washington, DC; and Mr. Seto J. Bagdoyan, Director of
Audit, Forensic Audits and Investigative Service,
Government Accountability Office, Washington, DC.
April 28, 2016--``Mental Health in America: Where Are We Now?''
The purpose of this hearing was to examine various options
on how to address mental health issues in the American
health-care system and specifically the role the Medicaid
and Medicare programs play in addressing the needs of those
with behavioral and mental health issues. Testimony was
received from Mr. Brandon Marshall, executive chairman and
co-founder, Project 375, Chicago, IL; Dr. Margaret
Bennington-Davis, chief medical officer, Health Share of
Oregon, Tualatin, OR; Mr. Douglas P. Thomas, Director,
Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, State of
Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; and Ms. Linda Rosenberg,
president and chief executive officer, National Council for
Behavioral Health, Washington, DC.
June 28, 2016--``Examining the Proposed Medicare Part B Drug
Demonstration.'' The purpose of this hearing was to examine
a proposed CMS demonstration project that would alter the
way in which Medicare pays for drugs that physicians
administer to patients in the outpatient setting that are
covered under Part B. Testimony was received from Dr.
Patrick Conway, Acting Principal Deputy Administrator,
Deputy Administrator for Innovation and Quality, and Chief
Medical Officer, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services, Department of Health and Human Services,
Baltimore, MD.
July 12, 2016--``Examining the Stark Law: Current Issues and
Opportunities.'' The purpose of this hearing was to assess
the impact of the Stark Law to determine its effectiveness
at achieving its goal of minimizing health-care fraud by
prohibiting physician referrals under certain circumstances
and to explore potential changes to make the law more
workable in terms of enforcement and compliance. Testimony
was received from Mr. Troy A. Barsky, partner, Crowell and
Moring LLP, Washington, DC; Dr. Ronald A. Paulus, president
and chief executive officer, Mission Health, Asheville, NC;
and Mr. Peter Mancino, Deputy General Counsel, The Johns
Hopkins Health System Corporation, Baltimore, MD.
July 13, 2016--``Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act
of 2015: Ensuring Successful Implementation of Physician
Payment Reforms.'' The purpose of this hearing was to
assess the initial CMS proposal for implementing the
physician payment reforms included in the historic Medicare
Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA).
Testimony was received from Mr. Andrew M. Slavitt, Acting
Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,
Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, MD.
Subcommittee on Health Care
2015
April 23, 2015--``A Fresh Look at the Impact of the Medical
Device Tax on Jobs, Innovation, and Patients.'' The purpose
of this hearing was to discuss and examine the Medical
Device Tax and its economic impact on innovation in the
medical device industry. Testimony was received from Mr.
Bruce A. Heugel, senior vice president and chief financial
officer, B. Braun of America, Bethlehem, PA; Mr. Quinton J.
Farrar, principal partner, West Surry Strategies, LLC,
Keene, NH; Ms. Alyra Donisvitch, patient, Manchester, ME;
and Mr. Mark Judge, patient advocate, South Fayette
Township, PA.
October 15, 2015--``Examining Heroin and Opiate Abuse in
Southwestern Pennsylvania.'' The purpose of this hearing
was to address the opioid epidemic in southwestern
Pennsylvania and to discuss stopping the illegal diversion
of prescription painkillers, reducing the overuse of
opioids for treating long-term pain, and helping those
battling with addiction to receive the appropriate
treatment. Testimony was received from Dr. Shari Ling,
Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services,
Baltimore, MD; Dr. Neil A. Capretto, medical director,
Gateway Rehabilitation Center, Aliquippa, PA; Mr. Eugene A.
Vittone II, District Attorney, Washington County,
Washington, PA; Dr. A. Jack Kabazie, system director,
Division of Pain Medicine, Allegheny Health Network,
Pittsburgh, PA; and Ms. Ashley Potts, team leader, Crisis
Stabilization and Diversion Unit, Southwestern Pennsylvania
Human Services, Inc., Charleroi, PA.
2016
July 13, 2016--``Alzheimer's Disease: The Struggle for
Families, a Looming Crisis for Medicare.'' The purpose of
this hearing was to examine the significant projected
financial impact of Alzheimer's disease on Medicare and to
advance a Federal response to this problem. Testimony was
received from Dr. Ronald C. Petersen, chair, Advisory
Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care, and Services for the
National Alzheimer's Project Act, Rochester, MN; Dr. Henry
L. Paulson, director, University of Michigan Alzheimer's
Disease Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; and
Ms. Connie Bastek Karasow, caregiver, Levittown, PA.
HUMAN RESOURCES
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES
During the 114th Congress, the Senate Finance Committee
focused on evidenced-based innovations, social impact
financing, and child welfare financing reform.
Working closely with stakeholders from the provider
community, State groups, and advocates, the chairman and
ranking member have developed a bipartisan proposal, ``The
Family First Act,'' that accomplishes the policy goals of
increasing the availability of prevention services to address
issues associated with the opioid addiction crisis, keep
children safely at home, and reduce reliance on group homes.
Working with Chairman Brady and Ranking Member Levin,
Chairman Hatch and Ranking Member Wyden introduced the
bipartisan/bicameral ``Family First Prevention Services Act of
2016'' (H.R. 5456/S. 3065). The House of Representative passed
H.R. 5456 by voice vote on June 21, 2016.
Full Committee Hearings
2015
May 19, 2015--``No Place to Grow Up: How to Safely Reduce
Reliance on Foster Care Group Homes.'' The purpose of this
hearing was to examine how Congress can best address the
challenges facing foster children and protect them from the
unfit environment and risk of sex trafficking found in
group homes. Testimony was received from Ms. Lexie Gruber,
former foster youth, Hamden, CT; Dr. Jeremy Christopher
Kohomban, president and chief executive officer, The
Children's Village, New York, NY; Mr. Matthew Reynell,
adoptive father, Rochester, NY; and Ms. JooYeun Chang,
Associate Commissioner, Children's Bureau, Administration
for Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Health and
Human Services, Washington, DC.
August 4, 2015--``A Way Back Home: Preserving Families and
Reducing the Need for Foster Care.'' The purpose of this
hearing was to explore alternatives to help families and
children reduce reliance on foster care group homes by
allowing States to use their Federal foster care dollars
for services and interventions that can result in allowing
children to stay safely at home. Testimony was received
from Ms. Sandra Killett, parent advocate, New York, NY; Ms.
Rosalina Burton, former foster youth, Escondido, CA; Ms.
Donna Butts, executive director, Generations United,
Washington, DC; Mr. Chuck Nyby, Differential Response
Operations and Policy Analyst, Child Welfare Program,
Oregon Department of Human Services, Salem, OR; and Ms. Ann
Silverberg Williamson, Executive Director, Utah Department
of Human Services, Salt Lake City, UT.
2016
May 10, 2016--``Can Evidence-Based Practices Improve Outcomes
for Vulnerable Individuals and Families?'' The purpose of
this hearing was to examine the role of outcomes and
evidence standards in shaping social policies and how they
can be best applied to program delivery and financing
models, particularly in the context of the child welfare
system. Testimony was received from Mr. Gordon L. Berlin,
president, MDRC, New York, NY; Mr. James Lee Sorenson,
chairman, board of directors, Sorenson Impact Foundation,
Salt Lake City, UT; Ms. Tesha Bright, nurse home visitor,
Nurse-Family Partnership of Essex and Morris Counties,
Newark, NJ; and Mr. Robert Doar, former New York City Human
Resources Administration Commissioner and current Morgridge
Fellow in Poverty Studies, American Enterprise Institute,
Washington, DC.
SOCIAL SECURITY
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES
In the 114th Congress, the Senate Committee on Finance
activities with respect to the Old-Age, Survivors Insurance
(OASI) program and Disability Insurance (DI) program--``Social
Security''--were limited to: oversight of implementation of the
Social Security Benefit Protection and Opportunity Enhancement
Act of 2015, the most significant Social Security legislation
to be enacted in the last 20 years (Pub. L. 114-74), which
contained reforms to Social Security programs and a
reallocation of Trust Fund resources from the OASI Trust Fund
to the DI Trust fund to prevent reductions in benefits for DI
beneficiaries that otherwise were projected toward the end of
calendar year 2016; and activities to consider the President's
nominations of three individuals: Andrew LaMont Eanes to be
Deputy Commissioner of Social Security, and Robert D.
Reischauer and Charles P. Blahous to be members of the Board of
Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, the
Board of Trustees of the Federal OASI Trust Fund and the
Federal DI Trust Fund, and the Board of Trustees of the Federal
Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund.
Full Committee Hearings
2016
February 4, 2016--Full committee hearing to consider the
nomination of Andrew LaMont Eanes to be Deputy Commissioner
of Social Security.
May 11, 2016--Full committee hearing to consider the
nominations of the Honorable Charles P. Blahous III and the
Honorable Robert D. Reischauer to be members of the Board
of Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund,
the Board of Trustees of the Federal OASI Trust Fund and
the Federal DI Trust Fund, and the Board of Trustees of the
Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund.
Full Committee Executive Meetings
2016
April 18, 2016--Open Executive Session to consider the
nomination of Andrew LaMont Eanes to be Deputy Commissioner
of Social Security.
June 8, 2016--Open Executive Session to consider the
nominations of the Honorable Charles P. Blahous III and the
Honorable Robert D. Reischauer to be members of the Board
of Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund,
the Board of Trustees of the Federal OASI Trust Fund and
the Federal DI Trust Fund, and the Board of Trustees of the
Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund.
November 30, 2016--Open Executive Session to consider the
nominations of the Honorable Charles P. Blahous III and the
Honorable Robert D. Reischauer to be members of the Board
of Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund,
the Board of Trustees of the Federal OASI Trust Fund and
the Federal DI Trust Fund, and the Board of Trustees of the
Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund.
FEDERAL DEBT LIMIT
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES
In the 114th Congress, the Senate Committee on Finance
activities with respect to the Federal Debt Limit included full
committee hearings with the Secretary of the Treasury on the
President's fiscal year 2016 and 2017 budgets, within which
issues surrounding the Federal debt limit were debated.
Full Committee Hearings
2015
February 5, 2015--``President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2016.''
The hearing covered the President's 2016 budget and touched
on health care, tax reform, and employment. Testimony was
heard from the Honorable Jacob J. Lew, Secretary,
Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC.
2016
February 10, 2016--``President's Fiscal Year 2017 Budget.''
This hearing addressed the President's 2017 budget and
touched on IRS oversight and customer service. Testimony
was heard from the Honorable John Koskinen, Commissioner,
Internal Revenue Service, Washington, DC.
OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES
On August 5, 2015, the Finance Committee released the
bipartisan IRS report. After a nearly 2\1/2\-year, bipartisan
investigation, the committee sent their report to the full
Senate for approval and public release.
Bipartisan findings of the report include:
During the years 2010 to 2013, IRS management failed to
provide effective control, guidance, and direction over the
processing of applications for tax-exempt status.
Top IRS managers did not keep informed about the applications
involving possible political advocacy and thereby forfeited
the opportunity to provide the leadership that the IRS
needed to respond to the legal and policy issues presented
by these applications.
Lois Lerner, who headed the Exempt Organizations Division,
became aware of the Tea Party applications in early 2010,
but failed to inform her superiors about their existence.
While under Lerner's leadership, the Exempt Organizations
Division undertook no less than seven poorly planned and
badly executed initiatives aimed at bringing the growing
number of applications from Tea Party and other groups to
decision. Every one of those initiatives ended in
predictable failure and every failure resulted in months
and years of delay for the organizations awaiting decisions
from the IRS on their applications for tax-exempt status.
The Committee also found that the workplace culture in the
Exempt Organizations Division placed little emphasis or
value on providing customer service.
- LFew if any of the managers were concerned about the
delays in processing the applications, delays that
possibly harmed the organizations ability to function
for their stated purposes.
Issuance of the report was delayed for more than a year after
the IRS belatedly informed the committee that it had not
been able to recover a large number of potentially
responsive documents that were lost when Lois Lerner's hard
drive crashed in 2011.
By failing to locate and preserve records, making inaccurate
assertions about the existence of backup data, and failing
to disclose to Congress the fact that records were missing,
the IRS impeded the committee's investigation. These
actions had the effect of denying the committee access to
records that may have been relevant and, ultimately,
delayed the investigation's conclusion by more than 1 year.
Background:
On May 20, 2013, the leaders of the Senate Finance
Committee sent a detailed, 41-question document request to the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) seeking information about the
alleged targeting by the IRS of certain social welfare
organizations applying for tax-exempt status based on those
organizations' presumed political activities. That letter
marked the beginning of a bipartisan investigation by the
committee into the IRS's activities related to the review of
tax-exempt applications and related issues raised by the
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) in
his May 14, 2013 report.
In June 2014, the committee learned that Lois Lerner had
experienced a hard drive failure in 2011, which raised
questions about the IRS's ability to produce all the documents
necessary to complete the Senate Finance Committee
investigation. As a result, then-Chairman Wyden and then-
Ranking Member Hatch asked TIGTA to investigate the matter.
Specifically, TIGTA looked into: (1) what records the IRS lost;
(2) if there was any attempt to deliberately destroy records or
otherwise impede congressional and Federal investigations; and
(3) whether any of the missing information could be recovered.
TIGTA provided their findings to the committee on June 30,
2015.
Upon completing the report, committee investigators had
interviewed more than 32 current and former IRS and Treasury
employees and reviewed nearly 1.5 million pages of documents.
On May 10, 2016, Chairman Hatch released an updated report
on Physician-Owned Distributorships (PODs) entitled
``Physician-Owned Distributorships: An Update on Key Issues and
Areas of Congressional Concern.''
Findings from the report include:
The financial incentives from PODs increase utilization.
Analysis done by committee staff found that as a percentage of
patients seen, POD surgeons performed surgery at a much higher
rate (44% higher) than non-POD surgeons. And furthermore, in
absolute number, POD surgeons performed nearly twice as many
fusion surgeries (94% more) as non-POD surgeons.
Sunshine reporting requirements are insufficient and PODs
are changing their behavior in response to these requirements.
It appears that PODs are not complying with their reporting
requirements, and PODs are changing the way they pay their
physician owners in an attempt to skirt Sunshine requirements.
PODs are moving from large hospital chains to small rural
hospitals as many large hospital chains have implanted strict
POD policies. It remains difficult to identify POD physicians.
PODs are now located in at least 43 States and the District
of Columbia, up from 20 in 2011.
This white paper was the culmination of nearly 5 years of
work by majority staff of the committee examining the role of
PODs in the health-care marketplace. The committee initially
released an analysis of PODs in June 2011 focusing on the
structure and growth of such arrangements in a number of
States. Concurrent with this analysis, letters were sent to the
Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health
and Human Services (OIG-HHS) and to the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS) asking each entity to explore
various issues the committee identified with PODs. These
included a review of pertinent fraud and abuse laws by OIG-HHS
and consideration of language specific to PODs being included
in an interim final rule being promulgated by CMS.
In March of 2013 the OIG-HHS issued a Special Fraud Alert
on PODs declaring that many of the models utilized by those
forming PODs were ``inherently suspect.'' Later that year in
October 2013, OIG-HHS finalized a report on PODs' relationship
with physicians and hospitals detailing the prevalence and use
of PODs.
The committee also held a hearing on PODs in November 2015
which focused on the various aspects of PODs in the health-care
marketplace and that helped identify areas where the guidance
and laws in this area are still not clearly defined.
On June 30, 2016, Chairman Hatch released a white paper
entitled ``Why Stark, Why Now? Suggestions to Improve the Stark
Law to Encourage Innovative Payment Models.''
This white paper examined potential reforms to the law
governing Medicare physicians' referrals aimed at removing
barriers that prevent hospitals, doctors, and other health-care
providers from moving to alternative, more cost-effective
payment models. The white paper discusses stakeholder
perspectives on how the Stark law is working in practice,
highlighting the law's complexity, the severity of its
penalties, its significant compliance costs, and its effect on
efforts to integrate health-care delivery.
Congress originally enacted the Stark law to reduce the
influence of financial relationships on physician referrals of
Medicare patients. The law was aimed at curbing the provision
of unnecessary health-care services, or overutilization, at a
time when physicians were paid a fee for each service provided.
Although that payment model still exists, the industry is
moving to payment models that reward the quality rather than
the volume of health care. Congress has encouraged this shift
with recent health-care reforms. When payment is not based on
volume, the incentives the Stark law was created to address are
greatly reduced or eliminated.
The Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means
Committee held a roundtable on the Stark law in December 2015
and requested feedback from subject-matter experts. Following
the roundtable, the committees issued a more widespread call
for comments and received close to 50 responses. The white
paper details key areas of those comments and concerns.
As a follow-up to the white paper, the committee held a
hearing on potential changes to the Stark law in July 2016 to
discuss many of the key themes included in the white paper
which Congress could consider in the coming years.
On October 26, 2016, Chairman Hatch and Ways and Means
Chairman Brady jointly released a white paper analyzing the
Obamacare Income Eligibility Verification.
The majority staff white paper issued by the two committees
detailed a number of issues plaguing the law's income
eligibility verification process. The process, which is used to
both determine eligibility and repayment for taxpayer-funded
subsidies, has come under scrutiny in more than a dozen reports
from independent watchdogs. The white paper highlights these
reports and details how the Obama administration has failed to
implement necessary safeguards and recommendations from these
watchdogs to prevent fictitious applicants from receiving
subsidies and wasting taxpayer dollars. The white paper also
outlines how the administration has failed to reconcile and
reclaim excess subsidies, and has instead relaxed standards for
income eligibility verification in the Federally-facilitated
marketplace.
On December 12, 2016, Chairman Hatch and Ranking Member
Wyden jointly released a white paper detailing the practices of
concurrent and overlapping surgeries.
The bipartisan white paper describes and compares guidance
from CMS and that recently developed from the American College
of Surgeons on the practices of concurrent and overlapping
surgeries to policies developed by selected teaching hospitals.
The report makes recommendations to the Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human Services and to hospitals as the
result of committee staff concerns about patient safety and
improper payments.
Full Committee Hearings
October 27, 2015--``The Internal Revenue Service's Response to
Committee Recommendations Contained in its August 5, 2015
Report.'' Testimony was heard from the Honorable John
Koskinen, Commissioner, Internal Revenue Service,
Washington, DC.
In their August 2015 report, the committee made a number of
recommendations to address IRS management deficiencies
including the following:
The Hatch Act should be revised to designate all IRS,
Treasury, and Chief Counsel employees who handle exempt
organization matters as ``further restricted.''
``Further restricted'' employees are precluded from
active participation in political management or
partisan campaigns, even while off-duty.
The IRS should track the age and cycle times of
applications for tax-exempt status to detect backlogs
early in the process and allow management to take steps
to address those backlogs.
The Exempt Organizations Division should track requests for
assistance from both the Technical Branch and the Chief
Counsel's office to ensure the timely receipt of that
assistance.
A list of over-age applications should be sent to the
Commissioner on a quarterly basis.
Internal IRS guidance should require that employees reach a
decision on applications no later than 270 days after
the IRS receives that application. Employees and
managers who fail to comply with these standards should
be disciplined.
Minimum training standards should be established for all
managers within the EO Division to ensure that they
have adequate technical ability to perform their jobs.
This hearing was a follow-up to hear what, if any, of these
had been acted upon by IRS and the status of those actions.
Full Committee Executive Meetings
2015
August 5, 2015--Closed Executive Session to vote on whether to
submit to the Senate the committee's report on the IRS
handling of tax-exempt status under Internal Revenue Code
section 501(c)(4). The committee voted to release the
report and submit it to the Senate so that the information
contained therein would not be in violation of IRS rule
6103 governing the use and disclosure of taxpayer-specific
information.
Senators Only Meetings
2015
July 28, 2015--Full Committee Members' Meeting to discuss the
committee's report on the IRS handling of tax-exempt status
under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(4). As required
by law, members were briefed by committee staff with IRS
rule 6103 authority to review private taxpayer information
in a number of closed-door briefings on the findings and
recommendations of the report before the vote.
July 29, 2015--Full Committee Members' Meeting to continue
discussion of the committee's report on the IRS handling of
tax-
exempt status under Internal Revenue Code section
501(c)(4).
NOMINATIONS
Michael P. Leary, of Pennsylvania, to be Inspector General,
Social Security Administration, vice Patrick P.
O'Carroll, Jr., resigned.
November 29, 2016: Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
January 3, 2017--Returned to the President under the
provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
Robert M. Tobias, of the District of Columbia, to be a member
of the Internal Revenue Service Oversight Board for a
term expiring September 14, 2020, vice Deborah L.
Wince-Smith, term expired.
May 11, 2016: Received in the Senate.
May 11, 2016: 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.
January 3, 2017--Returned to the President under the
provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
Alan J. Kreczko, of Connecticut, to be a member of the Internal
Revenue Service Oversight Board for a term expiring
September 14, 2019, vice Paul Cherecwich, Jr.,
resigned.
December 14, 2015: Received in the Senate.
December 14, 2015: 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.
January 3, 2017--Returned to the President under the
provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
James R. White, of Maryland, to be a member of the Internal
Revenue Service Oversight Board for a term expiring
September 14, 2020, vice Nancy Killefer, term expired.
December 14, 2015: Received in the Senate.
December 14, 2015: 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.
January 3, 2017--Returned to the President under the
provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
Vik Edwin Stoll, of Missouri, to be a judge of the United
States Tax Court for a term of 15 years, vice James S.
Halpern, retired.
November 9, 2015: Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
February 4, 2016: Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
Hearings printed: S. Hrg. 114-415.
April 18, 2016: Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
April 18, 2016: Reported by Senator Hatch, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
April 18, 2016: Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 510. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
January 3, 2017--Returned to the President under the
provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
Robert D. Reischauer, of Maryland, to be a member of the Board
of Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust
Fund for a term of 4 years (reappointment).
August 5, 2015: Received in the Senate.
August 5, 2015: 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 11, 2016: Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
June 8, 2016: Committee requested information was received.
June 21, 2016: Referred to the Committee on Finance as
requested by Senator Hatch.
December 1, 2016: Committee on Finance. Ordered to be
reported favorably.
December 1, 2016: Reported by Senator Hatch, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
December 1, 2016: Placed on Senate Executive Calendar.
Calendar No. 771. Subject to nominee's commitment
to respond to requests to appear and testify before
any duly constituted committee of the Senate.
January 3, 2017: Returned to the President under the
provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
Robert D. Reischauer, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Board
of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors
Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability
Insurance Trust Fund for a term of 4 years
(reappointment).
August 5, 2015: Received in the Senate.
August 5, 2015: 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 11, 2016: Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
June 8, 2016: Committee requested information was received.
June 21, 2016: Referred to the Committee on Finance as
requested by Senator Hatch.
December 1, 2016: Committee on Finance. Ordered to be
reported favorably.
December 1, 2016: Reported by Senator Hatch, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
December 1, 2016: Placed on Senate Executive Calendar.
Calendar No. 770. Subject to nominee's commitment
to respond to requests to appear and testify before
any duly constituted committee of the Senate.
January 3, 2017: Returned to the President under the
provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
Robert D. Reischauer, of Maryland, to be a member of the Board
of Trustees of the Federal Supplementary Medical
Insurance Trust Fund for a term of 4 years
(reappointment).
August 5, 2015: Received in the Senate.
August 5, 2015: 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 11, 2016: Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
June 8, 2016: Committee requested information was received.
June 21, 2016: Referred to the Committee on Finance as
requested by Senator Hatch.
December 1, 2016: Committee on Finance. Ordered to be
reported favorably.
December 1, 2016: Reported by Senator Hatch, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
December 1, 2016: Placed on Senate Executive Calendar.
Calendar No. 769. Subject to nominee's commitment
to respond to requests to appear and testify before
any duly constituted committee of the Senate.
January 3, 2017: Returned to the President under the
provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
Charles P. Blahous III, of Maryland, to be a member of the
Board of Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance
Trust Fund for a term of 4 years (reappointment).
August 5, 2015: Received in the Senate.
August 5, 2015: 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 11, 2016: Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
June 8, 2016: Committee requested information was received.
June 20, 2016: Referred to the Committee on Finance as
requested by Senator Schumer, Senator Whitehouse,
and Senator Warren.
December 1, 2016: Committee on Finance. Ordered to be
reported favorably.
December 1, 2016: Reported by Senator Hatch, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
December 1, 2016: Placed on Senate Executive Calendar.
Calendar No. 768. Subject to nominee's commitment
to respond to requests to appear and testify before
any duly constituted committee of the Senate.
January 3, 2017: Returned to the President under the
provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
Charles P. Blahous III, of Maryland, to be a member of the
Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors
Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability
Insurance Trust Fund for a term of 4 years
(reappointment).
August 5, 2015: Received in the Senate.
August 5, 2015: 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 11, 2016: Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
June 8, 2016: Committee requested information was received.
June 20, 2016: Referred to the Committee on Finance as
requested by Senator Schumer, Senator Whitehouse,
and Senator Warren.
December 1, 2016: Committee on Finance. Ordered to be
reported favorably.
December 1, 2016: Reported by Senator Hatch, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
December 1, 2016: Placed on Senate Executive Calendar.
Calendar No. 767. Subject to nominee's commitment
to respond to requests to appear and testify before
any duly constituted committee of the Senate.
January 3, 2017: Returned to the President under the
provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
Charles P. Blahous III, of Maryland, to be a member of the
Board of Trustees of the Federal Supplementary Medical
Insurance Trust Fund for a term of 4 years
(reappointment).
August 5, 2015: Received in the Senate.
August 5, 2015: 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 11, 2016: Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
June 8, 2016: Committee requested information was received.
June 20, 2016: Referred to the Committee on Finance as
requested by Senator Schumer, Senator Whitehouse,
and Senator Warren.
December 1, 2016: Committee on Finance. Ordered to be
reported favorably.
December 1, 2016: Reported by Senator Hatch, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
December 1, 2016: Placed on Senate Executive Calendar.
Calendar No. 766. Subject to nominee's commitment
to respond to requests to appear and testify before
any duly constituted committee of the Senate.
January 3, 2017: Returned to the President under the
provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
Mary Katherine Wakefield, of North Dakota, to be Deputy
Secretary of Health and Human Services, vice William V.
Corr, resigned.
July 13, 2015: Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
February 4, 2016: Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
Hearings printed: S. Hrg. 114-415.
January 3, 2017: Returned to the President under the
provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
Andrew Miller Slavitt, of Minnesota, to be Administrator of the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, vice
Marilyn B. Tavenner, resigned.
July 13, 2015: Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
January 3, 2017: Returned to the President under the
provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
W. Thomas Reeder, Jr., of Virginia, to be Director of the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, vice Joshua
Gotbaum, resigned.
May 21, 2015: Received in the Senate and referred jointly to
the Committees on Finance and Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions pursuant to Sec. 411(c) of Pub.
L. 109-280.
July 23, 2015: Committee on Finance. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 114-281.
August 5, 2015: Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
August 5, 2015: Reported by Senator Hatch, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
August 5, 2015: Reported by Senator Alexander, Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, without
printed report.
August 5, 2015: Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 300. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
October 8, 2015: By unanimous consent agreement, vote October
8, 2015.
October 8, 2015: Considered by Senate.
October 8, 2015: Confirmed by the Senate by voice vote.
Elizabeth Ann Copeland, of Texas, to be a judge of the United
States Tax Court for a term of 15 years, vice Diane L.
Kroupa, retired.
May 4, 2015: Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
February 4, 2016: Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
Hearing printed: S. Hrg. 114-415.
April 18, 2016: Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
April 18, 2016: Reported by Senator Hatch, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
April 18, 2016: Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 511. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
January 3, 2017--Returned to the President under the
provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
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.
April 15, 2015: Received in the Senate.
April 15, 2015: 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.
January 3, 2017--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.
February 26, 2015: Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
February 4, 2016: Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
Hearings printed: S. Hrg. 114-415.
April 18, 2016: Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
April 18, 2016: Reported by Senator Hatch, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
April 18, 2016: Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 509. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
January 3, 2017: Returned to the President under the
provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
Anne Elizabeth Wall, of Illinois, to be a Deputy Under
Secretary of the Treasury, vice Alastair M. Fitzpayne,
resigned.
February 25, 2015: Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
April 23, 2015: Committee on Finance. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 114-229.
June 10, 2015: Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
June 10, 2015: Reported by Senator Hatch, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
June 10, 2015: Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 154. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond
to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
June 24, 2015: By unanimous consent agreement, debate, and
vote June 24, 2015.
June 24, 2015: Considered by Senate.
June 24, 2015: Confirmed by the Senate by voice vote.
Seth B. Carpenter, of the District of Columbia, to be an
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, vice Matthew S.
Rutherford, resigned.
February 12, 2015: Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
May 11, 2016: Received message of withdrawal of nomination
from the President.
Brodi L. Fontenot, of Louisiana, to be Chief Financial Officer,
Department of the Treasury, vice Daniel M. Tangherlini,
resigned.
February 12, 2015: Received in the Senate.
February 12, 2015: 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.
April 23, 2015: Committee on Finance. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 114-229.
June 10, 2015: Committee requested information was received.
July 7, 2015: Placed on Senate Executive Calendar pursuant to
S. Res. 116, 112th Congress. Calendar No. 212.
Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to
requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
September 12, 2016: Received message of withdrawal of
nomination from the President.
Maria Cancian, of Wisconsin, to be Assistant Secretary for
Family Support, Department of Health and Human
Services, vice Carmen R. Nazario.
February 5, 2015: Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
January 3, 2017--Returned to the President under the
provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
Richard T. Julius, of North Carolina, to be a member of the
Internal Revenue Service Oversight Board for a term
expiring September 14, 2019, vice Raymond T. Wagner,
Jr., term expired.
January 27, 2015: Received in the Senate.
January 27, 2015: 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.
January 3, 2017--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.
January 8, 2015: Received in the Senate and referred to the
Committee on Finance.
July 23, 2015: Committee on Finance. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 114-281.
August 5, 2015: Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported
favorably.
August 5, 2015: Reported by Senator Hatch, Committee on
Finance, without printed report.
August 5, 2015: Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar
No. 296.
January 3, 2017--Returned to the President under the
provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
Rafael J. Lopez, of California, to be Commissioner on Children,
Youth, and Families, Department of Health and Human
Services, vice Bryan Hayes Samuels, resigned.
January 8, 2015: Received in the Senate.
January 8, 2015: 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.
April 23, 2015: Committee on Finance. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S. Hrg. 114-229.
June 10, 2015: Committee requested information was received.
July 7, 2015: Placed on Senate Executive Calendar pursuant to
S. Res. 116, 112th Congress. Calendar No. 211.
Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to
requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Senate.
August 5, 2015: Confirmed by the Senate by voice vote.
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS REFERRED
TO THE COMMITTEE
There were 712 Senate bills and 40 House bills referred to
the committee for consideration during the 114th Congress. In
addition, 13 Senate and House resolutions (joint, concurrent,
or simple resolutions) were referred to the committee.
REPORTS, PRINTS, AND STUDIES
During the 114th Congress, the committee and supporting
joint committees, prepared and issued 47 reports, special
prints, and studies on the following topics:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title Document no. To accompany
------------------------------------------------------------------------
RETIREMENT ENHANCEMENT AND 114-375........... S. 3471
SAVINGS ACT OF 2016.
MINERS PROTECTION ACT OF 2016... 114-374........... S. 3470
STOLEN IDENTITY REFUND FRAUD 114-299........... S. 3157
PREVENTION ACT.
TAXPAYER PROTECTION ACT OF 2016. 114-298........... S. 3156
AUDIT AND APPEALS FAIRNESS, 114-177........... S. 2368
INTEGRITY, AND REFORMS IN
MEDICARE ACT OF 2015.
THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE'S 114-119........... ..................
PROCESSING OF 501(c)(3) AND
501(c)(4) APPLICATIONS FOR TAX-
EXEMPT STATUS SUBMITTED BY
``POLITICAL ADVOCACY''
ORGANIZATIONS FROM 2010-2013.
TAX RELIEF EXTENSION ACT OF 2015 114-118........... S. 1946
A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR THE 114-109........... S. 1461
EXTENSION OF THE ENFORCEMENT
INSTRUCTION ON SUPERVISION
REQUIREMENTS FOR OUTPATIENT
THERAPEUTIC SERVICES IN
CRITICAL ACCESS AND SMALL RURAL
HOSPITALS THROUGH 2015.
A BILL TO AMEND TITLE XI OF THE 114-108........... S. 1362
SOCIAL SECURITY ACT TO CLARIFY
WAIVER AUTHORITY REGARDING
PROGRAMS OF ALL-INCLUSIVE CARE
FOR THE ELDERLY (PACE PROGRAMS).
NOTICE OF OBSERVATION, 114-107........... S. 1349
TREATMENT, AND IMPLICATION FOR
CARE ELIGIBILITY (NOTICE) ACT
OF 2015.
ELECTRONIC HEALTH FAIRNESS ACT 114-106........... S. 1347
OF 2015.
PATIENT ACCESS TO DISPOSABLE 114-105........... S. 1253
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY ACT OF 2015.
PREVENTING AND REDUCING IMPROPER 114-104........... S. 861
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID
EXPENDITURES (PRIME) ACT OF
2015.
COMMUNITY BASED INDEPENDENCE FOR 114-103........... S. 704
SENIORS ACT.
THE RURAL COMMUNITY HOSPITAL 114-102........... S. 607
DEMONSTRATION EXTENSION ACT OF
2015.
IMPROVING ACCESS TO EMERGENCY 114-101........... S. 599
PSYCHIATRIC CARE ACT OF 2015.
QUALITY CARE FOR MOMS AND BABIES 114-100........... S. 466
ACT.
SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST FAIRNESS ACT 114-99............ S. 349
OF 2015.
PREVENT INTERRUPTIONS IN 114-98............ S. 313
PHYSICAL THERAPY ACT OF 2015.
A BILL TO AMEND THE INTERNAL 114-56............ S. 335
REVENUE CODE OF 1986 TO IMPROVE
529 PLANS.
TRADE FACILITATION AND TRADE 114-45............ S. 1269
ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2015.
AN ORIGINAL BILL TO EXTEND THE 114-44............ S. 1268
TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
AN ORIGINAL BILL TO EXTEND THE 114-43............ S. 1267
AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY
ACT, THE GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF
PREFERENCES, THE PREFERENTIAL
DUTY TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR
HAITI, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
THE BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL 114-42............ S. 995
TRADE PRIORITIES AND
ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2015.
MILITARY SPOUSE JOB CONTINUITY 114-30............ S. 920
ACT OF 2015.
A BILL TO EXCLUDE FROM GROSS 114-29............ S. 919
INCOME CERTAIN CLEAN COAL POWER
GRANTS.
NOTICE FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT 114-28............ S. 918
INCLUDE CHARITIES IS ESSENTIAL
(NOTICE) ACT.
LNG AND LPG EXCISE TAX 114-27............ S. 917
EQUALIZATION ACT OF 2015.
DON'T TAX OUR FALLEN PUBLIC 114-26............ S. 916
SAFETY HEROES ACT.
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT AND JOBS 114-25............ S. 915
ACT OF 2015.
AMENDING TITLE 31, UNITED STATES 114-24............ S. 914
CODE, TO CLARIFY THE USE OF
CREDENTIALS BY ENROLLED AGENTS.
A BILL TO PROVIDE AN INVESTMENT 114-23............ S. 913
TAX CREDIT FOR WASTE HEAT TO
POWER TECHNOLOGY.
A BILL TO AMEND THE INTERNAL 114-22............ S. 912
REVENUE CODE TO EXCLUDE AMOUNTS
RECEIVED UNDER WORK-LEARNING
SERVICE PROGRAMS.
A BILL TO AMEND THE INTERNAL 114-21............ S. 910
REVENUE CODE OF 1986 TO CLARIFY
THE SPECIAL RULES FOR ACCIDENT
AND HEALTH PLANS OF CERTAIN
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.
PHILANTHROPIC ENTERPRISE ACT OF 114-20............ S. 909
2015.
CHARITABLE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 114-19............ S. 908
ACT.
WOUNDED WARRIOR TAX EQUITY ACT 114-18............ S. 907
OF 2015.
CIDER INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT 114-17............ S. 906
THROUGH EXCISE TAX REDUCTION
(CIDER) ACT.
A BILL TO AMEND THE INTERNAL 114-16............ S. 905
REVENUE CODE OF 1986 TO
INCREASE THE LIMITATION ON
ELIGIBILITY FOR THE ALTERNATIVE
TAX FOR CERTAIN SMALL INSURANCE
COMPANIES.
CRAFT BEVERAGE BOND 114-15............ S. 904
SIMPLIFICATION ACT OF 2015.
IMPROVE ACCESS AND 114-14............ S. 903
ADMINISTRATION OF THE UNITED
STATES TAX COURT.
REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE 114-9............. ..................
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE OF THE
UNITED STATES SENATE DURING THE
113TH CONGRESS.
HIRE MORE HEROES ACT OF 2015.... 114-3............. H.R. 22
THE PRICE OF SOVALDI AND ITS 114-20............ ..................
IMPACT ON THE U.S. HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM.
RULES OF PROCEDURE.............. 114-3............. ..................
TRADE FACILITATION AND TRADE 114-376........... H.R. 644
ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2015.
FAST ACT........................ 114-357........... H.R. 22
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS
During the 114th Congress, a total of 615 official
communications were submitted to the committee. Of these, 7
were Presidential Messages; 592 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 16 Petitions and Memorials.