WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce announced its schedule for the week of May 28. Committee members will explore governance at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as part of continued oversight by the committee. The Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will explore Internet governance in advance of the December 2012 World Conference on International Telecommunications. And the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will hold a legislative hearing to review two bipartisan pieces of legislation.
On Thursday, May 31, the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy and the Subcommittee on Energy and Power will hold a hearing on “NRC Policy and Governance Oversight.” Members will question outgoing Chairman Gregory Jaczko and his fellow commissioners about the conduct of certain Commission actions and policy decisions under his leadership. In recent weeks, the committee has launched a series of inquiries into the Commission’s governance, chilled work environment, and recent votes.
Since the start of the 112th Congress, the Energy and Commerce Committee has been actively conducting oversight of the NRC, with a focus on Chairman Jaczko’s influence on Commission decision-making. Last year, the committee opened an investigation into Chairman Jazcko’s controversial decision to shut down the NRC’s independent review of the Yucca Mountain license application. The NRC Inspector General released a report on this decision last summer detailing evidence that Chairman Jaczko had abused his legal authority and withheld critical information from his fellow Commissioners. The release of a second Inspector General report is expected soon. A background memo and witness list will be posted here when they become available.
Also on Thursday, May 31, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will hold a hearing on “International Proposals to Regulate the Internet.” In advance of the December 2012 World Conference on International Telecommunications, the subcommittee will discuss the potential consequences of recent proposals by the international community to regulate the Internet. The subcommittee will also examine the current “multi-stakeholder” model of Internet governance, which has helped foster technological, economic, and social change across the globe. A background memo and witness list will be posted here when they become available.
On Friday, June 1, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will hold a hearing focused on H.R. ___, the “American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2012,” and H.R. ___, a bill to repeal an obsolete provision in title 49, United States Code, requiring motor vehicle insurance cost reporting. The American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act is a bipartisan proposal requiring the president to submit to Congress a strategy to promote growth, sustainability and competitiveness in the manufacturing sector. The second bill to be considered would eliminate a requirement for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to develop information on insurance rates for different makes and models of passenger motor vehicles and NHTSA’s rule requiring dealers to make such information available to prospective buyers even though it is not a primary factor in determining insurance premiums. A background memo and witness list will be posted here when they become available.
Hearing Details
Thursday, May 31, 2012
10:00 a.m.
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy & Subcommittee on Energy and Power
Hearing on “NRC Policy and Governance Oversight”
Thursday, May 31, 2012
10:15 a.m.
2322 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
Hearing on “International Proposals to Regulate the Internet”
Friday, June 1, 2012
9:30 a.m.
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade
Legislative Hearing
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