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Daily Digest - Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

[Page: D1030]  GPO's PDF

Measures Introduced: Sixteen bills and two resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 1611-1626, and S. Res. 277-278.

Pages S7673-74

Measures Reported:

H.R. 2094, to amend the Public Health Service Act to increase the preference given, in awarding certain asthma-related grants, to certain States (those allowing trained school personnel to administer epinephrine and meeting other related requirements).
H.R. 2747, to amend title 40, United States Code, to transfer certain functions from the Government Accountability Office to the Department of Labor relating to the processing of claims for the payment of workers who were not paid appropriate wages under certain provisions of such title.
S. 1302, to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for cooperative and small employer charity pension plans, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
S. 1557, to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize support for graduate medical education programs in children's hospitals.
S. 1561, to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve provisions relating to the sanctuary system for surplus chimpanzees, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.

Page S7673

Measures Passed:

CHIMP Act Amendments: Senate passed S. 1561, to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve provisions relating to the sanctuary system for surplus chimpanzees, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.

Pages S7684-85

Page S7685

Pages S7685-86

Page S7686

Message from the President: Senate received the following message from the President of the United States:
Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to the continuation of the national emergency relative to the actions and policies of the Government of Sudan as declared in Executive Order 13067 of November 3, 1997; which was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (PM-23)

Page S7670

Suh Nomination Referral--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the nomination of Rhea Sun Suh, of Colorado, to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife, sent to the Senate by the President on October 30, 2013, be referred jointly to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Page S7684

Watt Nomination--Agreement : A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing that at approximately 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 31, 2013, Senate resume consideration of the nomination of Melvin L. Watt, of North Carolina, to be Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, with the time until 12 noon equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees; and that following the swearing in of Senator-elect Booker, Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination, and that there be two minutes of debate equally divided and controlled in the usual form prior to a cloture vote on the nomination.

Pages S7663-64, S7686

Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
Alan F. Estevez, of the District of Columbia, to be a Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense.

Pages S7639-46, S7687

Pages S7640-41

[Page: D1031]  GPO's PDF

By 62 yeas to 35 nays (Vote No. EX. 225), Katherine Archuleta, of Colorado, to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management for a term of four years.

Pages S7647-63, S7687

Pages S7646-47

Pages S7663, S7687

Page S7663

Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
Joseph S. Hezir, of Virginia, to be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Energy.
Nani A. Coloretti, of California, to be Chief Financial Officer, Department of the Treasury.
Jonathan Elkind, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (International Affairs).
Rhea Sun Suh, of Colorado, to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife.
Charles Hammerman Rivkin, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Economic and Business Affairs).
Robert C. Barber, of Massachusetts, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Iceland.
Bathsheba Nell Crocker, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (International Organization Affairs).
Mark Gilbert, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to New Zealand.
Tina S. Kaidanow, of the District of Columbia, to be Coordinator for Counterterrorism, with the rank and status of Ambassador at Large.
Theodore Reed Mitchell, of California, to be Under Secretary of Education.
Massie Ritsch, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary for Communications and Outreach, Department of Education.
William A. LaPlante, Jr., of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Air Force.
Routine lists in the Air Force, and Army.

Pages S7686-87

Messages from the House:

Page S7670

Measures Referred:

Page S7670

Measures Placed on the Calendar:

Page S7670

Executive Communications:

Pages S7670-73

Executive Reports of Committees:

Page S7673

Additional Cosponsors:

Pages S7674-75

Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:

Pages S7675-83

Additional Statements:

Page S7669

Amendments Submitted:

Pages S7683-84

Authorities for Committees to Meet:

Page S7684

Privileges of the Floor:

Page S7684

Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--225)

Pages S7641, S7647, S7663

Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 6:43 p.m., until 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 31, 2013. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S7686.)

JOBS ACT

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment concluded a hearing to examine the JOBS Act at a year and a half, focusing on assessing progress and unmet opportunities, after receiving testimony from Keith Higgins, Director, Division of Corporation Finance, Securities and Exchange Commission; Alan Lewis, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc., Denver, Colorado; Robert R. Kaplan, Jr., Kaplan Voekler Cunningham and Frank, PLC, Richmond, Virginia; Rick Fleming, North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc., Burke, Virginia; and Sherwood Neiss, Crowdfund Capital Advisors LLC, Miami, Florida.

TRANSATLANTIC TRADE AND INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP

Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, after receiving testimony from Michael L. Ducker, FedEx Express, Memphis, Tennessee; Ryan McCormick, Montana Grain Growers Association, Great Falls; Dave Ricks, Lilly Biomedicines, Indianapolis, Indiana; and William P. Roenigk, National Chicken Council, Washington, DC.

[Page: D1032]  GPO's PDF

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items:
S. 1562, to reauthorize the Older Americans Act of 1965, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 1557, to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize support for graduate medical education programs in children's hospitals;
S. 1561, to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve provisions relating to the sanctuary system for surplus chimpanzees, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
H.R. 2094, to amend the Public Health Service Act to increase the preference given, in awarding certain asthma-related grants, to certain States (those allowing trained school personnel to administer epinephrine and meeting other related requirements);
S. 1302, to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for cooperative and small employer charity pension plans, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
H.R. 2747, to amend title 40, United States Code, to transfer certain functions from the Government Accountability Office to the Department of Labor relating to the processing of claims for the payment of workers who were not paid appropriate wages under certain provisions of such title; and
The nominations of Michael Keith Yudin, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, and James Cole, Jr., of New York, to be General Counsel, both of the Department of Education, and Chai Rachel Feldblum, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items:
S. 235, to provide for the conveyance of certain property located in Anchorage, Alaska, from the United States to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 611, to make a technical amendment to the T'uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area Act, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and
S. 920, to allow the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in the State of Minnesota to lease or transfer certain land, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.

INDIAN AFFAIRS LEGISLATION

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine S. 1074, to extend Federal recognition to the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, the Chickahominy Indian Tribe-Eastern Division, the Upper Mattaponi Tribe, the Rappahannock Tribe, Inc., the Monacan Indian Nation, and the Nansemond Indian Tribe, S. 1132, to provide for the recognition of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, and S. 161, to extend the Federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana, after receiving testimony from Senators Kaine, Burr, and Hagan; Kevin Washburn, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs; Stephen R. Adkins, Chickahominy Indian Tribe, Charles City, Virginia; Paul Brooks, Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, Pembroke; and Gerald Gray, Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana, Black Eagle.

NOMINATIONS

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of John B. Owens, of California, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, Matthew Frederick Leitman, Judith Ellen Levy, Laurie J. Michelson, and Linda Vivienne Parker, all to be a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, who were all introduced by Senator Levin, and Peter Joseph Kadzik, of New York, to be an Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf.

VETERANS HEALTH CARE AND BENEFITS LEGISLATION

Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine S. 875, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the reporting of cases of infectious diseases at facilities of the Veterans Health Administration, S. 1148, to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide notice of average times for processing claims, S. 1155, to provide for advance appropriations for certain information technology accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to include mental health professionals in training programs of the Department, S. 1165, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for certain requirements relating to the immunization of veterans, S. 1211, to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the use of the phrases GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill to give a false impression of approval D1033or endorsement by the Department of Veterans Affairs, S. 1216, to improve and increase the availability of on-job training and apprenticeship programs carried out by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, S. 1262, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a veterans conservation corps, S. 1281, to prohibit discrimination on the basis of military service, S. 1295, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide veterans with notice, when veterans electronically file claims for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary, that relevant services may be available from veterans service organizations, S. 1296, to amend the Wounded Warrior Act to establish a specific timeline for the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to achieve interoperable electronic health records, S. 1361, to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to accept additional documentation when considering the application for veterans status of an individual who performed service as a coastwise merchant seaman during World War II, S. 1399, to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to extend the interest rate limitation on debt entered into during military service to debt incurred during military service to consolidate or refinance student loans incurred before military service, S. 1411, to specify requirements for the next update of the current strategic plan for the Office of Rural Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs for improving access to, and the quality of, health care services for veterans in rural areas, S. 1434, to designate the Junction City Community-Based Outpatient Clinic located at 715 Southwind Drive, Junction City, Kansas, as the Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz Community-Based Outpatient Clinic, S. 1471, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of the Army to reconsider decisions to inter or honor the memory of a person in a national cemetery, S. 1540, to amend title 38, United States Code, to include contracts and grants for residential care for veterans in the exception to the requirement that the Federal Government recover a portion of the value of certain projects, S. 1547, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to review the dialysis pilot program implemented by the Department of Veterans Affairs and submit a report to Congress before expanding that program, S. 1556, to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify authorities relating to the collective bargaining of employees in the Veterans Health Administration, S. 1558, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of outreach for veterans, S. 1559, to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the method of determining whether Filipino veterans are United States residents for purposes of eligibility for receipt of the full-dollar rate of compensation under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, S. 1573, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the payment of temporary compensation to a surviving spouse of a veteran upon the death of the veteran, S. 1576, to redesignate the Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System located at 10000 Bay Pines Boulevard in Bay Pines, Florida, as the ``C.W. Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center'', S. 1578, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to cover the costs associated with the care of veterans at medical foster homes, S. 1579, to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to improve the protections provided to members of the uniformed services and their families, S. 1580, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require recipients of per diem payments from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the provision of services for homeless veterans to comply with codes relevant to operations and level of care provided, S. 1581, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide counseling and treatment for sexual trauma to members of the Armed Forces, to require the Secretary to screen veterans for domestic abuse, to require the Secretary to submit reports on military sexual trauma and domestic abuse, S. 1582, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit reports on the provision of services by the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans with hearing loss and other auditory system injuries and the measures that can be taken jointly by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense with respect to hearing loss and other auditory system injuries, S. 1583, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct an education program and peer support program for the education and training of family members and caregivers of veterans with mental health disorders, S. 1584, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide replacement automobiles for certain disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces, S. 1585, to amend title 38, United States Code, to update the Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance program to base premium rates on the Commissioners 2001 Standard Ordinary Mortality Table instead of the Commissioners 1941 Standard Ordinary Table of Mortality, S. 1586, to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve dental health care for veterans, S. 1588, to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for reimbursement for emergency medical treatment to certain veterans that were unable to receive care from the Department of Veterans Affairs in the 24-month period preceding the furnishing of such emergency treatment, S. 1589, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs has an up-to-date policy on D1034reporting of cases of infectious diseases, to require an independent assessment of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks and medical centers of the Department, S. 1593, to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to enhance the protections accorded to servicemembers and their spouses with respect to mortgages, an original bill entitled, ``Veterans Health Care Eligibility Expansion and Enhancement Act'', and an original bill to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a national center for the diagnosis, treatment, and research of health conditions of the descendants of veterans exposed to toxic substances during service in the Armed Forces, to provide certain services to those descendants, after receiving testimony from Senators Reed, Nelson, Franken, Coats, and Heinrich; Robert I. Jesse, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health, David R. McLenachen, Director, Pension Fiduciary Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Richard Hipolit, Assistant General Counsel, and Jane Clare Joyner, Deputy Assistant General Counsel, all of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and Colonel Robert F. Norton, USA (Ret.), Military Officers Association of America, Adrian M. Atizado, Disabled American Veterans, and Richard Weidman, Vietnam Veterans of America, all of Washington, DC.

[Page: D1034]  GPO's PDF

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported H.R. 3302, to name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Bay Pines, Florida, as the ``C.W. Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center''.

Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 66 public bills, H.R. 3380-3445; and 11 resolutions, H.J. Res. 100-101; H. Con. Res. 62-63; and H. Res. 395-401, were introduced.

Pages H6951-54

Additional Cosponsors:

Pages H6957-58

Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
H.R. 982, to amend title 11 of the United States Code to require the public disclosure by trusts established under section 524(g) of such title, of quarterly reports that contain detailed information regarding the receipt and disposition of claims for injuries based on exposure to asbestos; and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 113-254);
H.R. 2655, to amend Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to improve attorney accountability, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 113-255); and In the Matter regarding the arrests of Members of the House during a protest outside the United States Capitol on October 8, 2013 (H. Rept. 113-256).

Page H6951

Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Cramer to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

Page H6905

Recess: The House recessed at 10:54 a.m. and reconvened at 12 noon.

Page H6911

House Democracy Partnership--Appointment: The Chair announced the Speaker's appointment of the following Members to the House Democracy Partnership: Representative Roskam, Chairman; Representatives Fortenberry, Boustany, Conaway, Buchanan, Crenshaw, Wilson (SC), Brooks (IN), Latham, Black, and Ribble.

Pages H6915-16

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe--Appointment: The Chair announced the Speaker's appointment of the following Members on the part of the House to the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Representatives Pitts, Aderholt, Gingrey, and Burgess.

Page H6916

Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act: The House passed H.R. 992, to amend provisions in section 716 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act relating to Federal assistance for swaps entities, by a recorded vote of 292 ayes to 122 noes, Roll No. 569.

Pages H6916-28

Pages H6925-27

Relating to the Disapproval of the President's Exercise of Authority To Suspend the Debt Limit: The House agreed to H.J. Res. 99, relating to the disapproval of the President's exercise of authority to suspend the debt limit, as submitted under section 1002(b) of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014 on October 17, 2013, by a yea-and-nay vote of 222 yeas to 191 nays with 2 answering D1035``present'', Roll No. 570. Consideration of the measure began yesterday, October 29th.

Page H6928

[Page: D1035]  GPO's PDF

H.J. Res. 99 was considered under the provisions of H. Res. 391 and section 1002(e)(2)(C) of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014.

Adjournment Resolution: The House agreed to H. Con. Res. 62, providing for a conditional adjournment of the House of Representatives.

Page H6928

Moment of Silence: The House observed a moment of silence in memory of Ike Skelton, former Member of Congress.

Pages H6928-29

Meeting Hour: Agreed that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 1st unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its concurrence in H. Con. Res. 62, in which case the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to that concurrent resolution.

Page H6944

Presidential Message: Read a message from the President wherein he notified Congress that the national emergency declared with respect to Sudan is to continue in effect beyond November 3, 2013--referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 113-70).

Pages H6943-44

Quorum Calls--Votes: Two yea-and-nay votes and one recorded vote developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H6926-27, H6927, and H6928. There were no quorum calls.

Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and at 5:11 p.m., the House stands adjourned until 10 a.m. on Friday, November 1, 2013, unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its adoption of H. Con. Res. 62, in which case the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to that concurrent resolution.

PPACA IMPLEMENTATION FAILURES: ANSWERS FROM HHS

Committee on Energy and Commerce: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``PPACA Implementation Failures: Answers from HHS''. Testimony was heard from Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.

CHINA'S MARITIME AND OTHER GEOGRAPHIC THREATS

Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats held a hearing entitled ``China's Maritime and other Geographic Threats''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

ESTABLISHING A SYRIAN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL

Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa; and Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations held a hearing entitled ``Establishing a Syrian War Crimes Tribunal?''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

CYBER INCIDENT RESPONSE: BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN CYBERSECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications; and Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies held a hearing entitled ``Cyber Incident Response: Bridging the Gap Between Cybersecurity and Emergency Management''. Testimony was heard from Roberta Stempfley, Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Cybersecurity and Communications, National Protection and Programs Directorate, Department of Homeland Security; and public witnesses.

FACILITY PROTECTION: IMPLICATIONS OF THE NAVY YARD SHOOTING ON HOMELAND SECURITY

Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency held a hearing entitled ``Facility Protection: Implications of the Navy Yard Shooting on Homeland Security''. Testimony was heard from L. Eric Patterson, Director, Federal Protective Service, Department of Homeland Security; Greg Marshall, Chief Security Officer, Department of Homeland Security; Caitlin Durkovich, Assistant Secretary, Infrastructure Protection, Department of Homeland Security; and Mark Goldstein, Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, Government Accountability Office.

REGULATORY CRIME: IDENTIFYING THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM

Committee on the Judiciary: Over-Criminalization Task Force held a meeting entitled ``Regulatory Crime: Identifying the Scope of the Problem''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee held a markup on the following legislation: H.R. 298, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to evaluate the significance of the Mill Springs Battlefield located in Pulaski and Wayne Counties, Kentucky, and the feasibility of its inclusion in the National Park System, and for other purposes; H.R. 585, the ``Anchorage Land Conveyance Act of 2013''; H.R. 1846, the ``Lower East Side D1036Tenement National Historic Site Amendments Act''; H.R. 2799, to establish the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee to advise the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture on wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting, recreational shooting, and for other purposes; and H.R. 2954, to authorize Escambia County, Florida, to convey certain property that was formerly part of Santa Rosa Island National Monument and that was conveyed to Escambia County subject to restrictions on use and reconveyance. The following bills were ordered reported, as amended: H.R. 298; H.R. 1846; and H.R. 2799. The following bills were ordered reported, without amendment: H.R. 585; and H.R. 2954.

[Page: D1036]  GPO's PDF

CULTURE OF MISMANAGEMENT AND WASTEFUL CONFERENCE SPENDING AT THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee held a hearing entitled ``A Culture of Mismanagement and Wasteful Conference Spending at the Department of Veterans Affairs''. Testimony was heard from the following Department of Veterans Affairs officials: Gina Farrisee, Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration; Edward Murray, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Finance; Richard J. Griffin, Deputy Inspector General, Office of Inspector General; and Gary K. Abe, Deputy Assistant Inspector General, Office of Audits and Evaluations, Office of Inspector General.

PROVIDING THE TOOLS FOR SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY AND BASIC ENERGY RESEARCH: THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SCIENCE MISSION

Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing entitled ``Providing the Tools for Scientific Discovery and Basic Energy Research: The Department of Energy Science Mission''. Testimony was heard from Patricia Dehmer, Deputy Director for Science Programs, Office of Science, Department of Energy; Horst Simon, Deputy Director, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab; John Hemminger, Chair, Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee, Office of Science, Department of Energy.

REVIEW OF FAA'S CERTIFICATION PROCESS: ENSURING AN EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE, AND SAFE PROCESS

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Aviation held a hearing entitled ``Review of FAA's Certification Process: Ensuring an Efficient, Effective, and Safe Process''. Testimony was heard from Dorenda Baker, Director of Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation Administration; Gerald Dillingham, Director, Civil Aviation Issues, Government Accountability Office; Jeff Guzzetti, Assistant Inspector General for Aviation Audits, Department of Transportation; and public witnesses.

FOCUSED ISSUES ON DIGNIFIED BURIALS: A NATIONAL CEMETERY UPDATE

Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs held a hearing entitled ``Focused Issues on Dignified Burials: A National Cemetery Update''. Testimony was heard from Patrick K. Hallinan, Executive Director of Army National Cemeteries Program, Department of Defense; Glenn Powers, Deputy Under Secretary for Field Programs, National Cemetery Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; and public witnesses.

BUDGET RESOLUTION

Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate and House adopted versions of S. Con. Res. 8, setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2014, revising the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year 2013, and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2015 through 2023

FARM BILL

Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate and House passed versions of H.R. 2642, to provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2018, but did not complete action thereon, and recessed subject to the call.

HUMAN RIGHTS FOR MINORITIES IN EUROPE

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission received a briefing on the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, focusing on how the movement has impacted Europe and the continuing work of the United States in advancing human rights for minorities in Europe from Ivan Ivanov, European Roma Information Office, Brussels, Belgium.

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: business meeting to consider the nominations of Wanda D1037Felton, of New York, to be First Vice President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and Katherine M. O'Regan, of New York, to be Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; to be immediately followed by a hearing to examine housing finance reform, focusing on a government guarantee for mortgage-backed securities, 10 a.m., SD-538.

[Page: D1037]  GPO's PDF

Committee on Foreign Relations: business meeting to consider S. Res. 268, condemning the September 2013 terrorist attack at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, and reaffirming United States support for the people and Government of Kenya, S. Res. 277, recognizing the religious and historical significance of the festival of Diwali, and the nominations of Gregory B. Starr, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security, Mark Bradley Childress, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania, Thomas Frederick Daughton, of Arizona, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Namibia, Matthew T. Harrington, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Lesotho, Eunice S. Reddick, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Niger, John Hoover, of Massachusetts, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Sierra Leone, Michael Stephen Hoza, of Washington, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Cameroon, Tomasz P. Malinowski, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Crystal Nix-Hines, of California, for the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, Pamela K. Hamamoto, of Hawaii, to be Representative to the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, with the rank of Ambassador, Philip S. Goldberg, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines, Robert O. Blake, Jr., of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia, Karen Clark Stanton, of Michigan, to be Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Timothy M. Broas, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Donald Lu, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Albania, Robert A. Sherman, of Massachusetts, to be Ambassador to the Portuguese Republic, Anne W. Patterson, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, Adam M. Scheinman, of Virginia, to be Special Representative of the President for Nuclear Nonproliferation, with the rank of Ambassador, Rose Eilene Gottemoeller, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Frank A. Rose, of Massachusetts, to be Assistant Secretary for Verification and Compliance, Dwight L. Bush, Sr., of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, James Walter Brewster, Jr., of Illinois, to be Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Brian A. Nichols, of Rhode Island, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Peru, and Carlos Roberto Moreno, of California, to be Ambassador to Belize, all of the Department of State, 10 a.m., SD-419.

Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine Syria, 10:15 a.m., SD-419.

Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine the nomination of Daniel W. Yohannes, of Colorado, to be Representative of the United States of America to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, with the rank of Ambassador, and Anthony Luzzatto Gardner, of New York, to be Representative of the United States of America to the European Union, with the rank and status of Ambassador, both of the Department of State, 2:15 p.m., SD-419.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: to hold hearings to examine attaining a quality degree, focusing on innovations to improve student success, 10 a.m., SD-430.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: to hold hearings to examine government clearances and background checks, focusing on the Navy Yard tragedy, 10 a.m., SD-342.
Committee on the Judiciary: business meeting to consider S. 42, to provide anti-retaliation protections for antitrust whistleblowers, S. 822, to protect crime victims' rights, to eliminate the substantial backlog of DNA samples collected from crime scenes and convicted offenders, to improve and expand the DNA testing capacity of Federal, State, and local crime laboratories, to increase research and development of new DNA testing technologies, to develop new training programs regarding the collection and use of DNA evidence, to provide post conviction testing of DNA evidence to exonerate the innocent, to improve the performance of counsel in State capital cases, and the nominations of Robert Leon Wilkins, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit, Brian J. Davis, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida, Timothy L. Brooks, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Arkansas, James Donato, Beth Labson Freeman, and Vince Girdhari Chhabria, all to be a United States District Judge for the Northern District of California, Pedro A. Delgado Hernandez, to be United States District Judge for the District of Puerto Rico, Carolyn B. McHugh, of Utah, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit, Pamela L. Reeves, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee, and James Maxwell Moody, Jr., to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas, 10 a.m., SD-226.
Select Committee on Intelligence: to hold closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters, 2 p.m., SH-219.

No hearings are scheduled.

Program for Thursday: Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Melvin L. Watt, of North Carolina, to be Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination at approximately 12:10 p.m.

[Page: D1038]  GPO's PDF

At 12 noon, Senator-elect Booker, of New Jersey, will be sworn in.

Program for Friday: The House will meet in pro forma session at 10 a.m.

HOUSE

Barr, Andy, Ky., E1607

Becerra, Xavier, Calif., E1618

Bonamici, Suzanne, Ore., E1601

Bridenstine, Jim, Okla., E1600, E1609

Brooks, Susan W., Ind., E1603, E1608

Butterfield, G.K., N.C., E1616, E1617

Capps, Lois, Calif., E1599

Carter, John R., Tex., E1604, E1606, E1610, E1613, E1614, E1616, E1618

Coffman, Mike, Colo., E1613

Davis, Danny K., Ill., E1614

Dingell, John D., Mich., E1602, E1609

Edwards, Donna F., Md., E1610, E1617

Fincher, Stephen Lee, Tenn., E1609

Fitzpatrick, Michael G., Pa., E1612

Flores, Bill, Tex., E1616

Fudge, Marcia L., Ohio, E1613

Green, Gene, Tex., E1611

Griffin, Tim, Ark., E1608

Hastings, Alcee L., Fla., E1615

Honda, Michael M., Calif., E1618

Huffman, Jared, Calif., E1602, E1604

Jordan, Jim, Ohio, E1600

Kildee, Daniel T., Mich., E1602

Lipinski, Daniel, Ill., E1606, E1606

Loebsack, David, Iowa, E1612

Luetkemeyer, Blaine, Mo., E1599

McCarthy, Carolyn, N.Y., E1602

McCarthy, Kevin, Calif., E1601, E1603

McNerney, Jerry, Calif., E1606

Maloney, Carolyn B., N.Y., E1607

Messer, Luke, Ind., E1603, E1612, E1614

Michaud, Michael H., Me., E1605

Miller, Jeff, Fla., E1601

Moore, Gwen, Wisc., E1617

Nugent, Richard B., Fla., E1607

Beto O'Rourke, Tex., E1613

Peters, Gary C., Mich., E1601

Peters, Scott H., Calif., E1618

Polis, Jared, Colo., E1599

Price, David E., N.C., E1610

Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E1604, E1607, E1612, E1614

Rokita, Todd, Ind., E1605

Sanford, Mark, N.C., E1617

Schakowsky, Janice D., Ill., E1615

Schock, Aaron, Ill., E1599

Scott, Robert C. ``Bobby'', Va., E1611

Sewell, Terri A., Ala., E1600

Slaughter, Louise McIntosh, N.Y., E1605

Smith, Adam, Wash., E1611

Southerland, Steve II, Fla., E1600

Swalwell, Eric, Calif., E1608, E1612

Takano, Mark, Calif., E1605

Thompson, Mike, Calif., E1603, E1606, E1613

Wasserman Schultz, Debbie, Fla., E1617

Webster, Daniel, Fla., E1599, E1600

Wenstrup, Brad R., Ohio, E1609

Wolf, Frank R., Va., E1619

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