August 1, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5893 

State, and local conviction and incarceration status of individuals for purposes of 

identifying and preventing improper payments by Federal agencies and programs and 

fraud. 

(g) PLAN TO CURB FEDERAL IMPROPER PAYMENTS TO DECEASED INDIVIDUALS BY IMPROVING THE QUALITY AND USE BY FEDERAL AGENCIES OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

DEATH MASTER FILE.— 

(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—In conjunction with 

the Commissioner of Social Security and in 

consultation with relevant stakeholders that 

have an interest in or responsibility for providing the data, and the States, the Director 

of the Office of Management and Budget 

shall establish a plan for improving the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of death data 

maintained by the Social Security Administration, including death information reported to the Commissioner under section 

205(r) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 

405(r)). 

(2) ADDITIONAL ACTIONS UNDER PLAN.—The 

plan established under this subsection shall 

include recommended actions by agencies 

to— 

(A) increase the quality and frequency of 

access to the Death Master File and other 

death data; 

(B) achieve a goal of at least daily access 

as appropriate; 

(C) provide for all States and other data 

providers to use improved and electronic 

means for providing data; 

(D) identify improved methods by agencies 

for determining ineligible payments due to 

the death of a recipient through proactive 

verification means; and 

(E) address improper payments made by 

agencies to deceased individuals as part of 

Federal retirement programs. 

(3) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after 

the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 

shall submit a report to Congress on the plan 

established under this subsection, including 

recommended legislation. 

SEC. 6. IMPROVING RECOVERY OF IMPROPER 

PAYMENTS. 

(a) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term 

‘‘recovery audit’’ means a recovery audit described under section 2(h) of the Improper 

Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 

2010. 

(b) REVIEW.—The Director of the Office of 

Management and Budget shall determine— 

(1) current and historical rates and 

amounts of recovery of improper payments 

(or, in cases in which improper payments are 

identified solely on the basis of a sample, recovery rates and amounts estimated on the 

basis of the applicable sample), including a 

list of agency recovery audit contract programs and specific information of amounts 

and payments recovered by recovery audit 

contractors; and 

(2) targets for recovering improper payments, including specific information on 

amounts and payments recovered by recovery audit contractors. 

f 

NOTICES OF HEARINGS 

COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL

RESOURCES

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I 

would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public 

that a field hearing has been scheduled 

before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, August 

15, 2012, at 10:00 a.m., at the University 

of Colorado, Centennial Room 203, Colorado Springs, 1420 Austin Bluffs 

Pkwy, Colorado Springs, CO. 

The purpose of the hearing is to discuss the recent Colorado wildfires, focusing on lessons learned that can be 

applied to future suppression, recovery, 

and mitigation efforts. The Fourmile 

Canyon fire report that was released on 

July 25 will be discussed, as will projections for future wildfire conditions and 

best practices that can improve forest 

health. 

Because of the limited time available 

for the hearing, witnesses may testify 

by invitation only. However, those 

wishing to submit written testimony 

for the hearing record may do so by 

sending it to the Committee on Energy 

and Natural Resources, United States 

Senate, Washington, DC 20510–6150, or 

by e-mail to 

MeaganllGins@energy.senate.gov. 

For further information, please contact Kevin Rennert (202) 224–7826, 

Meagan Gins at (202) 224–0883, or Jacqueline Emanuel at (202) 224–5512. 

COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL

RESOURCES

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I 

would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public 

that a field hearing has been scheduled 

before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on Friday, August 17, 

2012, at 10:00 a.m., at the Santa Fe 

Community College, 6401 Richards Avenue, Room 216 Lecture Hall, West Wing 

of the Main Building, Santa Fe, NM. 

The purpose of the hearing is to examine the current and future impacts 

of climate change on the Intermountain West, focusing on drought, 

wildfire frequency and severity, and 

ecosystems. 

Because of the limited time available 

for the hearing, witnesses may testify 

by invitation only. However, those 

wishing to submit written testimony 

for the hearing record may do so by 

sending it to the Committee on Energy 

and Natural Resources, United States 

Senate, Washington, DC 20510–6150, or 

by e-mail to MeaganllGins@energy 

.senate.gov. 

For further information, please contact Kevin Rennert at (202) 224–7826 or 

Meagan Gins at (202) 224–0883. 

f 

AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO 

MEET 

COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND

FORESTRY

Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I 

ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 

Forestry be authorized to meet during 

the session of the Senate on August 1, 

2012, at 9 a.m. in room SR 328A of the 

Russell Senate Office Building. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND

TRANSPORTATION

Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I 

ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation be authorized to meet 

during the session of the Senate on August 1, 2012, at 2:30 p.m. in room 253 of 

the Russell Senate Office Building. 

The Committee will hold a hearing 

entitled, ‘‘Marketplace Fairness: Leveling the Playing Field for Small Business.’’ 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC

WORKS

Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I 

ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public 

Works be authorized to meet during 

the session of the Senate on August 1, 

2012, at 10 a.m. in Dirksen 406 to conduct a hearing entitled, ‘‘Update on the 

Latest Climate Change Science and 

Local Adaptation Measures.’’ 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I 

ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to 

meet during the session of the Senate 

on August 1, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. in room 

215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ‘‘Tax 

Reform: Examining the Taxation of 

Business Entities.’’ 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I 

ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the 

Senate on August 1, 2012, at 10 a.m. to 

hold a hearing entitled ‘‘Next Steps in 

Syria.’’ 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY

Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I 

ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized 

to meet during the session of the Senate, on August 1, 2012, at 10 a.m., in 

room SD–226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ‘‘Rising Prison Costs: Restricting Budgets and Crime Prevention Options.’’ 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

SUBCOMMITTEE ON EUROPEAN AFFAIRS

Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I 

ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the 

Senate on August 1, 2012, at 2:30 p.m., 

to hold a European Affairs subcommittee hearing entitled, ‘‘The Future of the Eurozone: Outlook and Lessons.’’ 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

SUBCOMMITTEE ON HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, 

AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I 

ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 

Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community 

Development be authorized to meet 

during the session of the Senate on August 1, 2012, at 10 a.m., to conduct a 


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S5894 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 1, 2012 

hearing entitled, ‘‘Streamlining and 

Strengthening HUD’s Rental Housing 

Assistance Programs.’’ 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

f 

PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR 

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that privileges of 

the floor be granted to Jenny Carson, 

an intern in my office, for the remainder of the day. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that Katharine 

Beamer, a Department of State 

detailee from my office, be granted the 

privilege of the floor during today’s 

session. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that Jasper Craven 

of my staff be given the privileges of 

the floor for the rest of today. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that Jeanette 

Quick, a detailee on the Banking Committee staff, as well as Ingianni Acosta 

and Georgina Cannan, two interns on 

Senator JOHNSON’s staff, be granted 

floor privileges for the remainder of today’s session. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. President, I 

ask unanimous consent that Kareem 

Yakub and Ghazan Jamal, members of 

my staff, be granted the privilege of 

the floor. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I 

ask unanimous consent that the following interns from my office be granted floor privileges for today’s session: 

Jenessa Albertson, Carly Colligan, Cale 

Clingenpeel, Courtney Lewis, Travis 

Logan, Joseph Mueller, Katherine 

Tomera, Marissa Torgerson, Sierra 

Udland, Douglas Watts, Mari Freitag, 

and Parker Haymans. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there 

objection? Without objection, it is so 

ordered. 

DESIGNATING THE WARREN 

LINDLEY POST OFFICE 

DESIGNATING THE REVEREND ABE 

BROWN POST OFFICE BUILDING 

DESIGNATING THE SERGEANT 

RICHARD FRANKLIN ABSHIRE 

POST OFFICE BUILDING 

DESIGNATING THE SPC NICHOLAS 

SCOTT HARTGE POST OFFICE 

DESIGNATING THE FIRST SERGEANT LANDRES CHEEKS POST 

OFFICE BUILDING 

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent 

that the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee be discharged from the following postal-naming bills en bloc, and the Senate proceed to their consideration en bloc: 

H.R. 1369 through H.R. 3276, H.R. 3412, 

H.R. 3501 and H.R. 3772. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

The Senate proceeded to consider the 

bills. 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bills be read a 

third time and passed en bloc; the motions to reconsider be laid upon the 

table en bloc, with no intervening action or debate; and any related statements be printed in the RECORD. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

The bill (H.R. 1369) to designate the 

facility of the United States Postal 

Service located at 1021 Pennsylvania 

Avenue in Hartshorne, Oklahoma, as 

the ‘‘Warren Lindley Post Office’’ was 

ordered to a third reading, was read the 

third time, and passed. 

The bill (H.R. 3276) to designate the 

facility of the United States Postal 

Service located at 2810 East 

Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa, Florida, as the ‘‘Reverend Abe Brown Post 

Office Building,’’ was ordered to a third 

reading, was read the third time, and 

passed. 

The bill (H.R. 3412) to designate the 

facility of the United States Postal 

Service located at 1421 Veterans Memorial Drive in Abbeville, Louisiana, as 

the ‘‘Sergeant Richard Franklin 

Abshire Post Office Building,’’ was ordered to a third reading, was read the 

third time, and passed. 

A bill (H.R. 3501) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 125 Kerr Avenue in Rome 

City, Indiana, as the ‘‘SPC Nicholas 

Scott Hartge Post Office,’’ was ordered 

to a third reading, was read the third 

time, and passed. 

A bill (H.R. 3772) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 150 South Union Street 

in Canton, Mississippi, as the ‘‘First 

Sergeant Landres Cheeks Post Office 

Building,’’ was ordered to a third reading, was read the third time, and 

passed. 

AMENDING THE YSLETA DEL SUR 

PUEBLO AND ALABAMA AND 

COUSHATTA INDIAN TRIBES OF 

TEXAS RESTORATION ACT 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 

proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 480, H.R. 1560. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The 

clerk will report the bill by title. 

The assistant legislative clerk read 

as follows: 

A bill (H.R. 1560) to amend the Ysleta del 

Sur Pueblo and Alabama and Coushatta Indian Tribes of Texas Restoration Act to 

allow the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Tribe to determine blood quantum requirement for 

membership in that tribe. 

There being no objection, the Senate 

proceeded to consider the bill. 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a 

third time and passed, the motion to 

reconsider be made and laid upon the 

table, there be no intervening action or 

debate, and that any statements related to this measure be printed in the 

RECORD. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

The bill (H.R. 1560) was ordered to a 

third reading, was read the third time, 

and passed. 

f 

IMPROPER PAYMENTS ELIMINATION AND RECOVERY IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2012 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed 

to the consideration of Calendar No. 

449, S. 1409. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The 

clerk will report the bill by title. 

The assistant legislative clerk read 

as follows: 

A bill (S. 1409) to intensify efforts to identify, prevent, and recover payment error, 

waste, fraud, and abuse within Federal 

spending. 

There being no objection, the Senate 

proceeded to consider the bill, which 

had been reported from the Committee 

on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, with an amendment to 

strike all after the enacting clause and 

insert in lieu thereof the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement 

Act of 2012’’. 

SEC. 2. DEFINITION. 

In this Act, the term ‘‘agency’’ means an executive agency as that term is defined under section 102 of title 31, United States Code. 

SEC. 3. IMPROVING THE DETERMINATION OF IMPROPER PAYMENTS BY FEDERAL 

AGENCIES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2 of the Improper 

Payments Information Act of 2002 (31 U.S.C. 

3321 note) is amended— 

(1) by redesignating subsections (b) through 

(g) as subsections (c) through (h), respectively; 

(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following: 

‘‘(b) IMPROVING THE DETERMINATION OF IMPROPER PAYMENTS.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Office 

of Management and Budget shall on an annual 

basis— 


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