D896 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — DAILY DIGEST September 20, 2012 

Coal Miner Employment and Domestic Energy 

Infrastructure Protection Act: The House began 

consideration of H.R. 3409, to limit the authority of 

the Secretary of the Interior to issue regulations before December 31, 2013, under the Surface Mining 

Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. Further proceedings were postponed. Page H6196 

Pursuant to the rule, an amendment in the nature 

of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 112–32 shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the 

five-minute rule, in lieu of the amendment in the 

nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources now printed in the bill. 

 Page H6204 

Agreed to: 

Bucshon amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 

112–680) that requires that the Secretary, or any 

other Federal official proposing a rule under this 

Act, shall publish with each rule proposed under this 

Act each scientific study the Secretary or other official, respectively, relied on in developing the rule. 

This amendment ensures that rules being issued are 

based on scientific study; Pages H6212–13 

Benishek amendment (No. 6 printed in H. Rept. 

112–680) that requires the Committee for the Cumulative Analysis of Regulations that Impact Energy 

and Manufacturing in the United States to include 

the health effects associated with regulatory costs in 

its assessment; and Pages H6217–18 

Harris amendment (No. 7 printed in H. Rept. 

112–680) that reinforces the transparency and sound 

science requirements in the bill. Specifically, it requires EPA to make data and modeling inputs available to the public, and requires Regulatory Impact 

Analysis to undergo external peer review according 

to the agency’s own peer review guidelines. 

 Pages H6218–19 

Proceedings Postponed: 

Markey amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 

112–680) that seeks to allow the Secretary of the Interior to promulgate rules under the Surface Mining 

Control and Reclamation Act, if such rule would reduce the prevalence of pulmonary diseases, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease or reduce the prevalence of 

birth defects or reproductive problems in pregnant 

women or children; Pages H6211–12 

Waxman amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 

112–680) that seeks to strike the language that 

would repeal EPA’s scientific finding that carbon 

pollution endangers the public health and welfare; 

 Pages H6213–14 

Kelly amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 

112–680) that seeks to require the Secretary of 

Transportation to submit a report to Congress estimating the number of jobs, the fatalities and injuries, and the cost to the economy caused by the 

‘‘2017 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle 

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Corporate Average 

Fuel Economy Standards’’ rule. Would require that 

the Secretary shall not consult with the EPA or the 

California Air Resources Board to complete the report; and Pages H6214–16 

Markey amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 

112–680) that seeks to allow the Environmental 

Protection Agency to take any action using its authority under the Clean Air Act if such action would 

increase North American energy independence by reducing demand for oil. Pages H6216–17 

H. Res. 788, the rule providing for consideration 

of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 118) and the bill 

(H.R. 3409) was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 

233 yeas to 182 nays, Roll No. 588, after the previous question was ordered by a yea-and-nay vote of 

238 yeas to 179 nays, Roll No. 587. Pages H6173–74 

A point of order was raised against the consideration of H. Res. 788 and it was agreed to proceed 

with consideration of the resolution by voice vote. 

 Pages H6165–67 

Quorum Calls—Votes: Five yea-and-nay votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear 

on pages H6173–74, H6174, H6194–95, H6195, 

H6196. There were no quorum calls. 

Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 8:44 p.m. 

Committee Meetings 

CHEMICAL FACILITY ANTI-TERRORISM 

STANDARDS PROGRAM 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a hearing entitled ‘‘Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) Program’’. 

Testimony was heard from Steve Caldwell, Director, 

Homeland Security and Justice Issues, Government 

Accountability Office; Suzanne Spaulding, Deputy 

Under Secretary, National Protection and Programs 

Directorate, Department of Homeland Security; 

David Wulf, Director, Office of Infrastructure Protection, Department of Homeland Security. 

JOINT IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE 

DEFEAT ORGANIZATION 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense 

held a hearing entitled ‘‘Joint Improvised Explosive 

Device Defeat Organization’’. Testimony was heard 

from Lieutenant General Michael D. Barbero, United 

States Army, Director, Joint Improvised Explosive 

Device Defeat Organization. 


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September 20, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — DAILY DIGEST D897 

SEQUESTRATION TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 

2012 REPORT 

Committee on Armed Services: Full Committee held a 

hearing on Department of Defense Plans for Sequestration: The Sequestration Transparency Act of 2012 

Report and the Way Forward. Testimony was heard 

from Robert F. Hale, Under Secretary of Defense, 

Comptroller; General Lloyd J. Austin III, USA, Vice 

Chief of Staff of the Army; Admiral Mark Ferguson, 

USN, Vice Chief of Naval Operations; General Larry 

O. Spencer, USAF, Vice Chief of Staff of the Air 

Force; and General Joseph F. Dunford, USMC, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. 

ASSESSING COLLEGE DATA: HELPING TO 

PROVIDE VALUABLE INFORMATION TO 

STUDENTS, INSTITUTIONS AND 

TAXPAYERS 

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce 

Training held a hearing entitled ‘‘Assessing College 

Data: Helping to Provide Valuable Information to 

Students, Institutions and Taxpayers’’. Testimony 

was heard from public witnesses. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES 

Committee on Energy and Commerce: Full Committee 

completed a markup of H.R. 1206, the ‘‘Access to 

Professional Health Insurance Advisors Act of 

2011’’; and H.R. 1063, the ‘‘Strengthening Medicare 

and Repaying Taxpayers Act of 2011’’. H.R. 1206 

and H.R. 1063 were ordered reported, without 

amendment. 

LEGISLATIVE MEASURE 

Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on 

Energy and Power held a hearing entitled ‘‘The 

American Energy Initiative: A Focus on H.R. 6172’’. 

Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CONSUMER 

FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU 

Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held 

a hearing entitled ‘‘The Semi-Annual Report of the 

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’’. Testimony 

was heard from Richard Cordray, Director, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 

SAFEGUARDING ISRAEL’S SECURITY IN A 

VOLATILE REGION 

Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the 

Middle East and South Asia held a hearing entitled 

‘‘Safeguarding Israel’s Security in a Volatile Region’’. 

Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY: 

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT 

AND A ROADMAP FOR ITS FUTURE 

Committee on Homeland Security: Full Committee held 

a hearing entitled ‘‘The Department of Homeland 

Security: An Assessment of the Department and a 

Roadmap for its Future’’. Testimony was heard from 

David C. Maurer, Director, Homeland Security and 

Justice, Government Accountability Office; and public witnesses. 

REGULATION NATION: THE OBAMA 

ADMINISTRATION’S REGULATORY 

EXPANSION VS. JOBS AND ECONOMIC 

RECOVERY 

Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee held a 

hearing entitled ‘‘Regulation Nation: The Obama 

Administration’s Regulatory Expansion vs. Jobs and 

Economic Recovery’’. Testimony was heard from 

public witnesses. 

INTERNATIONAL IP ENFORCEMENT: 

OPENING MARKETS ABROAD AND 

PROTECTING INNOVATION 

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet held a 

hearing entitled ‘‘International IP Enforcement: 

Opening Markets Abroad and Protecting Innovation’’. Testimony was heard from Victoria Espinel, 

Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator, Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of 

the President. 

CITIZEN’S GUIDE ON USING THE FREEDOM 

OF INFORMATION ACT AND THE PRIVACY 

ACT OF 1974 TO REQUEST GOVERNMENT 

RECORDS; AND MISCELLANEOUS 

MEASURES 

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full 

Committee held a business meeting to approve ‘‘A 

Citizen’s Guide on Using the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act of 1974 to Request 

Government Records’’; and a markup of the following: H.R. 4053, the ‘‘Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act of 2012’’; 

H.R. 5954, to designate the facility of the United 

States Postal Service located at 320 7th Street in 

Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, as the ‘‘Sergeant Leslie 

H. Sabo, Jr. Post Office Building’’; and H.R. 5738 

to designate the facility of the United States Postal 

Service located at 15285 Samohin Drive in Macomb, 

Michigan, as the ‘‘Lance Cpl. Anthony A. DiLisio 

Clinton-Macomb Carrier Annex’’. The report ‘‘A 

Citizen’s Guide on Using the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act of 1974 to Request 

Government Records’’ was ordered reported, without 

amendment. The following measures were ordered 


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D898 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — DAILY DIGEST September 20, 2012 

reported, without amendment: H.R. 5954; and H.R. 

5738. The following measure was ordered reported, 

as amended, H.R. 4053. 

EXAMINING THE ADMINISTRATION’S 

FAILURE TO PREVENT AND END 

MEDICAID OVERPAYMENTS 

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Health Care, District of Columbia, 

Census and the National Archives held a hearing entitled ‘‘Examining the Administration’s Failure to 

Prevent and End Medicaid Overpayments’’. Testimony was heard from John Hagg, Director of Medicaid Audits, Office of the Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services; and Penny 

Thompson, Deputy Director, Center for Medicaid 

and CHIP Services, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 

SIGAR REPORT 

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense 

and Foreign Operations held a hearing entitled 

‘‘SIGAR Report: Document Destruction and Millions of Dollars Unaccounted for at the Department 

of Defense, Part II’’. Testimony was heard from Alan 

F. Estevez, Assistant Secretary for Logistics and Materiel Readiness, Department of Defense; Lieutenant 

General Brooks L. Bash, USAF, Director for Logistics, Joint Staff, Department of Defense; John F. 

Sopko, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction; and Donald K. Steinberg, Deputy Administrator, Agency for International Development. 

SEQUESTRATION: THE THREAT TO SMALL 

BUSINESSES, JOBS, AND THE INDUSTRIAL 

BASE 

Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a 

hearing entitled ‘‘Sequestration: The Threat to Small 

Businesses, Jobs, and the Industrial Base’’. Testimony was heard from Mike McCord, Principal Deputy, Under Secretary of Defense; and public witnesses. 

REVIEW OF AMTRAK OPERATIONS, PART 

III: EXAMINING 41 YEARS OF TAXPAYER 

SUBSIDIES 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Full 

Committee held a hearing entitled ‘‘A Review of 

Amtrak Operations, Part III: Examining 41 Years of 

Taxpayer Subsidies’’. Testimony was heard from Joseph Boardman, President and CEO, Amtrak; Ted 

Alves, Inspector General, Amtrak; and public witnesses. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management held a markup of 

H.R. 6430, the ‘‘Public Buildings Reform Act of 

2012’’. H.R. 6430 was forwarded, as amended. 

REVIEW OF THE CHALLENGES 

MAINTAINING LEGACY ASSETS POSE TO 

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD MISSION 

PERFORMANCE 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing entitled ‘‘A Review of the 

Challenges Maintaining Legacy Assets Pose to 

United States Coast Guard Mission Performance’’. 

Testimony was heard from Rear Admiral Ronald J. 

Rabago, Assistant Commandant for Engineering and 

Logistics, Coast Guard; and Stephen Caldwell, Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues, Government Accountability Office. 

FORTY YEARS AFTER THE CLEAN WATER 

ACT: IS IT TIME FOR THE STATES TO 

IMPLEMENT SECTION 404 PERMITTING 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, 

hearing entitled ‘‘Forty Years after the Clean Water 

Act: Is it Time for the States to Implement Section 

404 Permitting?’’. Testimony was heard from JoEllen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for 

Civil Works; Denise Keehner, Director, Office of 

Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, Environmental 

Protection Agency; Jeff Littlejohn, Deputy Secretary 

for Regulatory Programs, Florida Department of Environmental Protection; and public witnesses. 

VETERANS AFFAIRS IN THE 112TH 

CONGRESS: REVIEWING VA’S 

PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY 

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs: Full Committee held a 

hearing entitled ‘‘Veterans Affairs in the 112th Congress: Reviewing VA’s Performance and Accountability’’. Testimony was heard from W. Scott Gould, 

Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Department of 

Veterans Affairs. 

EXAMINING THE RE-DESIGN OF THE 

TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TAP) 

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held a hearing entitled ‘‘Examining the Re-Design of the Transition Assistance 

Program (TAP)’’. Testimony was heard from Danny 

G. I. Pummill, Director, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Defense Program Office; John 

K. Moran, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations 


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September 20, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — DAILY DIGEST D899 

and Management, Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, Department of Labor; Rhett Jeppson, 

Associate Administrator for Veterans Business Development, Small Business Administration; Susan 

Kelly, Deputy Director, Transition to Veterans Program Office, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Department of 

Defense; BG Robert Hedelund, Director of Marine 

and Family Programs, Marine Corps; BG Jason T. 

Evans, Adjutant General, USA; Edward Cannon, 

Fleet and Family Readiness Program Director, USN; 

Eden J. Murrie, BG, Director of Services, USAF; and 

RADM Daniel Neptun, Assistant Commandant for 

Human Resources, USCG. 

BENEFITS OF EXPANDING U.S. SERVICES 

TRADE THROUGH AN INTERNATIONAL 

SERVICES AGREEMENT 

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on 

Trade held a hearing entitled ‘‘Benefits of Expanding 

U.S. Services Trade Through an International Services Agreement’’. Testimony was heard from Michael 

Punke, Deputy United States Trade Representative 

and Permanent Representative to the World Trade 

Organization; and public witnesses. 

Joint Meetings 

GEORGIA’S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION 

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded a hearing to examine Georgia’s 

parliamentary election, focusing on how free and fair 

has the campaign been, and how the United States 

government should respond, including the election’s 

fairness during the run-up to the vote and the vote 

count, human rights issues connected to the election, 

and United States policy in response, after receiving 

testimony from Thomas O. Melia, Deputy Assistant 

Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and 

Labor; Ariel Cohen, The Heritage Foundation, Rockville, Maryland; Mamuka Tsereteli, American University School of International Service Center for 

Black Sea and Caspian Studies, Washington, D.C.; 

and Archil Gegeshidze, Georgian Foundation for 

Strategic and International Studies, Tbilisi, Georgia. 

f 

COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY, 

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 

(Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) 

Senate 

No meetings/hearings scheduled. 

House 

Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on 

Oversight and Investigations, hearing entitled ‘‘The 

LightSquared Network: An Investigation of the FCC’s 

Role’’, 9:30 a.m., 2123 Rayburn. 

Committee on Ethics, Full Committee, hearing on the 

matter of Representative Maxine Waters, 9:15 a.m., 1310 

Longworth. 

Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology, hearing entitled 

‘‘The Price of Money: Consequences of the Federal Reserve’s Zero Interest Rate Policy’’, 9:30 a.m., 2128 Rayburn. 

Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Management, hearing entitled 

‘‘DHS Acquisition Management Challenges: Solutions for 

Saving Taxpayer Dollars’’, 9 a.m., 311 Cannon. 

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, hearing entitled 

‘‘Breaking Through the Backlog: Evaluating the Effectiveness of the New State Strike Force Team’’, 10 a.m., 

334 Cannon. 

Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Health, 

hearing entitled ‘‘Examining the current status of the 

Medicare Advantage (MA) program and other health 

plans’’, 9:30 a.m., 1100 Longworth. 


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