Secretary Sebelius, thank you for joining us today for a discussion of the President’s 2013 Budget.   An Administration’s budget is a reflection of its priorities and vision for the country.  I am disappointed to say that in reviewing the Health and Human Services (HHS) budget for Fiscal Year 2013, I find myself asking, “Where’s the leadership?  Where’s the plan? … Read more

Good Morning.  I want to thank everyone for being here this morning, especially our honored guest, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.  Before we get started with our discussion of the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget, I’d like to take a moment to recognize Reginald B. Greene, or as he has been known to all of us who enter this room, Reggie.   Today marks Reggie’s 30th year with… Read more

Good morning.  Today we are continuing our series of hearings on comprehensive tax reform.  This morning’s hearing will focus on the interaction of tax policy and financial accounting rules (such as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or “GAAP”), and we will examine how this interaction affects the way in which publicly-traded companies respond to tax policy.   A… Read more

We are meeting today to hear from individuals who have experience to share that will inform us as we continue our effort to reform Medicare payments to physicians.  At our last hearing on this topic, we heard about different payment model options and efforts to test them in the private sector.  Today’s hearing, our second, focuses on more incremental, private sector-driven… Read more

Today the Committee will consider H.R. 3864, the “American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Financing Act of 2012.”  This legislation would reauthorize through September 30, 2016 expenditure authority for the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) and extend through September 30, 2018 the current Federal excise taxes that fund the Highway Trust Fund.   H.R. 3864 also would restructure the… Read more

Social Security has always collected death information so it can stop benefits to those who have died and start benefits for their survivors.  Today about 2.5 million death reports are received from many sources, including families, funeral homes, hospitals, financial institutions, States and Federal agencies.  Social Security shares death records with other Federal benefit… Read more

Thank you Chairman Boustany.  It’s a pleasure to have this opportunity to hold a joint hearing between our subcommittees.  Our Members have a lot of interest in maritime issues and I believe today’s hearing is an excellent chance to examine how to strengthen the U.S. maritime industry. I’m glad to have the opportunity to join with my friends on the Oversight Subcommittee in… Read more

Thank you all for joining us for this morning’s joint hearing of the Subcommittees on Oversight and Select Revenue Measures. Today’s hearing will take a closer look at the underfunding of the Nation’s maritime transportation infrastructure, the Harbor Maintenance Tax and Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, and the tax treatment of foreign shipping operations. The Harbor Maintenance Trust… Read more

Good morning and welcome to our second hearing in our hearing series on Securing the Future of the Social Security Disability Insurance Program.  Today our focus is on combating waste, fraud and abuse. In our first hearing we talked about the important milestone set in 1956 by the creation of this cash benefit program for those who could no longer work due to a disability. … Read more

This may be our first public meeting, but the work of this conference committee has been ongoing since the end of last year.  I know members have spoken often and studied the issues.   I would also note and thank the staff for their due diligence leading up to this public meeting.  As a result of their efforts, every member has before them a side-by-side comparison of… Read more