WASHINGTON, DC - The House Energy and Commerce Committee today announced its hearing schedule for the week of July 9. The committee will hold six hearings that assess a wide range of issues, including an examination of alternative fuels, legislation to help veterans transition to EMT jobs, and oversight of the Federal Communications Commission’s regulatory process and its impact on taxpayers and job creation. The committee also continues its work to protect taxpayer dollars from fraud as well as ensure risky bets like Solyndra never happen again. After conducting extensive oversight of Solyndra and the overall loan guarantee program, the committee is set to advance its legislative solution to fix the problems that were discovered.
On Tuesday, July 10, the Subcommittee on Energy and Power will hold a hearing on the American Energy Initiative. The focus of the hearing will be on alternative fuels and vehicles, both the challenges and the opportunities. This hearing continues the subcommittee’s look into alternative fuels and vehicles. The subcommittee held a similar hearing on this issue last year. Testimony is expected from a diverse panel of witnesses representing both the fuel and vehicle perspectives. A Majority Memomorandum and witness list are posted here. Witness testimony will be posted at the same link when it becomes available.
Also on Tuesday, July 10, the Subcommittee on Communictaions and Technology will hold a hearing on “Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission." All five FCC commissioners will testify, including recently confirmed commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Ajit Pai. This hearing will examine current proceedings before the FCC, the commission’s regulatory process, and the agency’s progress in implementing congressional priorities. The Majority Memorandum and witness testimony will be posted here when they become available.
On Wednesday, July 11, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing on “RIN Fraud: EPA’s Efforts to Ensure Market Integrity in the Renewable Fuels Program." This hearing will continue the committee’s investigation of EPA’s attention to fraud in the production and trade of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) that serve as credits for the production and blending of renewable fuels into the nation’s fuel supply. Since November 2011, EPA has identified some 140 million invalid or fraudulently created RINs associated with biodiesel fuel.
Members will hear from marketplace participants and the EPA to identify the impacts of fraud on small producers, marketers, and the refiners and blenders; to examine efforts to address the problems identified with EPA’s current regulatory approach to the ensuring for market integrity; and to identify longer term challenges, risks, and solutions to fraud in the renewable fuels program. The Majority Memorandum, witness list, and witness testimony will be posted here when they become available.
Also on Wednesday, July 11, the Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing on “Helping Veterans with Emergency Medical Training Transition to Civilian Service." The hearing will focus on H.R. 4124, The Veteran Medical Technician Support Act of 2012. The legislation would provide demonstration grants to states to help veterans trained as emergency medical technicians (EMT’s) in the military transfer into similar civilian medical occupations. These grants would enable states to study whether the requirements within their own jurisdiction are equivalent to those currently employed by the military. Additionally, the grants would identify methods which veterans could bypass state training requirements when appropriate. H.R. 4124 would support returning veterans with EMT training find jobs as well as assist areas of the country where EMT shortages exist. The Majority Memorandum, witness list, and witness testimony will be posted here when they become available.
On Thursday, July 12, the Subcommittee on Energy and Power and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a legislative hearing on Discussion Drafts of the “No More Solyndras Act" and the “Smart Energy Act." Additional information on the legislation will be available early next week. The “No More Solyndras Act" is the product of the committee’s investigation into the $535 million loan guarantee to the California solar panel manufacturer that ultimately went bankrupt, costing both jobs and taxpayer dollars. A major finding of the committee’s investigation revealed that the Obama administration restructured Solyndra’s loan in February 2011, putting the company’s private investors ahead of taxpayers. From the outset of the investigation, the committee’s ultimate goal has been to identify what went wrong to ensure taxpayers are never again left on the hook for the the administration’s risky bets. The Majority Memorandum, witness list, and witness testimony will be posted here when they become available.
Also on Thursday, July 12, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufatcuring, and Trade will hold a legislative hearing on “H.R. __, a bill to renew the Federal Trade Commission’s authority to combat cross-border spam, spyware and fraud through reauthorization of the U.S. SAFE WEB Act of 2006." The U.S. SAFE WEB Act of 2006 gave the Federal Trade Commission enhanced powers to protect consumers from increased threats of cross-boarder fraud, spam and spyware, and is set to expire next year. Continuing its effort to protect American consumers, the subcommittee will examine legislation to renew the Act, as well as discuss the benefits of the legislation and opportunities to improve it. The Majority Memorandum, witness list, and witness testimony will be posted here when they become available.
Hearing Details
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
10:00 a.m.
2322 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Energy and Power
Hearing on the American Energy Initiative with a focus on alternative fuels and vehicles, both the challenges and the opportunities
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
10:15 a.m.
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
Hearing on “Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission"
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
10:00 a.m.
2322 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Hearing on “RIN Fraud: EPA’s Efforts to Ensure Market Integrity in the Renewable Fuels Program"
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
10:15 a.m.
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Health
Hearing on “Helping Veterans with Emergency Medical Training Transition to Civilian Service"
Thursday, July 12, 2012
9:15 a.m.
2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Energy and Power and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Legislative hearing on Discussion Drafts of the “No More Solyndras Act" and the “Smart Energy Act"
Thursday, July 12, 2012
10:00 a.m.
2322 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade
Legislative hearing on “H.R. __, a bill to renew the Federal Trade Commission’s authority to combat cross-border spam, spyware and fraud through reauthorization of the U.S. SAFE WEB Act of 2006"
