The Hill Articles: April 16, 2013

Congress must confront the growing cyber threat at home House cyber bill needs a reboot US must tackle cyberattacks from Chinese Protecting Internet freedom is a priority OVERNIGHT TECH: Rules panel blocks privacy amendments to CISPA IRS extends tax deadline for Boston families President Obama must get serious about challenges facing the military Military price tag continues to grow needlessly; wise cuts must be made Pentagon’s budget realities mandate new Defense team OVERNIGHT MONEY: Postal Service’s finances in the spotlight OVERNIGHT HEALTH: GOP fast-tracks bill to fund ObamaCare program FDA acts quickly on blocking OxyContin generics OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Congress seeks answers to Boston bombings Obama to dine with a dozen Dem senators Boxer on gun violence: ‘The slaughter of innocents must stop’ OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Kerry to face House as Keystone simmers Obama: We don’t know who was behind ‘heinous, cowardly attack’ You can now call him Sir Richard Lugar More drones needed in Afghanistan, says Dunford Study: Hospital profits soar when surgeries go wrong Biotech firm pays in whistleblower fraud settlement Obama to visit Boston on Thursday Dunford: Pakistan not sabotaging Taliban peace plans Abortion-rights groups challenge Ark.’s 12-week ban American Airlines resumes flights after hours-long halt DAY’S END ROUNDUP Obama: Senate immigration bill ‘clearly a compromise’ GOP senators raise concerns with push for electronic medical records After days of fighting, Senate passes resolution honoring Margaret Thatcher Biggest push to promote ObamaCare will begin in Oct. Sen. McCaskill presses FAA to allow electronics on flights Produce trade group taps FDA advisor for food safety job Biden, lawmakers honor slain Giffords aide Immigration reform bill is ambitious if imperfect Sen. Levin: Pentagon push for new round of base closures going nowhere Obama honors NASCAR champ at event overshadowed by Boston Government increases royalty rates for satellite, cable TV radio Murphy continues campaign to honor the lives of gun-violence victims White House threatens veto against CISPA, citing privacy concerns House Energy Committee panel passes bill to expedite Keystone XL approval Tax haven menace must be addressed by Congress Consumer group to FCC: Let people unlock cellphones Credit unions rebut allegations about lending role IMF inches back U.S., global growth projections Bankers, lawmakers push back against community bank regs Former POWs McCain and Brace reunite for documentary premiere Rep. Stockman: Pray for Saudi ‘victim’ wounded in Boston attack GOP Senate candidate puts politics on pause after surviving Boston bombing American Airlines halts flights due to network outage Sen. Boxer: Committee vote on EPA nominee as soon as next week Senate at war over Thatcher resolution Reid: Ryan, Boehner stalling on budget Ruppersberger anticipates White House veto threat against CISPA Senate Foreign Relations chairman backpedals on Keystone XL hearing Shelby pushes banking regulators for Basel III analysis House votes to boost government cyber protection, cyber research Breast cancer claims expanded for 9/11 survivors, first responders Legislative burst halted Republicans assail presidential land protection powers Democrats warn that sequester cuts undermine fight against terror Appropriations chief: Pentagon should do more to stop China’s cyberattacks Farm bill supports homegrown innovation and Congress should pass it Lawmakers grill FDA chief on meningitis outbreak Watchdogs press new SEC chairwoman to expose corporate cash in politics Researchers claim ‘serious errors’ in GDP study cited by deficit hawks Benghazi, Boston, Bill Ayers all terrorism The Hill talks to ‘Veep’ star Julia Louis-Dreyfus ‘Veep’ star: Politicians, including VP Biden, not welcome on HBO show Giffords, Kelly seek to unify Senate Democrats on background checks Ryan signals no budget conference in sight Free trade versus food democracy National security officials to brief House members on cybersecurity Taliban applauds Boston attack but denies involvement Grassley: Dems hold up gun-control bill because they don’t have the votes Housing starts clear 1 million mark for first time in nearly 5 years White House struggles to rally House Dems behind chained CPI Cantor vows US will do all it can to catch Boston bomber IRS denies searching emails without warrant Muslim Brotherhood official links Boston attack to anti-Islam conspiracy Dem. Senator: Press ‘needs to chill out’ in Boston Marathon coverage Ex-congresswoman crossed finish line moments before Boston blasts Dems take on pharmaceutical industry in push for Medicare cuts Rep. Steve King: Boston bombing a reason for caution on immigration reform Dem says bad weather in 2012 proves climate change is happening Mark Kelly threatens to back challenger to Flake over gun votes Begich: Concessions for rural gun owners won’t ‘seal the deal’ for his vote GOP senator blasts ‘rush’ on immigration, demands hearings President’s status quo budget punts on reform, doubles down on failed policies Reports: New York’s LaGuardia Airport terminal evacuated State Department closes Kerry meeting with Saudi foreign minister after Boston bombing Sen. Whitehouse: Obama could use Keystone approval to tackle climate change Former Rep. Schmidt on Boston: ‘I’ve never been so close to death’ McCaskill’s Spotify a little bit country ‘Just say no’ to cybersecurity bill GOP leaders pay tribute to Boston victims, express ‘sorrow’ for families Immigration: Marco Rubio’s moment Senators mark Virginia Tech shooting anniversary, call for gun-control measures Obama orders flags to half-staff in honor of Boston victims Boston attacks remind us of ongoing fight against terrorism Liberal senator to activists: Make climate change like immigration, gay rights Wednesday’s meeting announcements: ObamaCare and nurses House should scrap cyber bill (CISPA) and start over Senate Leaders honor victims, first-responders of Boston Marathon bombings China slams US force buildup in Asia after Kerry visit Hagel: Attack was ‘cruel act of terror’ GOP fast tracks bill to fortify ObamaCare’s high-risk pools Rep. Barrow raises $417K as he considers Senate run Wednesday’s new regs: Tougher hazardous material penalties Weiner close to deciding on NYC mayoral run Dem House group delays South Carolina ads in wake of Boston attacks Rep. Hanabusa brings in $230K as she eyes other offices Dem bill would let Treasury regulate accountants to ensure competency, ‘good character’ Former Wyden aide to lobby for ExxonMobil Senate Gang of Eight reveals details of immigration reform plan News bites: Slide to the left News bites: Twitter in talks with Viacom, NBC Giuliani: ‘Surprising’ the US hasn’t seen more terrorist attacks Tuesday: Cyber week starts in the House News bites: Aftermath Rep. Peter King: Boston bombing not the work of ‘amateurs’ Tagg Romney: Boston explosions a ‘cowardly attack’ Sen. Cruz introduces alternative gun bills News bites: Does this even work? Deadly terrorist attack strikes Boston Marathon’s finish line News bites: FAA orders no-fly zone over Boston in wake of explosions No peace dividend? Not so fast News bites: Gas prices drop, EU eyes carbon market changes, and more Abortion doctor’s trial unlikely to inspire new efforts for regulation Immigration — five things to watch for Congressional GOP warming up to Hagel The loss of centrist voices Gang of Eight to delay rollout of immigration bill after Boston blasts Sessions: Border security provisions in immigration bill weaker than in 2007 Obama names former Secretaries of State to attend Thatcher funeral Feds’ 2013 tax haul will be biggest ever Cities to be placed on ‘high alert’ after attack on Boston Marathon