[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 19 (Wednesday, February 15, 2006)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D105-D107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on USDA. Testimony was heard from Mike Johanns, Secretary of 
Agriculture.
HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing on DHS Management and Operations. Testimony was heard from 
Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security.
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held an oversight hearing on Woodrow Wilson 
International Center for Scholars. Testimony was heard from Lee H. 
Hamilton, President and Director, Woodrow Wilson International Center 
for Scholars.
MILITARY QUALITY OF LIFE, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life, 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a hearing on DOD Budget 
Overview. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Defense: Tina W. Jonas, Under Secretary, Comptroller; and 
Philip W. Grone, Deputy Under Secretary, Installations and Environment.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on Quality of Life--Senior 
Enlisted. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Defense: SMA Major Kenneth O. Prestion, U.S. Army; Sgt. 
Major John L. Estrada, U.S. Marine Corps; Master Chief Petty Officer 
Terry D. Scott, Submarines/Aviation Warfare, Department of the Navy; 
and Chief CMSgt. Gerald R. Murray, U.S. Air Force.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2007 
National Defense Authorization budget request from the Department of 
the Army. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of the Army: Francis J. Harvey, Secretary; and GEN Peter 
Schoomaker, USA, Chief of Staff.
ABLE DANGER PROGRAM
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces and the 
Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities held 
a joint hearing on the Able Danger program. Testimony was heard from 
Stephen Cambone, Under Secretary, Intelligence, Department of Defense; 
and public witnesses.
DOMESTIC ENTITLEMENTS AND THE FEDERAL BUDGET
Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on Domestic Entitlements and 
the Federal Budget. Testimony was heard from David M. Walker, 
Comptroller General,

[[Page D106]]

GAO; Douglas J. Holtz-Eakin, former Director, CBO; and a public 
witness.
HEALTH CARE PRIORITIES FISCAL YEAR 2007
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Held a hearing entitled ``The 
Administration's FY '07 Health Care Priorities.'' Testimony was heard 
from Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services.
INTERCHANGE FEES--LAW AND ECONOMICS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection held a hearing entitled ``The Law and Economics of 
Interchange Fees.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MONETARY POLICY REPORT
Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing to receive the Federal 
Reserve Board's semiannual monetary policy report. Testimony was heard 
from Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve 
System.
METHYL BROMIDE EXEMPTION PROCESS
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Energy and Resources 
held a hearing entitled ``Methyl Bromide: Are U.S. Interests Being 
Served by the Critical User Exemption Process?'' Testimony was heard 
from William Wehrum, Acting Assistant Administrator, Air and Radiation, 
EPA; and public witnesses.
PUBLIC HOUSING SYSTEM
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federalism and the 
Census, hearing entitled ``Living in America: Is Our Public Housing 
System Up to the Challenges of the 21st Century?'' Testimony was heard 
from David G. Wood, Director, Financial Markets and Community 
Investments, GAO; the following former officials of the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development: Henry Cisneros, Secretary; and Rod 
Solomon, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy; and public witnesses.
MARITIME BORDER SECURITY BUDGET
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Economic Security, 
Infrastructure Protection and Cybersecurity held a hearing entitled 
``The President's Fiscal Year Budget: Coast Guard Programs Impacting 
Maritime Border Security.'' Testimony was heard from ADM Thomas H. 
Collins, USCG, Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland 
Security.
INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, 
Science, and Technology held a hearing entitled ``The State of 
Interoperable Communications: Perspectives from the Field.'' Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
HOMELAND SECURITY BUDGET
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Intelligence, 
Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment held a hearing 
entitled ``The President's Proposed FY07 Budget for the Department of 
Homeland Security: The Office of Intelligence and Analysis.'' Testimony 
was heard from the following officials of the Department of Homeland 
Security: Charlie E. Allen, Chief Intelligence Officer; and Mary V. 
Connell, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Intelligence and Analysis.
INTERNET IN CHINA
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa, Global 
Human Rights and International Operations and the Subcommittee on Asia 
and the Pacific held a joint hearing entitled ``The Internet in China: 
A Tool for Freedom or Suppression?'' Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of State: James Keith, Senior 
Advisor for China and Mongolia, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific 
Affairs; and David Gross, Deputy Assistant Secretary, International 
Communications and Information Policy, Bureau of Economic and Business 
Affairs; and public witnesses.
RESOLUTIONS OF INQUIRY; FINANCIAL SERVICES REGULATORY RELIEF ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported the following measures: H. 
Res. 643, adversely, Directing the Attorney General to submit to the 
House of Representatives all documents in the possession of the 
Attorney General relating to warrantless electronic surveillance of 
telephone conversations and electronic communications of persons in the 
United States conducted by the National Security Agency; H. Res. 644, 
adversely, Requesting the President and directing the Attorney General 
to transmit to the House of Representatives not later than 14 days 
after the date of the adoption of this resolution documents in the 
possession of those officials relating to the authorization of 
electronic surveillance of citizens of the United States without court 
approved warrants; and H.R. 3505, Financial Services Regulatory Relief 
Act of 2005.
SECOND CHANCE ACT; AFT GUN SHOW ENFORCEMENT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security approved for full

[[Page D107]]

Committee action H.R. 1704, Second Chance Act of 2005.
  The Subcommittee also held an oversight hearing on the Bureau of 
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) Part 1: Gun Show 
Enforcement. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks held an 
oversight hearing entitled ``The National Park Service 2006 Draft 
Management Policies and proposed changes to Director's Order 21.'' 
Testimony was heard from Steve Martin, Deputy Director, National Park 
Service, Department of the Interior; the following former officials of 
the Department of the Interior: William Horn, Assistant Secretary, Fish 
and Wildlife and Parks; and Denis Galvin, Deputy Director, National 
Park Service; and public witnesses.
FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BUDGET
Committee on Science: Held a hearing on An Overview of the Federal R&D 
Budget for Fiscal Year 2007. Testimony was heard from John Marburger 
III, Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy; Samuel Bodman, 
Secretary of Energy; David Sampson, Deputy Secretary of Commerce; Arden 
Bement, Director, NSF; and Charles McQuearty, Under Secretary, Science 
and Technology, Department of Homeland Security.
OVERSIGHT--COMMERCIAL JET FUEL COSTS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation held an oversight hearing on Commercial Jet Fuel Supply: 
Impact and Cost on the U.S. Airline Industry. Testimony was heard from 
John D. Shages, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Petroleum 
Reserves, Department of Energy; Michael A. Cirillo, Vice President, 
Systems Operations Services, Air Traffic Organization, FAA, Department 
of Transportation; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--BUDGET IMPACTS ON TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Highways, Transit and Pipelines held an oversight hearing on How the FY 
2007 Budget Proposal Impacts SAFETEA LU. Testimony was heard from 
Phyllis Scheinberg, Assistant Secretary, Budget and Promotions, 
Department of Transportation.
VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held a hearing on annual legislative 
agenda, views and priorities for veterans organizations. Testimony was 
heard from representatives of veterans organizations.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET FISCAL YEAR 2007 BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES
Committee on Ways and Means: Continued hearings on President Bush's 
Budget proposals for fiscal year 2007. Testimony was heard from John W. 
Snow, Secretary of the Treasury.
  The Committee also approved Committee Budget Views and Estimates for 
Fiscal Year 2007 for submission to the Committee on the Budget.
U.S. TRADE AGENDA
Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing on President Bush's trade 
agenda. Testimony was heard from Robert J. Portman, U.S. Trade 
Representative.
BRIEFING--INTELLIGENCE VALUE OF INTERROGATION
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Oversight 
met in executive session to receive a Briefing on The Intelligence 
Value of Interrogation. The Subcommittee was briefed by departmental 
witnesses.
SELECT COMMITTEE REPORT
Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and 
Response to Hurricane Katrina: Ordered reported ``A Failure of 
Initiative,'' the Final Report of the Select Bipartisan Committee to 
Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina.