[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 24 (Wednesday, March 1, 2006)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D144-D147]
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 the Office of Inspector General. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the USDA: Phyllis K. Fong, Inspector 
General; and Kathleen S. Tight, Deputy Inspector General.
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on the Secretary of the Interior. 
Testimony was heard from Gale A. Norton, Secretary of the Interior.
MILITARY QUALITY OF LIFE, AND VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life, 
and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies continued Fiscal Year 2007 
appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
DEPARTMENTS OF STATE, JUSTICE, AND COMMERCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Science, the Departments 
of State, Justice, and Commerce, and Related Agencies held a hearing on 
FCC. Testimony was heard from Kevin Martin, Chairman, FCC.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST AIR FORCE AND NAVY
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2007 
National Defense Authorization Budget Request for the Department of the 
Air Force. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of the Air Force: Michael W. Wynne, Secretary; and GEN T. 
Michael Moseley, USAF, Chief of Staff.
  The Committee also held a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2007 National 
Defense Authorization Budget Request for the Department of the Navy. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
the Navy: Donald C. Winter, Secretary; ADM Michael G. Mullen, USN, 
Chief of Naval Operations; and GEN Michael W. Hagee, USMC, Commandant, 
U.S. Marine Corps.
RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY
Committee on Armed Services: Ordered reported adversely H. Res. 645, 
Requesting the President and directing the Secretary of Defense to 
transmit to the House of Representatives all information in the 
possession of the President or the Secretary of Defense relating to the 
collection of information pertaining to persons inside the United 
States without obtaining court-ordered warrants authorizing the 
collection of such information and relating to the policy of the United 
States with respect to the gathering of counterterrorism intelligence 
within the United States.

[[Page D145]]


ATOMIC ENERGY DEFENSE ACTIVITIES BUDGET REQUEST
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a 
hearing on the Fiscal Year 2007 National Defense Authorization Budget 
Request for the Department of Energy's Atomic Energy Defense 
Activities. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Energy: Ambassador Linton F. Brooks, Administrator, 
National Nuclear Security Administration; James Rispoli, Assistant 
Secretary, Environmental Management; and Glenn Podonsky, Director, 
Office of Security and Safety Performance Assurance.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BUDGET PRIORITIES
Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on the Department of Defense 
Budget Priorities Fiscal Year 2007. Testimony was heard from Gordon 
England, Deputy Secretary, Department of Defense.
AMERICAN MINING INDUSTRY--EVALUATING HEALTH AND SAFETY REGULATIONS
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Workforce 
Protections held a hearing entitled ``Evaluating Health and Safety 
Regulations in the American Mining Industry.'' Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the Department of Labor: Robert Friend, 
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Mine Safety and Health 
Administration; and Ray McKinney, Administrator, Coal Mine Safety and 
Health, Mine Safety and Health Administration; and public witnesses.
CAR TITLE FRAUD
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection held a hearing entitled ``Car Title Fraud: Issues 
and Approaches for Keeping Consumers Safe on the Road.'' Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
MEDICARE DRUG BENEFIT IMPLEMENTATION
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Medicare Part D: Implementation of the New Drug Benefit.'' 
Testimony was heard from Mark McClellan, M.D., Administrator, Centers 
for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human 
Services; and public witnesses.
CFIUS PROCESS
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Domestic and 
International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology held a hearing 
entitled ``Foreign Investment, Jobs and National Security: The CFIUS 
Process.'' Testimony was heard from Robert M. Kimmitt, Deputy 
Secretary, Department of the Treasury; Michael P. Jackson, Deputy 
Secretary, Department of Homeland Security; Eric S. Edelman, Under 
Secretary, Policy, Department of Defense; C. David Welch, Assistant 
Secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Department of State; and 
public witnesses.
OIL AND GAS ROYALTIES
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Energy and Resources 
held a hearing entitled ``Oil and Gas Royalties: The Facts, The 
Remedies.'' Testimony was heard from Walter Cruickshank, Deputy 
Director, Minerals Management Services, Department of the Interior.
2010 CENSUS/APPORTIONMENT
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federalism and the 
Census, hearing entitled ``Apportionment in the Balance: A Look Into 
the Progress of the 2010 Decennial Census.'' Testimony was heard from 
Louis Kincannon, Director, Bureau of the Census, Department of 
Commerce; the following officials of the GAO: Brenda Farrell, Acting 
Director, Strategic Issues; and David Powner, Director, Information 
Technology Management Issues; and public witnesses.
U.S. FISCAL OUTLOOK
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Management, 
Finance, and Accountability held a hearing entitled ``U.S. Fiscal 
Outlook and the FY 2005 Governmentwide Financial Statements.'' 
Testimony was heard from David M. Walker, Comptroller General, GAO; and 
Donald V. Hammond, Fiscal Assistant Secretary, Department of the 
Treasury.
GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs held 
a hearing entitled ``Plain English Regulations: Helping the American 
Public Understand the Rules.'' Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
BRIEFING--ACQUISITION OF TERMINAL OPERATIONS IN U.S. PORTS BY DUBAI 
PORT WORLD
Committee on Homeland Security: Met in executive session to receive a 
briefing on the acquisition of terminal operations at six United States 
ports by Dubai Port World. The Committee was briefed by departmental 
witnesses.

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INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS STATE AND LOCAL PERSPECTIVES
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, 
Science, and Technology held a hearing entitled ``The State of 
Interoperable Communications: Perspectives from State and Local 
Governments.'' Testimony was heard from Gino Menchini, Commissioner, 
Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications, City of 
New York; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and 
Intellectual Property approved for full Committee action the following 
measures: H.R. 4742, To amend title 35, United States Code, to allow 
the Director of the Patent and Trademark Office to waive statutory 
provisions governing patents and trademarks in certain emergencies; and 
S. 1785, Vessel Hull Design Protection Amendments of 2005.
ENERGY EMPLOYEES ILLNESS COMPENSATION
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Border 
Security, and Claims began hearings entitled ``The Energy Employees 
Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act--Are We Fulfilling the 
Promise We Made to These Veterans of the Cold War When We Created the 
Program,'' Part I. Testimony was heard from Shelby Hallmark, Director, 
Office of Worker's Compensation Programs, Department of Labor; and John 
Howard, M.D., Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and 
Health, Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses.
ENERGY POLICY ACT IMPLEMENTATION
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power held an 
oversight hearing entitled ``How the Federal Marketing Administrations 
Are Implementing the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and An Assessment of the 
Proposed Fiscal Year Budgets for These Agencies.'' Testimony was heard 
from the following Administrators of the Power Administrations, 
Department of Energy: Stephen J. Wright, Bonneville Power 
Administration; Michael S. Hacskaylo, Western Area Power 
Administration; Michael A. Deihl, Southwestern Power Administration; 
and Charles A. Borchardt, Southeastern Power Administration; and public 
witnesses.
NATIONAL UNIFORMITY FOR FOOD ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule providing for 
general debate only on H.R. 4167, National Uniformity for Food Act of 
2005. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and 
controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of the bill. The rule provides that after general debate 
the Committee of the Whole shall rise without motion and no further 
consideration of the bill shall be in order except by a subsequent 
order of the House. Testimony was heard from Representatives Rogers of 
Michigan, Waxman, Stupak, Cardoza, and Wasserman-Schultz.
OVERSIGHT--COAST GUARD BUDGET
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held an oversight hearing on the 
United States Coast Guard and the Federal Maritime Commission Fiscal 
Year Budget Requests. Testimony was heard from the following officials 
of the United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security: VADM 
Terry Cross, Vice Commandant; and Master Chief Petty Officer Franklin 
A. Welch; Steven R. Blust, Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission; and 
David L. Winstead, Commissioner, Public Building Service, GSA.
OVERSIGHT--ENVIRONMENT/WATER RESOURCES BUDGET
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment held an oversight hearing on Agency Budgets 
and Priorities for Fiscal Year 2007 for the following Agencies: the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Natural Resources Conservation 
Service and the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
the Army: John Paul Woodley, Jr., Assistant Secretary (Civil Works); 
and LTG Carl A. Strock, Chief of Engineers, Corps of Engineers; Bruce 
Knight, Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA; and Craig 
H. Middlebrook, Deputy Administrator, Saint Lawrence Seaway Development 
Corporation, Department of Transportation.
MEDICARE PAYMENT POLICIES
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on 
MedPAC's March Report on Medicare Payment Policies. Testimony was heard 
from Glenn M. Hackbarth, Chairman, Medicare Payment Advisory 
Commission; and public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
COBELL V. NORTON
Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs concluded a joint 
oversight hearing with the House Committee on Resources to examine the 
settlement of Cobell v. Norton, focusing on S. 1439 and H.R.

[[Page D147]]

4322, to provide for Indian trust asset management reform and 
resolution of historical accounting claims, after receiving testimony 
from Stuart E. Eizenstat, Covington and Burling, John Bickerman, 
Bickerman Dispute Resolution, and Joseph Garcia, National Congress of 
American Indians, all of Washington, D.C.; Sandra K. Johnigan, 
Johnigan, P.C., Dallas, Texas; Mike Marchand, Affiliated Tribes of 
Northwest Indians, Portland, Oregon; Keller George, United South and 
Eastern Tribes, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; and Harold Frazier, Great 
Plains Tribal Chairman's Association, Eagle Butte, South Dakota.