[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 8, 2006)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D202-D205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FISCAL YEAR 2006
Committee on Appropriations: Ordered reported an Emergency Supplemental 
Appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, Related Agencies held a 
hearing on Food and Safety Inspection Service. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the USDA: Richard A. Raymond, Under 
Secretary, Food Safety; Barbara J. Masters, Administrator, Food Safety 
and Inspection Service; and W. Scott Steele, Budget Officer.
DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense met in executive 
session to hold an Air Force Budget and Acquisition Overview. Testimony 
was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: 
Michael W. Wynne, Principal Deputy Under Secretary, Acquisition, and 
Technology; and GEN. T. Michael Moseley, USAF, Chief of Staff, U.S. Air 
Force.

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LABOR, HHS, EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Department of Labor, 
Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on Department of Health and Human Services. Testimony was heard 
from Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services.
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development and Related Agencies held a hearing on DOE. Testimony was 
heard from Samuel W. Bodman, Secretary of Energy.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the Bureau of Reclamation. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
the Interior: Gale A. Norton, Secretary; and John W. Keys, III, 
Director, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation.
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on Indian Health Services. Testimony 
was heard from Charles W. Grim, Director, Indian Health Services, 
Department of Health and Human Services.
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 held a hearing on the Navy/
Marine Corps Budget. Testimony was heard from the following officials 
of the Department of Defense: ADM Michael G. Mullen, USN, Chief of 
Naval Operations; and GEN Michael W. Hagee, USMC, Commandant of the 
Marine Corps.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the Pacific Command. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Defense: ADM William J. Fallen, USN, Commander, U.S. Pacific Command; 
and GEN B. B. Bell, USA, Commander, Republic of Korea-United States 
Combined Forces Command, and Commander, United States Forces Korea.
SCIENCE, THE DEPARTMENT 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 
NOAA. Testimony was heard from VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacker, Jr., USN, 
(Ret) Under Secretary, Oceans and Atmosphere, NOAA, Department of 
Commerce.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST FOR EUROPEAN COMMAND
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2007 
National Defense Authorization Budget Request for the European Command. 
Testimony was heard from GEN James L. Jones, USMC, Commander, U.S. 
European Command, Department of Defense.
NAVY MISSION EVOLUTION
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Projection Forces held a 
hearing on the Evolving Missions of the U.S. Navy and the Role of 
Surface and Subsurface Combatants. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of the Navy: VADM Lewis W. 
Crenshaw, Jr., USN, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Resources, 
Requirements, and Assessments; MG Gordon C. Nash, USMC, Director, 
Expeditionary Warfare Division (N75), U.S. Marine Corps; RADM Bernard 
J. McCullough, USN, Director, Surface Warfare (N76); RADM Thomas J. 
Kilcline, Jr., USN, Director, Air Warfare Division (N78); and RADM 
Joseph A. Walsh, USN, Director, Submarine Warfare Division (N77); 
Ronald O'Rourke, Specialist in National Defense, CRS, Library of 
Congress; and a public witness.
DOD HISTORIC FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness held a hearing 
on Department of Defense management of historic and historic-eligible 
facilities. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Defense: Philip Grone, Deputy U.S. Under Secretary 
(Installations and Environment); William Armbruster, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Privatization and Partnerships, Department of the Army; RADM 
Wayne G. Shear, Jr., USN, Commander Naval Installations, Deputy 
Director, Ashore Readiness Division, and BGEN James F. Flock, USMC, 
Assistant Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics, U.S. Marine 
Corps, both with the Department of the Navy; and Fred W. Kuhn, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Installations, Department of the Air Force.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional 
Threats and Capabilities held a hearing on the Special Operations 
Command: Transforming for the Long War. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department

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of Defense: Thomas W. O'Connell, Assistant Secretary, Special 
Operations/Low Intensity Conflict; and GEN Bryan D. Brown, USA, 
Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, U.S. Army.
PREVENTION OF FRAUDULENT ACCESS TO PHONE RECORDS ACT; ISSUANCE OF 
SERVICE CONTRACT TO SUPPORT ONGOING INVESTIGATION OF DATA BROKERS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Ordered reported, as amended, the 
Prevention of Fraudulent Access to Phone Records Act.
  The Committee also approved a motion authorizing issuance of a 
service contract to support the ongoing investigation by the 
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of ``data brokers'' who 
acquire and sell consumers' cell phone records and other confidential 
information.
SILICOSIS STORY
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``The Silicosis Story: Mass Tort 
Screening and the Public Health.'' Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT AT 25
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs held 
a hearing entitled ``The Paperwork Reduction Act at 25: Opportunities 
To Strengthen and Improve the Law.'' Testimony was heard from James 
Miller, Chairman, Board of Governors, U.S. Postal Service; Linda 
Koontz, Director, Information Management Issues, GAO; and public 
witnesses.
FIRST RESPONDERS PREPAREDNESS
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, 
Science, and Technology held a hearing entitled ``Proposed Fiscal Year 
2007 Budget: Enhancing Preparedness for First Responders.'' Testimony 
was heard from George W. Foresman, Under Secretary, Preparedness, 
Department of Homeland Security.
9/11 REFORM ACT--HUMAN SMUGGLING AND TRAFFICKING CENTER IMPLEMENTATION
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Management, 
Integration, and Oversight held a hearing entitled ``The 9/11 Reform 
Act: Examining the Implementation of the Human Smuggling and 
Trafficking Center.'' Testimony was heard from John Clark, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of 
Homeland Security; Chris Swecker, Acting Executive Assistant Director 
of Law Enforcement Services, Department of Justice; and Marc Gorelick, 
Acting Director, Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center, Department of 
State.
DARFUR PEACE AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT; U.S. POLICY TOWARD IRAN
Committee on International Relations: Ordered reported, as amended, 
H.R. 3127, Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2005.
  The Committee also held a hearing on United States Policy Toward 
Iran--Next Steps. Testimony was heard from the following officials of 
the Department of State: Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary, Political 
Affairs; and Robert Joseph, Under Secretary, Arms Control and 
International Security; and public witnesses.
U.S.-EAST ASIA RELATIONS
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the 
Pacific held a hearing on East Asia in Transition: Opportunities and 
Challenges for the United States. Testimony was heard from Christopher 
Hill, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, 
Department of State.
U.S.-EUROPEAN RELATIONSHIP
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Europe and 
Emerging Threats held a hearing on The U.S.-European Relationship: 
Opportunities and Challenges. Testimony was heard from Daniel Fried, 
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, 
Department of State.
PALESTINIAN ELECTION IMPLICATIONS
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on the Middle East 
and Central Asia held a hearing on Palestinian Authority Elections: 
Implications for Peace, Regional Security, and U.S. Assistance. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--VOTING RIGHTS ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution held an 
oversight hearing entitled ``The Voting Rights Act: Evidence of 
Continued Need.'' Testimony was heard from Bill Lann Lee, former 
Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, Department of 
Justice; former Lt. Gov., Joe Rogers, State of Colorado; and public 
witnesses.
COPYRIGHTS/ORPHAN WORKS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and 
Intellectual Property held an oversight hearing entitled ``The Report 
on Orphan Works by the Copyright Office.'' Testimony was heard from 
Jule L. Sigall, Associate Register, Policy and International Affairs, 
Copyright Office of the

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United States, Library of Congress; and public witnesses.
LOS ANGELES/ALASKA WATER RESOURCES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing 
on the following bills: H.R. 4545, To amend the Reclamation Wastewater 
and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of 
the Interior to participate in the Los Angeles County Water Supply 
Augmentation Demonstration project; and S. 1338, Alaska Water Resources 
Act of 2005. Testimony was heard from Senator Murkowski; from the 
following officials of the Department of the Interior: Robert Hirsch, 
Associate Director, Water, U.S. Geological Survey; and Larry Todd, 
Deputy Commissioner, Policy, Administration and Budget, Bureau of 
Reclamation; and a public witness.
OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2005
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a structured rule providing 
1 hour of general debate on H.R. 2829, Office of National Drug Control 
Policy Reauthorization Act of 2005, equally divided and controlled by 
the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Government 
Reform. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of 
the bill. The rule provides that the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in 
the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of 
amendment and shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points 
of order against the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute. 
The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in the Rules 
Committee report accompanying this resolution. The rule provides that 
the amendments made in order may be offered only in the order printed 
in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the 
report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time 
specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent 
and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be 
subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the 
Committee of the Whole. The rule waives all points of order against the 
amendments printed in the report. Finally, the rule provides one motion 
to recommit with or without instructions. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Souder, Terry, Latham, Graves, Boozman, Lynch, and 
Bean.
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD REAUTHORIZATION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation held an oversight hearing on Reauthorization of the National 
Transportation Safety Board. Testimony was heard from Mark V. Rosenker, 
Acting Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board.
OVERSIGHT--EPA, NOAA, AND TVA BUDGETS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment concluded oversight hearings on Agency 
Budgets and Priorities for FY 2007 for the following Agencies: EPA, 
NOAA, and TVA. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
EPA: Benjamin H. Grumbles, Assistant Administrator, Water; and Susan 
Parker Bodine, Assistant Administrator, Solid Waste and Emergency 
Response; John H. Dunnigan, Assistant Administrator, National Ocean 
Service, NOAA, Department of Commerce; and Bill Baxter, Chairman, TVA.
OVERSIGHT--IMPROVING VETERANS QUALITY CARE
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held an oversight hearing on improving 
access to quality care for our nation's veterans through collaboration 
with affiliated medical institutions and the Department of Defense and 
the operation of integrated medical facilities. Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs: 
Jonathan B. Perlin, M.D., Acting Under Secretary of Health; and Michael 
E. Moreland, Director and Chief Executive Officer, VA Pittsburgh Health 
Care System; William Winkenwerder, Jr., M.D., Assistant Secretary, 
Health Affairs, Department of Defense; and public witnesses.
DIRECTOR--NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE FISCAL YEAR 2007 BUDGET
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
hold a hearing on Director of National Intelligence Fiscal Year 2007 
Budget. Testimony was heard from Ambassador John D. Negroponte, 
Director, Office of the Director of National Intelligence.