[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 33 (Wednesday, March 15, 2006)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D246-D250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
REVIEW FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE PROGRAM
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and 
Risk Management held a hearing to review the Federal Crop Insurance 
System. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the USDA: 
Keith Collins, Chief Economist and

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Chairman, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation; and Eldon Gould, 
Administrator, Risk Management Agency; and public witnesses.
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 Marketing and Regulatory Programs. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the USDA: Chuck Lambert, Acting Under 
Secretary; and Jeremy Stump, Acting Deputy Under Secretary, both with 
Marketing and Regulatory Programs; Lloyd C. Day, Administrator, 
Agricultural Marketing Service; W. Ron DeHaven, Administrator, Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service; James E. Link, Administrator, 
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration; and W. Scott 
Steele, Budget Officer.
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, Nuclear Waste 
Disposal. Testimony was heard from Paul Golan, Acting Director, Office 
of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, Department of Defense.
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on the Fish and Wildlife Service. 
Testimony was heard from H. Dale Hall, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Department of the Interior.
LABOR, HHS, EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, Education and Related Agencies held a hearing on the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention. Testimony was heard from Julie L. 
Gerberding, M.D., Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
Department of Health and Human Services.
SCIENCE, THE 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 
the SBA. Testimony was heard from Hector V. Barreto, Administrator, 
SBA.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST--U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2007 
National Defense Authorization Budget Request for the U.S. Central 
Command. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Defense: GEN John Abizaid, USA, Combatant Commander, U.S. 
Central Command; and Eric S. Edelman, Under Secretary (Policy).
MILITARY FAMILY PROGRAMS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee in Military Personnel held a 
hearing on the Military Resale and Morale, Welfare Morale, Welfare and 
Recreation Overview. Testimony was heard from the following officials 
of the Department of Defense: Leslye A. Arsht, Deputy Under Secretary, 
Military Community and Family Policy; MG Paul Essex, USAF, Commander, 
Army and Air Force Exchange Service; RADM Robert E. Crowley III, USN, 
Commander, Navy Exchange Service Command; BG John A. Macdonald, USA, 
Commanding General, U.S. Army Community and Family Support Center; RADM 
Wayne G. Shear, Jr., USN, Vice Commander, Navy Installations Command; 
Patrick B. Nixon, Acting Director and Chief Executive Officer, Defense 
Commissary Agency; Michael P. Downs, Director, Personal and Family 
Readiness Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps; and Arthur J. 
Myers, Director, Air Force Services; and public witnesses.
NAVY SHIPBUILDING/FLEET PLAN
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Projection Forces held a 
hearing on evolving Navy missions and the role of surface and 
subsurface combatants. Testimony was heard from the following officials 
of the Department of Defense: VADM Lewis W. Crenshaw, Jr., USN, Deputy 
Chief of Naval Operations, Resources, Requirements, and Assessments 
(N8), 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. Kileline, Jr., USN, Director, Air 
Warfare Division (N78), and RADM Joseph A. Walsh, USN, Director, 
Submarine Warfare Division (N77), all with the Department of the Navy; 
and Ronald O'Rourke, Specialist in National Defense, Congressional 
Research Service, Library of Congress.
WAR ON TERROR: INTERAGENCY
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional 
Threats and Capabilities held a hearing on Implementing the Global War 
on Terror Strategy: Overcoming Interagency Problems. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.

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YUCCA MOUNTAIN PROJECT STATUS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Air 
Quality held a hearing entitled ``Status of the Yucca Mountain 
Project.'' Testimony was heard from Clay Sell, Deputy Secretary, 
Department of Energy.
HEALTHCARE SERVICE COSTS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``What's the Cost? Proposals To Provide Consumers With Better 
Information About Healthcare Service Costs.'' Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Lipinski and Emanuel; former Speaker of the House of 
Representatives Newt Gingrich of Georgia; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Ordered reported the following bills: 
H.R. 4411, amended, Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2005; 
H.R. 4916, To authorize United States participation in, and 
appropriations for, the United States contribution to the first 
replenishment of the resources of the Enterprise for the Americas 
Multilateral Investment Fund; and H.R. 4912, Rural Health Care Capital 
Access Act of 2006.
  Will continue tomorrow.
NATION'S WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Energy and Resources 
held a hearing entitled ``Strengthening the Nation's Water 
Infrastructure: The Army Corps of Engineers' Planning Priorities.'' 
Testimony was heard from Douglas W. Lamont, Deputy Assistant Secretary, 
Project Planning, Department of the Army; Anu Mittal, Director, Natural 
Resources and Environment, GAO; and public witnesses.
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH CARE
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federal Workforce and 
Agency Organization held a hearing entitled ``Improving the Quality of 
Healthcare in the FEHBP.'' Testimony was heard from David Powner, 
Director, IT Management Issues, GAO; and former Speaker of the House of 
Representatives Newt Gingrich of Georgia; and public witnesses.
OMB'S LINE OF BUSINESS INITIATIVE
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Management, 
Finance and Accountability held a hearing entitled ``OMB's Financial 
Management Line of Business Initiative: Too Much Too Soon?'' Testimony 
was heard from Linda Combs, Controller, Office of Federal Financial 
Management, OMB; and public witnesses.
PARK SERVICE WATERCRAFT RULES
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs held 
a hearing entitled ``Taking on Water: The National Park Service's 
Stalled Rulemaking Effort on Personal Watercraft.'' Testimony was heard 
from Karen Taylor-Goodrich, Associate Director, Visitor Resource 
Protection, National Park Service, Department of the Interior; and 
public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, 
Science, and Technology approved for full Committee action the 
following bills: H.R. 4942, Promoting Antiterrorism Capabilities 
Through International Cooperation Act; and H.R. 4941, amended, Homeland 
Security Science and Technology Enhancement Act of 2006.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS IMPROVEMENT 
ACT OF 2006
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Management, 
Integration, and Oversight, approved for full Committee action, as 
amended, the Department of Homeland Security Management and Operations 
Improvement Act of 2006.
IRAN FREEDOM SUPPORT ACT
Committee on International Relations: Ordered reported, as amended, 
H.R. 282, Iran Freedom Support Act.
  The Committee approved a motion directing the Chairman to request 
that the following resolutions be considered on the Suspension 
Calendar: H. Con. Res. 90, Conveying the sympathy of Congress to the 
families of the young women murdered in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, 
and encouraging increased United States involvement in bringing an end 
to these crimes; H. Con. Res. 320, amended, Calling on the Government 
of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to immediately and unconditionally 
release Dr. Pham Hong Son and other political prisoners and prisoners 
of conscience; H. Res. 578, Concerning the Government of Romania's ban 
on intercountry adoptions and the welfare of orphaned or abandoned 
children in Romania; and H.R. 658, Supporting the goals and ideals of 
Work Water Day.
NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE PROCESS
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa, Global 
Human Rights and International Operations and the Subcommittee on 
Europe and Emerging Threats held a joint hearing on the Northern 
Ireland Peace Process: Policing Advances and Remaining Challenges. 
Testimony was heard

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from Mitchell B. Reiss, Special Envoy of the President and the 
Secretary of State for the Northern Ireland Peace Process, Department 
of State; and public witnesses.
UNREST IN SOUTH ASIA
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the 
Pacific held a hearing on Unrest in South Asia: Recent Developments in 
Nepal and Sri Lanka. Testimony was heard from Donald A. Camp, Principal 
Deputy Assistant Secretary, South Asian Affairs, Bureau of South and 
Central Asian Affairs, Department of State.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported the following measures: 
H.R. 4698, amended, Disaster Relief Volunteer Protection Act of 2006; 
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 H. Con. 
Res. 319, Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the successful 
and substantial contributions of the amendments to the patent and 
trademark laws that were enacted in 1980 (Public Law 96-517); commonly 
known as the Bayh-Dole Act, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of 
its enactment; H.R. 3127, Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2005; 
and H. Res. 724, Honoring Leonidas Ralph Mecham, Director, 
Administrative Office of the United States Courts and Secretary of the 
Judicial Conference of the United States.
  The Committee also approved pending Committee business.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Ordered reported H.R. 4882, Vietnam Veterans 
Memorial Visitor Center Deadline Enforcement Act.
  The Committee also began markup of H.R. 4200, Forest Emergency 
Recovery and Research Act.
INDIAN GAMING REGULATORY ACT AMENDMENTS TO RESTRICT OFF-RESERVATION 
GAMING
Committee on Resources: Held a hearing on H.R. 4893, To amend section 
20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to restrict off-reservation 
gaming. Testimony was heard from James Cason, Associate Deputy 
Secretary, Department of the Interior; and Philip N. Hogen, Chairman, 
National Indian Gaming Commission.
ONLINE FREEDOM OF SPEECH ACT
Committee on Rules: Testimony was heard from Chairman Ehlers and 
Representatives Shays, Bass, Hensarling, Millender-McDonald and Allen, 
but action was deferred on H.R. 1606, Online Freedom of Speech Act.
LEGISLATIVE LINE ITEM VETO ACT
Committee on Rules: Subcommittee on the Legislative and Budget Process 
held a hearing on H.R. 4890, Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006. 
Testimony was heard from Representatives Ryan of Wisconsin and Lewis of 
California; Joel D. Kaplan, Deputy Director, OMB; and Donald B. Marron, 
Acting Director, CBO.
UNDERGRAD SCIENCE-MATH ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Research held a hearing on 
Undergraduate Science, Math and Engineering Education: What's Working? 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
SBA BUDGET AND REAUTHORIZATION
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on the issues confronting 
the Small Business Administration in the upcoming fiscal years. 
Testimony was heard from Hector V. Barreto, Administrator, SBA.
MISSOURI RIVER ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Rural Enterprise, 
Agriculture and Technology held a hearing entitled ``The Missouri River 
and Its Spring Rise: Science or Science Fiction?'' Testimony was heard 
from Senator Talent; BG Gregg F. Martin, USA, Commander and Division 
Engineer, Northwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Mitch 
King, Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Department of the Interior; Mike Wells, Deputy Director, and 
Chief of Water Resources, Department of Natural Resources, State of 
Missouri; and public witnesses.
RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LOAN PROGRAM
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Railroads held a hearing on Implementation of the Recently Expanded 
Rail Infrastructure Loan Program. Testimony was heard from Joseph H. 
Boardman, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, Department of 
Transportation.
OVERSIGHT--EDUCATION BENEFITS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held an oversight hearing on education 
benefits for the total military force. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Defense: T. F. Hall, Assistant 
Secretary, Reserve Affairs; Bill Carr, Acting Deputy Under Secretary, 
Military Personnel Policy; LTG James R. Helmly, USA, U.S. Army 
Reserves; LTG

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John A. Bradley, USAF, U.S. Air Force Reserves; LTG John W. Bergman, 
USMC, U.S. Marine Corps Reserves; MG Ronald Young, USA, Acting 
Director, U.S. National Guard Bureau Joint Staff; RADM Craig McDonald, 
USN, U.S. Navy Reserves; and RADM Sally Brice-O'Hara, USCG, U.S. Coast 
Guard Reserves, Department of Homeland Security.
LONG-TERM ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on 
Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals. Testimony was heard from Herb B. Kuhn, 
Director, Center for Medicare Management, Centers for Medicare and 
Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services; Mark E. 
Miller, Executive Director, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission; and 
public witnesses.
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT OVERSIGHT
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a 
hearing Regarding New Research on Unemployment Benefit Recipients. 
Testimony was heard from Sigurd Nilsen, Director, Education, Workforce, 
and Income Security Issues, GAO.

Joint Meetings
TAX RELIEF EXTENSION RECONCILIATION ACT
  Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate and House 
passed versions of H.R. 4297, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to 
section 201(b) of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal 
year 2006, but did not complete action thereon, and recessed subject to 
the call.