[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 28, 2006)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D281-D285]
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 Food and Nutrition Service. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the USDA: Eric M. Bost, Under Secretary; Kate 
Coler, Deputy Under Secretary, and Roberto Salazar, Administrator, all 
with Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services; Eric Hentges, Executive 
Director, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion; and W. Scott 
Steele, Budget Officer.
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 VA/DHP 
Joint Incentives Programs. Testimony was heard from Gordon H. 
Mansfield, Deputy Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs; and David 
S. C. Chu, Under Secretary, Personnel and Readiness, Department of 
Defense.
SCIENCE, THE DEPARTMENTS OF STATE, JUSTICE, 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 FBI. Testimony was heard from Robert S. Mueller III, Director, FBI, 
Department of Justice.
U.S. NAVY'S FUTURE SUBMARINE FORCE STRUCTURE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Projection Forces held a 
hearing on U.S. Navy's future submarine force structure. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the Department of the Navy: 
Allison Stiller, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Ships; ADM Charles L. 
Munns, USN, Commander, Naval Submarine Forces; RADM Joseph A. Walsh, 
USN, Director, Submarine Warfare Division (N87); and RADM William H. 
Hilarides, USN, Program Executive Officer for Submarines, Naval Sea 
Systems Command; Ronald O'Rourke, Specialist in National Defense, 
Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; and public 
witnesses.
OPM'S 2007 BUDGET
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federal Workforce and 
Agency Organization held a

[[Page D282]]

hearing entitled ``OPM's 2007 Budget and New Strategic and Operational 
Plan: A Discussion With the OPM Director.'' Testimony was heard from 
Linda Springer, Director, OPM.
BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT--INVESTIGATIVE PRIORITIES
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on National Security, 
Emerging Threats, and International Relations held a hearing entitled 
``Setting Post-9/11 Investigative Priorities at the Bureau of 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement.'' Testimony was heard from Richard 
M. Stana, Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues, GAO; the 
following officials of the Department of Homeland Security: Richard L. 
Skinner, Inspector General; and Robert Schoch, Deputy Assistant 
Director, National Security Division, ICE Office of Investigations; 
Joseph Webber, former Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Immigration 
and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security; and public 
witnesses.
BRIEFING--SECURITY RESTRAINTS ON BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Prevention of Nuclear 
and Biological Attack met in executive session to receive a briefing on 
Security Restraints on Biological Research: Where Are the Boundaries? 
The Subcommittee was briefed by public witnesses.
ETHIOPIA'S TROUBLED INTERNAL SITUATION
Committee on International Relations, Subcommittee on Africa, Global 
Human Rights and International Operations held a hearing on Ethiopia's 
Troubled Internal Situation. Testimony was heard from Donald Y. 
Yamamoto, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, 
Department of State; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS, AND EXPLOSIVES--
REFORMING LICENSING AND ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security held an oversight hearing on the Bureau of Alcohol, 
Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE): Reforming Licensing and 
Enforcement Authorities. Testimony was heard from Audrey Stucko, Deputy 
Assistant Director, Enforcement Programs and Services, Bureau of 
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Department of Justice; and 
public witnesses.
FIREARMS CORRECTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security held a hearing on H.R. 5005, Firearms Corrections and 
Improvements Act. Testimony was heard from Audrey Stucko, Deputy 
Assistant Director, Enforcement Programs and Services, Bureau of 
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Department of Justice; 
Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor, City of New York; and a public witness.
COLLEGE ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a structured rule on H.R. 
609, College Access and Opportunity Act, providing one hour of general 
debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. The 
rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. The 
rule provides that in lieu of the amendment recommended by the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce now printed in the bill, the 
amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of the 
Rules Committee Print dated March 22, 2006 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 that amendment in the 
nature of a substitute.
  The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in the Rules 
Committee report accompanying the resolution. The rule provides that 
the amendments printed in the report 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. The rule provides that, 
after disposition of the amendments printed in the report, 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 Chairman McKeon, and 
Representatives Petri, Castle, Biggert, Keller, McMorris, Boustany, 
Burton, Lewis (KY), King (IA), Gohmert, George Miller (CA), Holt, 
McCarthy, Tierney, Kind, McCollum, Davis (IL), Grijalva, Bishop (NY), 
Blumenauer, Jefferson, Jackson-Lee, Kennedy (RI) and Emanuel.

[[Page D283]]

                   COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR WEDNESDAY,

                             MARCH 29, 2006

        (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)


                                 Senate

  Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense, to hold 
hearings to examine proposed budget estimate for fiscal year 2007 
for the Air Force, 10 a.m., SD-192.
  Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans' Affairs and 
Related Agencies, to hold hearings to examine proposed budget 
estimates for fiscal year 2007 for the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 2:30 p.m., SD-124.
  Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and 
Capabilities, to hold hearings to examine U.S. nonproliferation 
strategy and the roles and missions of the Department of Defense and 
the Department of Energy in nonproliferation in review of the 
defense authorization request for fiscal year 2007 and the future 
years defense program, 9:30 a.m., SR-222.
  Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, to hold hearings to examine 
Global Strike Plans and programs in review of the defense 
authorization request for fiscal year 2007, 2:30 p.m., SR-222.
  Subcommittee on SeaPower, to hold hearings to examine Navy/Marine 
Corps force structure and future capabilities in review of the 
defense authorization request for fiscal year 2007 and the future 
years defense program, 3:30 p.m., SR-232A.
  Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on 
International Trade and Finance, to resume hearings to examine the 
reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, focusing on ways to 
improve the Bank's economic impact procedures, 10 a.m., SD-538.
  Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee 
on Technology, Innovation, and Competitiveness, to hold hearings to 
examine the importance of basic research to United States' 
competitiveness, 10 a.m., SD-562.
  Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Public 
Lands and Forests, to hold hearings to examine S. 2150, to direct 
the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain Bureau of Land 
Management Land to the City of Eugene, Oregon, H.R. 3507, to 
transfer certain land in Riverside County, California, and San Diego 
County, California, from the Bureau of Land Management to the United 
States to be held in trust for the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission 
Indians, S. 1832, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
lease oil and gas resources underlying Fort Reno, Oklahoma, to 
establish the Fort Reno Management Fund, S. 1056, to direct the 
Secretary of the Interior to convey to the City of Henderson, 
Nevada, certain Federal land located in the city, and S. 2373, to 
provide for the sale of approximately 132 acres of public land to 
the City of Green River, Wyoming, at fair market value, 2:30 p.m., 
SD-366.
  Committee on Environment and Public Works: to hold an oversight 
hearing to examine the impact of the elimination of MTBE, 9:30 a.m., 
SD-628.
  Committee on Finance: to hold hearings to examine U.S.-China 
economic relations revisited, 10 a.m., SD-215.
  Committee on Foreign Relations: to receive a closed briefing 
regarding U.S.-India atomic energy cooperation, focusing on the 
Indian separation plan and the Administration's related legislative 
proposal, 9:30 a.m., S-407, Capitol.
  Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, to hold hearings 
to examine U.S.-Burma relations, 2:30 p.m., SD-419.
  Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: 
Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal 
Workforce, and the District of Columbia, to resume hearings to 
examine how prepared is the nation's capital for terrorism, focusing 
on efforts to improve and refine coordination efforts and the NCR 
strategic plan and implementation, 2:30 p.m., SD-342.
  Committee on Indian Affairs: business meeting to consider pending 
calendar business, 9:30 a.m., SR-485.
  Committee on the Judiciary: to hold hearings to examine the 
nominations of Brian M. Cogan, to be United States District Judge 
for the Eastern District of New York, Michael Ryan Barrett, to be 
United States District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio, and 
Thomas M. Golden, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern 
District of Pennsylvania, 9:30 a.m., SD-226.
  Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights, to 
hold hearings to examine state regulation of violent video games and 
the first amendment, 2 p.m., SD-226.
  Select Committee on Intelligence: to receive a closed briefing 
regarding certain intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., SH-219.
  Special Committee on Aging: to hold hearings to examine how 
seniors can stop investment fraud, 10 a.m., SD-106.


                                 House

  Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, on 
Natural Resources and Environment, 9:30 a.m., 2362A Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Defense, executive, on National Foreign 
Intelligence Program, 10 a.m., H-140 Capitol.
  Subcommittee on the Departments of Transportation, Treasury, and 
Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, District of Columbia, 
and Independent Agencies, on IRS, 10 a.m., and on DC, Courts and 
Criminal Justice, 3 p.m., 2358 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related 
Agencies, on DOE, Science Research, 10 a.m., 2362B Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related 
Programs, on Millennium Challenge Corporation, 10 a.m., 2359 
Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Homeland Security, on FEMA, 2 p.m., 2359 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, on 
Smithsonian, 10 a.m., on National Endowment for the Humanities, 2 
p.m., and on National Endowment for the Arts, 3 p.m., B-308 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and 
Related Agencies, on public witnesses, 10:15 a.m., and 2 p.m., 2358 
Rayburn.

[[Page D284]]


  Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life, and Veterans Affairs, 
and Related Agencies, on Army Budget, 10 a.m., and on VA/DHP 
Information Technology, 1 p.m., H-143 Capitol.
  Subcommittee on Science, the Departments of State, Justice, and 
Commerce, and Related Agencies, on Marshals/Prisons, 2 p.m., H-309 
Capitol.
  Committee on Armed Services, full Committee, hearing on issues 
relating to defense acquisition reform, 10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Military Personnel, hearing on the Defense Health 
Program--Department of Defense Initiatives to Control Costs, 3 p.m., 
2118 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and 
Capabilities, hearing on Defense Science and Technology: Investments 
to Shape the Evolving Terrorist Threat, 4 p.m., 2212 Rayburn.
  Committee on the Budget, to mark up the Budget Resolution Fiscal 
Year 2007, 10:30 a.m., 210 Cannon.
  Committee on Energy and Commerce, to mark up the following 
measures: H.R. 4127, Data Accountability and Trust Act (DATA); and 
H. Con. Res. 357, Supporting the goals and ideals of National Cystic 
Fibrosis Awareness Month, 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection, hearing 
entitled ``Digital Content and Enabling Technology: Satisfying the 
21st Century Consumer,'' 1 p.m., 2123 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing entitled 
``Public Reporting of Hospital-Acquired Infection Rates: Empowering 
Consumers, Saving Lives,'' 2 p.m., 2322 Rayburn.
  Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Capital Markets, 
Insurance, and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, hearing entitled 
``Fostering Accuracy and Transparency in Financial Reporting,'' 10 
a.m., 2128 Rayburn.
  Committee on Government Reform, Subcommittee on Government 
Management, Finance and Accountability and the Subcommittee on 
Management, Integration, and Oversight of the Committee on Homeland 
Security, joint hearing entitled ``Department of Homeland Security 
Information Technology Challenges and the Future of eMerge,'' 3 
p.m., 2247 Rayburn.
  Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Intelligence, 
Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment, to mark up a 
measure To reorganize the Directorate for Information Analysis and 
Infrastructure Protection of the Department of Homeland Security, to 
facilitate homeland security information-sharing, 10 a.m., 311 
Cannon.
  Committee on International Relations, Subcommittee on Africa, 
Global Human Rights and International Operations and the 
Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, joint hearing on The Human 
Rights Dialogue With Vietnam: Is Vietnam Making Significant 
Progress? 2 p.m., 2172 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing on Offshore 
Banking, Corruption, and the War on Terrorism, 2 p.m., 2200 Rayburn.
  Committee on the Judiciary, to mark up the following bills: H.R. 
3509, Workplace Goods Job Growth and Competitiveness Act of 2005; 
and H.R. 3049, Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act, 10 a.m., 2141 
Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property, 
oversight hearing on Remedies for Small Copyright Claims, 2 p.m., 
2141 Rayburn.
  Committee on Resources, to continue markup of H.R. 4200, Forest 
Emergency Recovery and Research Act and to mark up the following 
measures: H.R. 122, Eastern Municipal Water District Recycled Water 
System Pressurization and Expansion Project; H.R. 413, Bleeding 
Kansas National Heritage Area Act; H.R. 518, Neotropical Migratory 
Bird Conservation Improvement Act of 2005; H.R. 2563, To authorize 
the Secretary of the Interior to conduct feasibility studies to 
address certain water shortages with the Snake, Boise, and Payette 
River systems in Idaho; H.R. 3418, Central Texas Water Recycling Act 
of 2005; H.R. 3418, Central Texas Waste Recycling Act of 2005; H.R. 
3462, To provide for the conveyance of the Bureau of Land Management 
parcels known as the White Acre and Gambel Oak properties and 
related real property to Park City, Utah; H.R. 3682, To redesignate 
the Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia as the Elizabeth 
Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge; H.R. 3967, Pactola 
Reservoir Reallocation Authorization Act of 2005; H.R. 4013, To 
amend the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 
1992 to provide for conjunctive use of surface and groundwater in 
Juab County, Utah; H.R. 4080, Glendo Unit of the Missouri River 
Basin Project Contract Extension Act of 2005; H.R. 4084, To amend 
the Forest Service use and occupancy permit program to restore the 
authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to utilize the special use 
permit fees collected by the Secretary in connection with the 
establishment and operation of marinas in units of the National 
Forest System derived from the public domain; H.R. 4204, American 
River Pump Station Project Transfer Act of 2005; H.R. 4686, Multi-
State and International Fisheries Conservation and Management Act of 
2006; S. 584, Betty Dick Residence Protection Act; S. 1165, James 
Campbell National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act of 2005; S. 1869, 
Coastal Barrier Resources Reauthorization Act of 2005; H.J. Res. 78, 
Approving the location of the commemorative work in the District of 
Columbia honoring former President Dwight D. Eisenhower; H.R. 374, 
to direct the Secretary of the Interior to take certain tribally-
owned reservation land into trust for the Puyallup Tribe; H.R. 1307, 
Musconetcong Wild and Scenic Rivers Act; and H.R. 2978, To allow the 
Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation to 
enter into a lease or other temporary conveyance of water rights 
recognized under the Fort Peck-Montana Compact for the purpose of 
meeting the water needs of the Dry Prairie Water Association, 
Incorporated, 10 a.m., and to hold a hearing on H.R. 3350, Tribal 
Development Corporation Feasibility Study Act of 2005, 1 p.m., 1324 
Longworth.
  Committee on Science, to mark up H. Res. 717, Directing the 
Secretary of Commerce to transmit to the House of Representatives a 
copy of a workforce globalization final draft report produced by the 
Technology Administration, 10:30 a.m., 2318 Rayburn.

[[Page D285]]


  Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, hearing on the Future of 
Air Traffic Control: The R&D Agenda, 2 p.m., 2318 Rayburn.
  Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on 
Aviation, oversight hearing on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and 
the National Airspace System, 10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines, oversight hearing 
on Transit & Over-The-Road Bus Security, 2 p.m., 2167 Rayburn.
  Committee on Veterans' Affairs, oversight hearing on improving and 
enhancing access to quality care for our nation's veterans through 
VISN-wide care coordination demonstrations (Project HERO), 10:30 
a.m., 334 Cannon.