[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 29, 2006)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D294-D298]
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 Natural Resources and Environment. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the USDA: Mark E. Rey, Under Secretary, 
Natural Resources and Environment; Bruce I. Knight, Chief, and Steven 
A. Probst, Director, Budget Planning and Analysis Division, both with 
Natural Resources Conservation Service; and W. Scott Steele, Budget 
Officer.
DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense met in executive 
session to hold a hearing on National Foreign Intelligence Program. 
Testimony was heard from John D. Negroponte, Director, Office of the 
Director of National Intelligence.

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, HHS, EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Department of Labor, 
Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies continued 
appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION, TREASURY, AND HUD, THE JUDICIARY, 
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Departments of 
Transportation, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development, the 
Judiciary, District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies held a 
hearing on IRS and on DC, Courts and Criminal Justice. Testimony was 
heard from Mark W. Everson, Commissioner, IRS, Department of the 
Treasury; the following officials of the District of Columbia Courts 
and Criminal Justice: Avis E. Buchanan, Public Defender Service; Rufus 
G. King III, Chief Judge, Superior Court of the District of Columbia; 
Paul A. Quander, Jr., Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency; 
and Eric T. Washington, Chief Judge, District of Columbia Court of 
Appeals, and Chair of the Joint Committee on Judicial Administration.
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, Science 
Research. Testimony was heard from Raymond L. Orbach, Director, 
Science, Department of Energy.
FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export 
Financing, and Related Programs held a hearing on Millennium Challenge 
Corporation. Testimony was heard from Ambassador John J. Danilovich, 
Chief Operating Officer, Millennium Challenge Corporation.
HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing on FEMA. Testimony was heard from R. David Paulison, Acting 
Director, FEMA, Department of Homeland Security.
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on Smithsonian, on National Endowment 
for the Humanities, and on National Endowment for the Arts. Testimony 
was heard from the following officials of the Smithsonian: Sheila P. 
Burke, Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer; David L. Evans, 
Under Secretary, Science; and M. John Berry, Director, National 
Zoological Park; Bruce Cole, Chairman, National Endowment for the 
Humanities; and Dana Gioia, Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts.
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 Army 
Budget. Testimony was heard from GEN Peter T. Schoomaker, USA, Chief of 
Staff, U.S. Army.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on VA/DHP Information 
Technology. Testimony was heard from Robert N. McFarland, Assistant 
Secretary, Information Technology, Department of Veterans Affairs; and 
Carl Hendricks, Chief Information Officer, Military Health System, 
Department of Defense.
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 
Marshals/Prisons. Testimony was heard from the following officials of 
the Department of Justice: John F. Clark, Director, U.S. Marshals 
Services; and Harley G. Lappin, Director, Federal Bureau of Prisons.
DEFENSE ACQUISITION REFORM
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on issues relating to 
defense acquisition reform. Testimony was heard from Terry R. Little, 
Acquisition Advisor to the Director, Missile Defense Agency, Department 
of Defense; and public witnesses.
DEFENSE HEALTH PROGRAM
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a 
hearing on the Defense Health Program--Department of Defense 
Initiatives to Control Costs. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Defense: David S.C. Chu, Under 
Secretary, Personnel and Readiness; William Winkenwerder, Jr., M.D., 
Assistant Secretary, Health Affairs; GEN Richard Cody, USA, Vice Chief

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of Staff, Department of the Army; ADM Robert F. Willard, USN, Vice 
Chief of Naval Operations, Department of the Navy; GEN John D.W. 
Corley, USAF, Vice Chief of Staff, Department of the Air Force; GEN 
Robert Magnus, USMC, Assistant Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps; and 
public witnesses.
DEFENSE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional 
Threats and Capabilities held a hearing on Defense Science and 
Technology: Investments To Shape the Evolving Terrorist Threat. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Defense: Terry J. Jaggers, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Air Force for 
Science, Technology and Engineering, Department of the Air Force; 
Thomas Killion, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Research and Technology/
Chief Scientist, Department of the Army; RADM William E. Landay III, 
USN, Chief of Naval Research, U.S. Navy; John Young, Director, Defense 
Research and Engineering; and Anthony J. Tether, Director, Defense 
Advance Research and Projects Agency.
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007
Committee on the Budget: Ordered reported a resolution establishing the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2007 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 
2008 through 2011.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Ordered reported the following 
measures: H.R. 4127, amended, Data Accountability and Trust Act (DATA); 
and H. Con. Res. 357, Supporting the goals and ideals of National 
Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month.
DIGITAL CONTENT AND ENABLING TECHNOLOGY
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection held a hearing entitled ``Digital Content and 
Enabling Technology: Satisfying the 21st Century Consumer.'' Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
PUBLIC REPORTING OF HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTION RATES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Public Reporting of Hospital-
Acquired Infection Rates: Empowering Consumers, Saving Lives.'' 
Testimony was heard from Denise Cardo, M.D., Chief, Division of 
Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services; and public 
witnesses.
FINANCIAL REPORTING TRANSPARENCY
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital Markets, 
Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises held a hearing entitled 
``Fostering Accuracy and Transparency in Financial Reporting.'' 
Testimony was heard from Scott Taub, Acting Chief Accountant, SEC; and 
public witnesses.
HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
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 held a 
joint hearing entitled ``Department of Homeland Security Information 
Technology Challenges and the Future of eMerge.'' Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the Department of Homeland Security: 
Eugene Schied, Acting Chief Financial Officer; and Scott Charbo, Chief 
Information Officer; and the following officials of the GAO: McCoy 
Williams, Director, Financial Management and Assurance; and Randy Hite, 
Director, Information Technology Architecture and Systems.
REORGANIZE DIRECTORATE FOR INFORMATION ANALYSIS AND INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROTECTION
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Intelligence, 
Information-Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment approved for full 
Committee action a measure To reorganize the Directorate for 
Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection of the Department of 
Homeland Security, to facilitate homeland security information-sharing.
VIETNAM HUMAN RIGHTS
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 on The Human Rights Dialogue With 
Vietnam: Is Vietnam Making Significant Progress? Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the Department of State: Barry F. 
Lowenkron, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and 
Labor; John V. Hanford III, Ambassador-at-Large, Office of 
International Religious Freedom; and Eric John, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs; and public 
witnesses.
OFFSHORE BANKING
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on Offshore Banking, Corruption, and the 
War on Terrorism. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

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MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported H.R. 3049, Asian Carp 
Prevention and Control Act.
  The Committee began markup of H.R. 3509, Workplace Goods Job Growth 
and Competitiveness Act of 2005.
OVERSIGHT--SMALL COPYRIGHT CLAIMS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and 
Intellectual Property held an oversight hearing on Remedies for Small 
Copyright Claims. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Ordered reported the following measures: H.R. 
4200, amended, Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act: H.J. Res. 
78, Approving the location of the commemorative work in the District of 
Columbia honoring former President Dwight D. Eisenhower; H.R. 122, 
amended, Eastern Municipal Water District Recycled Water System 
Pressurization and Expansion Project; H.R. 413, amended, Bleeding 
Kansas National Heritage Area Act; H.R. 518, amended, Neotropical 
Migratory Bird Conservation Improvement Act of 2005; H.R. 2563, 
amended, 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, amended, Central 
Texas Water Recycling Act of 2005; H.R. 3462, amended, 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, amended, 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.R. 374, 
amended, 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.
TRIBAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FEASIBILITY STUDY ACT OF 2005
Committee on Resources: Held a hearing on H.R. 3350, Tribal Development 
Corporation Feasibility Study Act of 2005. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
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 for further 
consideration of the bill. The rule provides that no further general 
debate is in order. The rule makes in order only those amendments 
printed in the Rules Committee report accompanying this resolution. The 
rule provides that the amendments printed in the report accompanying 
this resolution 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.
WORKFORCE GLOBALIZATION FINAL DRAFT REPORT
Committee on Science: Began markup of 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.
  AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL FUTURE
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a 
hearing on the Future of Air Traffic Control: The R&D Agenda. Testimony 
was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Transportation: Jeffrey Shane, Under Secretary, Policy; Bob Pearce, 
Acting Director, Joint Planning and

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Development Office, FAA; and David Dobbs, Assistant Inspector General, 
Aviation and Special Projects; Lisa Porter, Associate Administrator, 
NASA; Gerald Dillingham, Director, Civil Aviation Issues, GAO; and a 
public witness.
UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation held an oversight hearing on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) 
and the National Airspace System. Testimony was heard from Nicholas 
Sabatini, Associate Administrator, Aviation Safety, FAA, Department of 
Transportation; Michael Kostelnik, Assistant Commissioner, Customs and 
Border Protection, Office of Air and Marine, Department of Homeland 
Security; the following officials of the Department of Defense: Gerald 
F. Pease, Jr., Executive Director, Policy Board on Federal Aviation; 
and Dyke D. Weatherington, Deputy, Unmanned Aerial Systems Planning 
Task Force, Office of the Under Secretary, Acquisitions, Technology and 
Logistics Defense Systems-Air Warfare; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--TRANSIT/BUS SECURITY
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Highways, Transit and Pipelines held an oversight hearing on Transit & 
Over-The-Road Bus Security. Testimony was heard from Sandra K. Bushue, 
Deputy Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Department of 
Transportation; Tracy A. Henke, Assistant Secretary, Office of Grants 
and Training, Department of Homeland Security; JayEtta Z. Hecker, 
Director, Physical Infrastructure Team, GAO; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--IMPROVE QUALITY CARE FOR OUR NATION's VETERANS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held an oversight hearing on improving 
and enhancing access to quality care for our nation's veterans through 
VISN-wide care coordination demonstrations (Project HERO). Testimony 
was heard from Representative Osborne; BG Michael J. Kussman, M.D., 
(ret.), Deputy Under Secretary, Health, Department of Veterans Affairs; 
and representatives of veterans organizations.