[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 38 (Thursday, March 30, 2006)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D307-D311]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Rural 
Development, and Research held a hearing to review the Rural 
Development Programs. Testimony was heard from Thomas C. Dorr, Under 
Secretary, Rural Development, USDA; Mark Drabenstott, Vice President 
and Director, Center for the Study of Rural America, Federal Reserve 
Bank,

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Kansas City, Missouri; Cheryl L. Cook, Deputy Secretary, Marketing and 
Economic Development, Department of Agriculture, State of Pennsylvania; 
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 Research, Education, and Economics. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the USDA: Merle D. Pierson, Deputy Under 
Secretary, Research, Education and Economics; Edward B. Knipling, 
Administrator, Agricultural Research Service; Colien Hefferan, 
Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension 
Service; Susan Offutt, Administrator, Economic Research Service; R. 
Ronald Bosecker, Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics 
Service; and W. Scott Steele, Budget Officer.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on Avian Influenza. Testimony 
was heard from Bruce Gillen, MD., Director, National Vaccine Program, 
and Jesse Goodman, M.D., Director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and 
Research, both with the Department of Health and Human Services; and 
the following officials of the USDA: Mike Johanns, Secretary; Ron 
DeHaven, M.D., Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service; and W. Scott Steele, Budget Officer.
DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense met in executive 
session to hold a hearing on Navy/MC Budget/Acquisition. 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 of the Marine 
Corps.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, HHS, EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Department of Labor, 
Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies continued 
appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
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 OMB. Testimony was heard from Joel Kaplan, Deputy Director, 
OMB.
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, National 
Nuclear Security Administration. Testimony was heard from Linton F. 
Brooks, Under Secretary, Nuclear Security and Administrator for 
National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy.
HOMELAND SECURITY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing on Preparedness. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Homeland Security: George Foresman, 
Under Secretary, Directorate of Preparedness; and Tracey Henke, 
Assistant Secretary, Office of Grants and Training.
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on Native American Issues. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
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 
NASA. Testimony was heard from Michael D. Griffin, Administrator, NASA.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on FTC. Testimony was heard from 
Deborah P. Majoras, Chairman, FTC.
NAVY SHIPBUILDING AND ACQUISITION
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Projection Forces held a 
hearing on the Department of the Navy's Fiscal Year 2007 shipbuilding 
acquisition strategy and how it supports the Navy's long-range fleet 
plan. Testimony was heard from Paul L.

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Francis, Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, GAO; the 
following officials of the CBO: J. Michael Gilmore, Assistant Director; 
and Eric J. Labs, Principal Analyst, both with the National Security 
Division; the following officials of the Department of the Navy: 
Delores M. Etter, Assistant Secretary, Research, Development and 
Acquisition; VADM Lewis W. Crenshaw, Jr., USN, Deputy Chief of Naval 
Operations, Resources, Requirements and Assessments (N8); LTG James N. 
Mattis, USMC, Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development 
Command and Deputy Commandant for Combat Development; RADM David 
Architzel, USN, Program Executive Officer for Carriers; RADM Charles S. 
Hamilton II, USN, Program Executive Officer for Ships; and RADM William 
H. Hilarides, USN, Program Executive Officer for Submarines, all with 
the Naval Sea Systems Command; Ronald O'Rourke, Specialist in National 
Defense, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; and a 
public witness.
ARMY/MARINE CORPS EQUIPMENT AND ROTOCRAFT
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness and the 
Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces held a joint hearing on 
Army and Marine Corps reset strategies for ground equipment and 
rotorcraft. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Defense: LTG David F. Melcher, USA, Deputy Chief of 
Staff, G-8, U.S. Army; MG Jeanette K. Edmunds, USA, Assistant Deputy 
Chief of Staff, G-4, U.S. Army; and LTG Emersonardner, Jr., Deputy 
Commander of the Marine Corps, Programs and Resources, U.S. Marine 
Corps; and William Solis, Director, Defense Capabilities and Management 
Team, GAO.
COMMUNICATIONS OPPORTUNITY, PROMOTION, AND ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2006
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications 
and the Internet held a hearing on the Communications Opportunity, 
Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--HUD
Committee on Financial Services: Held an oversight hearing of the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, including the Department's 
budget request for fiscal year 2007. Testimony was heard from Alphonso 
Jackson, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Government Reform: Ordered reported the following 
measures: H.R. 4368, To designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 60 Calle McKinley, West in Mayaguez, Puerto 
Rico, as the ``Miguel Angel Garcia Mendez Post Office Building''; HR. 
4561, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service 
located at 8624 Ferguson Road in Dallas, Texas, as the ``Francisco 
`Pancho' Medrano Post Office Building''; H.R. 4586, Benjamin Franklin 
Tercentenary Commission Act of 2005; H.R. 4646, To designate the 
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 7320 Reseda 
Boulevard in Reseda, California, as the ``Coach John Wooden Post Office 
Building''; H.R. 4811, to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 215 West Industrial Park Road in Harrison, 
Arkansas, as the ``John Paul Hammerschmidt Post Office Building''; H.R. 
4995, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service 
located at 7 Columbus Avenue in Tuckahoe, New York, as the ``Ronald 
Bucca Post Office''; H.R. 518, Honoring professional surveyors and 
recognizing their contributions to society; and H. Res. 737, Supporting 
the goals and ideals of Financial Literacy Month.
DISASTER RESPONSE INFORMATION-SHARING
Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing entitled ``The Need To 
Know: Information-Sharing Lessons for Disaster Response.'' Testimony 
was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: 
Peter F. Verga, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Homeland Defense; 
and Linton Wells II, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Networks and 
Information Integration; Vance Hitch, Chief Information Officer, 
Department of Justice; and public witnesses.
BRIEFING--AIRLINE PASSENGER PRESCREENING WATCHLIST
Committee on Homeland Security: Met in executive session to receive a 
briefing on the Transportation Security Administration airline 
passenger prescreening watchlist. The Committee was briefed by Donna 
Bucella, Director, Terrorist Screening, FBI, Department of Justice; and 
Michael Resnick, Chief, Terrorist Identities Group, National Counter 
Terrorism Center, Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
SAFE PORT ACT
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Economic Security, 
Infrastructure Protection, and Cybersecurity approved for full 
committee action, as amended, H.R. 4954, SAFE Port Act.

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SHOULDER-FIRED MISSILES TERRORIST THREAT
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International 
Terrorism and Nonproliferation held a hearing on The Terrorist Threat 
From Shoulder-Fired Missiles. Testimony was heard from John Hillen, 
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Department 
of State.
LATIN AMERICA COUNTERNARCOTICS STRATEGIES
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on the Western 
Hemisphere held a hearing on Counternarcotics Strategies in Latin 
America. Testimony was heard from Anne W. Patterson, Assistant 
Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement 
Affairs, Department of State; Michael A. Braun, Chief of Operations, 
DEA, Department of Justice; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and 
Administrative Law held an oversight hearing on the 10th anniversary of 
the Congressional Review Act. Testimony was heard from J. Christopher 
Mihm, Managing Director, Strategic Issues, GAO; Morton Rosenberg, 
Specialist in American Public Law, American Law Division, Congressional 
Research Service, Library of Congress; John V. Sullivan, 
Parliamentarian, U.S. House of Representatives; and a public witness.
DEATH PENALTY REFORM ACT OF 2006
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security held a hearing on H.R. 5040, Death Penalty Reform Act 
of 2006. Testimony was heard from Margaret P. Griffey, Chief, Capital 
Case Unit, Criminal Division, Department of Justice; and public 
witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--WORK VISA INCREASES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Border 
Security, and Claims held an oversight hearing on Should Congress Raise 
the H-1B Cap? Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing 
on the following bills: H.R. 2134, Commission To Study the Potential 
Creation of a National Museum of the American Latino Community Act of 
2005; H.R. 3961, To authorize the National Park Service to pay for 
services rendered by subcontractors under a General Services 
Administration Indefinite Deliver/Indefinite Quantity Contract issued 
for work to be completed at Grand Canyon National Park; and H.R. 4294, 
Natural Resource Protection Cooperative Agreement Act. Testimony was 
heard from Representatives Becerra, Ros-Lehtinen, Renzi, and Porter; 
Michael Soukup, Associate Director, Natural Resource Stewardship and 
Science, National Park Service, Department of the Interior; and a 
public witness.
LOBBYING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2006
  Committee on Rules: Held a hearing on H.R. 4975, Lobbying 
Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives Shays, Buyer, Kirk, Schmidt, Obey, Frank of 
Massachusetts, Cardin, Price of North Carolina, Meehan, Blumenauer, 
Doggett, Allen, Baird, Emanuel, and Bean.
K-12 SCIENCE AND MATH EDUCATION
Committee on Science: Held a hearing on K-12 Science and Math Education 
Across the Federal Agencies. Testimony was heard from Margaret 
Spellings, Secretary of Education; Arden Bement, Director, NSF; John J. 
Kelly, Deputy Under Secretary, Oceans and Atmosphere, NOAA, Department 
of Commerce; and James Decker, Principal Deputy Director, Office of 
Science, Department of Energy.
SBA PROCUREMENT ASSISTANCE
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform and 
Oversight held an oversight hearing on the procurement assistance 
programs of the SBA. Testimony was heard from Anthony Martoccia, 
Associate Deputy Administrator, Office of Government Contracting and 
Business Development, SBA; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; GSA'S FY 2007 CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND LEASING 
PROGRAM
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management 
approved for full Committee action the following: GSA's Fiscal Year 
2007 Capital Investment and Leasing Program; H. Con. Res. 360, 
Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace 
Officers' Memorial Service; H. Con. Res. 359, Authorizing the use of 
the Capitol Grounds for the District of Columbia Special Olympics Law 
Enforcement Torch Run; and H. Con. Res. 349, Authorizing the use of the 
Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby, 10 a.m., 
2253 Rayburn.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the General Services 
Administration's Fiscal Year 2006 Capital Investment and Leasing 
Program. Testimony was heard from David L. Winstead, Commissioner, 
Public Buildings Service, GSA.

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OVERSIGHT--BARRIERS TO CLEANUP OF ABANDONED MINE SITES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment held an oversight hearing on Barriers to the 
Cleanup of Abandoned Mine Sites. Testimony was heard from Benjamin H. 
Grumbles, Assistant Administrator, Water, EPA; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY/AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance 
and Memorial Affairs held an oversight hearing on policy and 
operational issues facing Arlington National Cemetery and the American 
Battle Monuments Commission. Testimony was heard from John C. Metzler, 
Jr., Superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery; and John W. 
Nicholson, Secretary, American Battle Monuments Commission.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER HIGH-RISK ISSUES
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security continued 
hearings on Social Security number (SSN) high-risk issues. Testimony 
was heard from Representatives Dreier and Reyes; Cynthia M. Fagnoni, 
Managing Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security, GAO; Joel 
Winston, Associate Director, Division of Privacy and Identity 
Protection, Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC; and public witnesses.
INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session 
and ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 5020, Intelligence Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2007.