[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 42 (Wednesday, April 5, 2006)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D343-D347]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
FOREST EMERGENCY RECOVERY AND RESEARCH ACT
Committee on Agriculture: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 4200, 
Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act.
DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION, TREASURY, 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 the Department of the Treasury. Testimony was heard from 
John W. Snow, Secretary of the Treasury.
  The Subcommittee held a hearing on the Federal Judiciary. Testimony 
was heard from Julia Smith Gibbons, U.S. Circuit Court Judge, U.S. 
Court of Appeals for the Sixth District; and Leoniodas Ralph Mecham, 
Director, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
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 Energy Supply 
and Conservation, Fossil Energy. Testimony was heard from David Garman, 
Under Secretary, Science and Environment, Department of Energy.
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on National Park Service. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the National Park Service, 
Department of the Interior: Fran Mainella, Director, Steve Martin, 
Deputy Director; and Bruce Shaeffer, Comptroller.

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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 BRAC 2005 
Implementation. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Defense: Keith Eastin, Assistant Secretary, Installations 
and Environment, Department of the Army; B.J. Penn, Assistant 
Secretary, Installations and Environment, Department of the Navy; and 
William C. Anderson, Assistant Secretary, Installations, Environment 
and Logistics, Department of the Air Force.
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 Department of Commerce. Testimony was heard from Carlos Gutierrez, 
Secretary of Commerce.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the State International 
Organizations. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of State: Kristen L. Silverberg, Assistant Secretary, 
International Affairs; and John R. Bolton, Permanent Representative to 
the United Nations.
MAJOR DEFENSE ACQUISITION REFORMS INITIATIVES
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing to review major defense 
acquisition reform initiatives. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Defense: ADM Edmund P. Giambastiani, 
USN, Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; David Patterson, Under 
Secretary, Comptroller; and Kenneth Krieg, Under Secretary, 
Acquisition, Technology and Logistics; and David M. Walker, Comptroller 
General, GAO.
U.S. SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRIAL BASE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Projection Forces held a 
hearing on the U.S. Shipbuilding Industrial Base. Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the Department of Defense: Gary Powell, 
Acting Deputy Under Secretary (Industrial Policy); Allison Stiller, 
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Ships, Department of the Navy; VADM Paul E. 
Sullivan, USN, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command; and RADM Charles 
S. Hamilton, II, USN, Program Executive Officer for Ships, Naval Sea 
Systems Command; Mark L. Montroll, Professor, Industrial College of the 
Armed Forces, National Defense University; and public witnesses.
MILITARY READINESS--SERVICES CONTRACTING'S IMPACT
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness held a hearing 
on service contracting's impact on military readiness. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: Claude 
M. Bolton, Jr., Assistant Secretary, Acquisition, Logistics and 
Technology, Department of the Army; LG Donald J. Hoffman, USAF, 
Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, 
Acquisition; and Ronald Poussard, Air Force Program Executive Officer, 
Combat Mission Support.
DOE NUCLEAR WEAPONS COMPLEX INFRASTRUCTURE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a 
hearing on future plans for the Department of Energy's nuclear weapons 
complex infrastructure. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Energy: Tom D'Agostino, Deputy 
Administrator, Defense Programs, National Nuclear Security 
Administration; and Charles Anderson, Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Office of Environmental Management; and public witnesses.
WMD THREAT REDUCTION
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional 
Threats and Capabilities held a hearing on implementing the 2006 
Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) recommendations to combat weapons of 
mass destruction (WMD). Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Defense: Peter Flory, Assistant 
Secretary, International Security Policy; and James A. Tegnelia, 
Director, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Director, U.S. Strategic 
Command Center, Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction (SCC--WMD).
COMMUNICATIONS OPPORTUNITY, PROMOTION, AND ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2006
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications 
and the Internet approved for full Committee action, as amended, the 
Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006.
DUBAI PORTS WORLD DOCUMENTS
Committee on Financial Services: Ordered reported, as amended, H. Res. 
718, Requesting the President and directing the Secretary of Homeland 
Security to provide to the House of Representatives certain documents 
in their possession relating to the Dubai Ports World acquisition of 
six United States ports leases.

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EXPORT-IMPORT BANK REAUTHORIZATION
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee Domestic and 
International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology held a hearing 
entitled ``Reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United 
States.'' Testimony was heard from James H. Lambright, Chairman and 
Acting President, Export-Import Bank of the United States.
FHA TRANSFORMATION
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Community 
Opportunity held a hearing entitled ``Transforming the Federal Housing 
Administration for the 21st Century.'' Testimony was heard from Brian 
Montgomery, Assistant Secretary, Housing/Federal Housing Commission, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development; and public witnesses.
WESTERN STATES WATER MANAGEMENT
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Energy and Resources 
held a hearing entitled: Conjunctive Water Management: A Solution to 
the West's Growing Water Demand?'' Testimony was heard from Jason 
Peltier, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Water and Science, Department of 
the Interior; and public witnesses.
FEDERAL AGENCY PAYMENTS OVERSIGHT.
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Management, 
Finance, and Accountability held a hearing entitled ``The Improper 
Payments Information Act--Are Agencies Meeting the Requirements of the 
Law?'' Testimony was heard from Linda Combs, Controller, Office of 
Federal Financial Management, OMB; Charles E. Johnson, Assistant 
Secretary, Budget, Technology, and Finance, Department of Health and 
Human Services; and McCoy Williams, Director, Financial Management and 
Assurance, GAO.
SARBANES-OXLEY ACT
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs held 
a hearing entitled ``The Sarbanes-Oxley Act Four Years Later: What Have 
We Learned?'' Testimony was heard from Representatives Feeney, Kirk and 
Meeks of New York; and public witnesses.
U.S.-INDIA GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on the U.S.-India 
Global Partnership. Testimony was heard from Condoleezza Rice, 
Secretary of State.
LOBBYING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported, as amended,: H.R. 4975, 
Lobbying Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006.
PATENT QUALITY ENHANCEMENT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and 
Intellectual Property held an oversight hearing entitled ``Patent 
Quality Enhancement in the Information-Based Economy.'' Testimony was 
heard from Jon W. Dudas, Under Secretary, Intellectual Property and 
Director, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Commerce; and 
public witnesses.
INTERNET GAMBLING PROHIBITION ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and 
Homeland Security held a hearing on H.R. 4777, Internet Gambling 
Prohibition Act Testimony was heard from Representative Goodlatte; 
Bruce Ohr, Chief, Organized Crime and Racketeering Section, Department 
of Justice; and public witnesses.
INDIAN GAMING RESTRICTIONS
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 Fulton Sheen, Representative, State of 
Michigan, JoAnn D. Osmond, Representative State of Illinois; and public 
witnessers.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held 
a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 5025, Mount Hood Stewardship 
Legacy Act; H.R. 5016, Las Cienegas Enhancement Act; and H.R. 3534, 
Piedras Blancas Historic Light Station Outstanding Natural Area Act of 
2005. Testimony was heard from Representatives Kolbe and Capps; Tom 
Lonnie, Assistant Director, Minerals, Realty, and Resource Protection, 
Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior; Matt Garrett, 
Director, Department of Transportation, State of Oregon; and public 
witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--WATER AND POWER SUPPLIES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power held an 
oversight hearing entitled ``The Bureau of Reclamation's 21st Century 
Challenges in Managing, Protecting and Developing Water and Power 
Supplies.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of the Interior: Mark A. Limbaugh, Assistant Secretary, 
Water and

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Science; and John Keys, III, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation; and 
public witnesses.
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET, FY 2007
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule providing for 
general debate only on H. Con. Res. 376, a concurrent 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. The rule provides 4 hours of general 
debate, with 3 hours equally divided and controlled by the chairman and 
ranking minority member of the Committee on the Budget, and 1 hour on 
the subject of economic goals and policies equally divided and 
controlled by Representative Saxton of New Jersey and Representative 
Maloney of New York or their designees. The rule waives all points of 
order against consideration of the concurrent resolution. The rule 
provides that after general debate 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.
LOBBYING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2006
Committee on Rules: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 4975, Lobbying 
Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006.
SAME DAY CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS REPORTED BY THE RULES 
COMMITTEE
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving clause 6(a) 
of rule XIII (requiring a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on the 
same day it is reported from the Rules Committee) against certain 
resolutions reported from the Rules Committee. The rule applies the 
waiver to any special rule reported on the legislative day of April 6, 
2006, providing for consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. 
Res. 376) 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.
WORKPLACE GLOBALIZATION REPORT
Committee on Science: Ordered adversely reported without recommendation 
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.
SMALL BUSINESS TAX ENFORCEMENT
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``IRS Latest 
Enforcement: Is the Bulls-eye on Small Businesses?'' Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the IRS, Department of the 
Treasury; Mark W. Everson, Commissioner; and Kevin Brown, Commissioner, 
Small Business/Self-Employed Division Internal; Thomas M. Sullivan, 
Chief Counsel, Office of Advocacy, SBA; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Ordered reported the 
following measures: H. Con. Res. 235, Expressing the sense of the 
Congress that States should require candidates for driver's licenses to 
demonstrate an ability to exercise greatly increased caution when 
driving in the proximity of a potentially visually impaired individual; 
H. Con. Res. 349, Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the 
Greater Washington Soap Box Derby; H. Con. Res. 359, Authorizing the 
use of the Capitol Grounds for the District of Columbia Special 
Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run; H. Con. Res. 372, amended, 
Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Interstate Highway System; H.R. 
3858, Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2005; H.R. 
4880, amended, Maritime Terminal Security Enhancement Act of 2006; H.R. 
5076, National Transportation Safety Board Amendments Act of 2006; and 
H.R. 5074, Railroad Retirement Technical Improvement Act of 2006.
  The Committee also approved the following: U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers Survey Resolutions; and GSA Capital Investment and Leasing 
Program Resolutions.
U.S.-OMAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing on implementation of the 
United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement. Testimony was heard from Susan 
Schwab, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative; and public witnesses.
PUBLIC BENEFIT PROGRAM TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENT
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a 
hearing on the use of technology to improve public benefit programs. 
Testimony was heard from Diane Ruth, Chair and Commissioner, Public 
Workforce Commission, State of Texas; Marketa Gautreau, Assistant 
Secretary, Community Services, Department of Social Services, State of 
Louisiana; Don Winstead, Deputy Secretary, Department of Children and 
Families, State of Florida; Lisa Henley, Project Director, EBT Project, 
Department of Human Services, State of Oklahoma; and

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Dennis Fecci, former Chief Information Officer, Human Resources 
Administration, New York City.