[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 67 (Thursday, May 25, 2006)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D563-D565]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AND FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND 
RELATED APPROPRIATIONS FY 2007; REVISED SUBALLOCATION OF BUDGET 
ALLOCATIONS FY 2007
Committee on Appropriations: Ordered reported, as amended, the 
following appropriations for Fiscal Year 2007: Legislative Branch; and 
the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs.
  The Committee also approved Revised Suballocation of Budget 
Allocations for Fiscal Year 2007.
DOD HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional 
Threats and Capabilities held a hearing on Applying Lessons Learned 
From Hurricane Katrina: How the Department of Defense Is Preparing for 
the Upcoming Hurricane Season. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Defense: Paul McHale, Assistant 
Secretary, Homeland Defense; LTG H. Steven Blum, USA, Chief, National 
Guard Bureau; and MG Richard J. Rowe, USA, Director, Operations, U.S. 
Northern Command; MG C. Mark Bowen, USA (ret.), The Adjutant General, 
State of Alabama; and MG Douglas Burnett, USAF, The Adjutant General, 
State of Florida.
LINE-ITEM VETO
Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on the Line-Item Veto, 
Perspectives on Applications and Effects. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
MOTOR VEHICLE OWNERS' RIGHT TO REPAIR ACT
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection approved for full Committee action, as amended, 
H.R. 2048, Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act of 2005.
SEC INVESTOR PROTECTION
Committee on Financial Services: Continued hearings entitled 
``Protecting Investors and Fostering Efficient Markets: A Review of the 
S.E.C. Agenda.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
OFFICE OF THRIFT SUPERVISION OVERSIGHT
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Oversight of the Office of 
Thrift Supervision.'' Testimony was heard from John M. Reich, Director, 
Office of Thrift Supervision; and public witnesses.
NUCLEAR SMUGGLING PREVENTION
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Prevention of Nuclear 
and Biological Attack held a hearing entitled ``Enlisting Foreign 
Cooperation in U.S. Efforts to Prevent Nuclear Smuggling.'' Testimony 
was heard from the following officials of the Department of Homeland 
Security: Jayson Ahern, Assistant Commissioner, Field Operations, 
Customs and Border Protection; and Vayl Oxford, Director, Domestic 
Nuclear Detection Office; David Huizenga, Assistant Deputy 
Administrator, International Material Protection and Cooperation, 
National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy; and 
Frank Record, Acting Assistant Secretary, International Security and 
Nonproliferation, Department of State.
OVERSIGHT--SMITHSONIAN BUSINESS VENTURES
Committee on House Administration: Held a hearing entitled ``Oversight 
Hearing on the Smithsonian Business Ventures.'' Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the Smithsonian Institution: Lawrence 
M. Small, Secretary; Alice C. Maroni, Chief Financial Officer; Gary M. 
Beer, Chief Executive Officer, Smithsonian Business Ventures; and John 
E. Huerta, General Counsel; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on International Relations: Favorably considered the 
following measures and adopted a motion urging the Chairman to request 
that they be considered on the Suspension Calendar: H.R. 860, To 
provide for the conveyance of the reversionary interest of the United 
States in certain lands to the Clint Independent School District, El 
Paso County, Texas; H.R. 5247, amended, Support for the Museum of the 
History of the Polish Jews Act of 2006; H.R. 5333, Shoulder-fired 
Missile Threat Reduction Act of 2006; H. Con. Res. 338, Expressing the 
sense of Congress regarding the activities of Islamist terrorist 
organizations in the Western Hemisphere; H. Con. Res. 408, amended, 
Commending the Government of Canada for its renewed commitment to the 
Global War on Terror; H. Con. Res. 409, Commemorating the 60th 
anniversary of the ascension to the throne of His Majesty King Bhumibol 
Adulyadej of Thailand; H. Res. 608, amended, Condemning the escalating 
levels of religious persecution in the People's Republic of China; H. 
Res. 784, Commending and supporting Radio Al Mahaba, Iraq's first and 
only radio station for women; H. Res. 792, Recognizing the 40th 
anniversary of the independence of Guyana and extending best wishes to 
Guyana for peace and

[[Page D564]]

further progress, development, and prosperity; H. Res. 794, amended, 
Recognizing the 17th anniversary of the massacre in Tiananmen Square, 
Beijing, in the People's Republic of China; H. Res. 799, Congratulating 
the people of Ukraine for conducting free, fair, and transparent 
parliamentary elections on March 26, 2006, and commending their 
commitment to democracy and reform; H. Res. 804, Condemning the 
unauthorized, inappropriate, and coerced ordination of Catholic bishops 
by the People's Republic of China; and H. Res. 828, Commending the 
people of Mongolia, on the 800th anniversary of Mongolian statehood, 
for building strong, democratic institutions, and expressing the 
support of the House of Representatives for efforts by the United 
States to continue to strengthen its partnership with that country.
WORLD HUNGER CRISIS
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa, Global 
Human Rights and International Operations held a hearing on the World 
Hunger Crisis. Testimony was heard from Michael E. Hess, Assistant 
Administrator, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian 
Assistance, U.S. Agency for International Development, Department of 
State; Tony P. Hall, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations 
Organization for Food and Agriculture; and public witnesses.
  The Subcommittee also held a briefing on this subject. The 
Subcommittee was briefed by James T. Morris, Executive Director, United 
Nations World Food Program.
A.Q. KHAN NETWORK: CASE CLOSED?
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International 
Terrorism and Nonproliferation held a hearing on the A.Q. Khan Network: 
Case Closed? Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
U.S.-CANADA RELATIONS
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on the Western 
Hemisphere held a hearing on U.S.-Canada Relations. Testimony was heard 
from David M. Spooner, Assistant Secretary, Import Administration, 
International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce; and 
Elizabeth A. Whitaker, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Mexico, Canada, and 
Public Diplomacy, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Department of 
State.
  The Subcommittee also held a briefing on this subject. The 
Subcommittee was briefed by His Excellency Michael Wilson, Ambassador 
of Canada to the United States.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported, as amended, the following 
bills: H.R. 5417, Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act of 2006; 
H.R. 4777, Internet Gambling Prohibition Act; H.R. 4411, Unlawful 
Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006; H.R. 4894, To provide for 
certain access to national crime information databases by schools and 
educational agencies for employment purposes, with respect to 
individuals who work with children; H.R. 5318, Cyber-Security 
Enhancement and Consumer Data Protection Act of 2006; and H.R. 4127, 
Data Accountability and Trust Act (DATA).
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing 
on the following bills: H.R. 4275, To amend Public Law 106-348 to 
extend the authorization for establishing a memorial in the District of 
Columbia or its environs to honor veterans who became disabled while 
serving in the Armed Forces of the United States; H.R. 5057, To 
authorize the Marion Park Project and Committee of the Palmetto 
Conservation Foundation to establish a commemorative work on Federal 
land in the District of Columbia, and its environs to honor BG Francis 
Marion; and S. 1627, Delaware National Coastal Special Resources Study 
Act. Testimony was heard from Senator Carper; Representatives Kelly and 
Castle; Don Murphy, Deputy Director, National Park Service, Department 
of the Interior; Timothy A. Slavin, Director, Division of Historical 
and Cultural Affairs, State of Delaware; and public witnesses.
REFINERY PERMIT PROCESS SCHEDULE ACT
Committee on Rules: Committee granted, by a vote of 9 to 4, a closed 
rule providing 1 hour of debate in the House on H.R. 5254, Refinery 
Permit Process Schedule Act, equally divided and controlled by the 
chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of 
the bill. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit. Testimony 
was heard from Chairman Barton and Representatives Dingell and Allen.
UNLOCKING CHARITABLE GIVING
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Rural Enterprises, 
Agriculture and Technology held a hearing entitled ``Unlocking 
Charitable Giving.'' Testimony was heard from Representative Blunt; and 
public witnesses.

[[Page D565]]


OVERSIGHT--RECENT THEFT OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION REGARDING MILLIONS OF 
VETERANS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held an oversight hearing on the recent 
theft of sensitive information belonging to as many as 26.5 million 
veterans and spouses from a VA employee's home. Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs: R. 
James Nicholson, Secretary; and George J. Opfer, Inspector General; and 
public witnesses.
CHARITIES' EMPLOYMENT TAX COMPLIANCE
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing 
on Charities and Employment Taxes: Are Charities in the Combined 
Federal Campaign Meeting their Employment Tax Responsibilities? 
Testimony was heard from Gregory D. Kutz, Managing Director, Forensic 
Audits and Special Investigations, GAO; Steven T. Miller, Commissioner, 
Tax-Exempt and Government Entities Division, IRS, Department of the 
Treasury; and James S. Green, Associate General Counsel, Compensation, 
Benefits, Products and Services Group, OPM.
BRIEFING--GLOBAL UPDATES/HOTSPOTS
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on Global Updates/Hotspots. The Committee was 
briefed by departmental witnesses.