[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 20, 2006)] [Daily Digest] [Pages D661-D662] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the Rural Development Programs of the Department of Agriculture, focusing on broadband technology, and energy sources, especially ethanol, after receiving testimony from Thomas C. Dorr, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development; Jane Halliburton, Story County Iowa, Nevada, Iowa, on behalf of the National Association of Counties and the National Association of Development Organizations; Glenn English, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Arlington, Virginia; and Mary McBride, CoBank, Denver, Colorado. APPROPRIATIONS: AGRICULTURE Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies approved for full Committee consideration of H.R. 5384, making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, after receiving testimony from James H. Lambright, Acting Chairman and President, Export-Import Bank of the United States; Clay Lowery, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs; James D. McClaskey, Midrex Technologies, Inc., Charlotte, North Carolina; David Ickert, Air Tractor, Inc., Olney, Texas, on behalf of Small Business Exporters Association; and Robert E. Scott, Economic Policy Institute, Washington, D.C.; and Harry G. Hayman, III, Commerce Bank, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, on behalf of Bankers' Association for Finance and Trade. FEDERAL HOUSING ADMINISTRATION Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Housing and Transportation concluded a hearing to examine reform issues relating to the Federal Housing Administration, focusing on the need for continued improvement in managing risks and estimating program costs, after receiving testimony from Brian D. Montgomery, Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner; William B. Shear, Director, Financial Markets and Community Investment, Government Accountability Office; Regina M. Lowrie, Gateway Funding Diversified Mortgage Services, Horsham, Pennsylvania, on behalf of Mortgage Bankers Association; A.W. Pickel, III, LeaderOne Financial Corporation, Lenexa, Kansas, on behalf of National Association of Mortgage Brokers; Ira Goldstein, The Reinvestment Fund, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Basil N. Petrou, Federal Financial Analytics, Inc., and Tom Stevens, National Association of Realtors, both of Washington, D.C. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on the Budget: Committee ordered favorably reported S. 3521, to establish a new budget process to create a comprehensive plan to rein in spending, reduce the deficit, and regain control of the Federal budget process, with an amendment. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE'S REVISED DRAFT MANAGEMENT POLICIES Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks concluded a hearing to examine the National Park Service's Revised Draft Management Policies, including potential impact of the policies on park operations, park resources, wilderness areas, recreation, and interaction with gateway communities, after receiving testimony from Stephen P. Martin, Deputy Director, National Park Service, Department of the Interior; and Thomas C. Kiernan, National Parks Conservation Association, Washington, D.C. [[Page D662]] NOMINATION Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nomination of Paul A. Denett, of Virginia, to be Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senator Warner, testified and answered questions in his own behalf. UNITED NATIONS RENOVATION Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security concluded an oversight hearing to examine United Nations headquarters renovation, focusing on transparency, accountability, financial and ethical integrity at the international body, after receiving testimony from John R. Bolton, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations; Thomas Melito, Director, International Affairs and Trade, Government Accountability Office; Claudia Rosett, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, New York, New York; and Anne Bayefsky, Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. INSURERS' ANTITRUST EXEMPTION Committee on the Judiciary: Committee held a hearing to examine implications on repealing the insurers' antitrust exemption relating to the McCarran-Ferguson Act, and S. 1525, to ensure that commercial insurers cannot engage in price fixing, bid rigging, or market allocations to the detriment of competition and consumers, receiving testimony from Elinor R. Hoffmann, Office of the Attorney General for the State of New York, New York; Michael McRaith, Illinois Director of Insurance, Chicago, on behalf of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Marc Racicot, American Insurance Institute, former Montana Governor, Bob Hunter, Consumer Federation of America, and Donald C. Klawiter, American Bar Association, all of Washington, D.C.; and Kevin Thompson, Insurance Services Office, Jersey City, New Jersey. Hearing recessed subject to the call. INTELLIGENCE Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence community.