[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.