[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 113 (Wednesday, September 13, 2006)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D956-D959]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
FEDERAL FARM POLICY
Committee on Agriculture: Held a hearing to Review Federal Farm Policy. 
Testimony was heard from agricultural processors and suppliers.
OVERSIGHT--NUCLEAR ENERGY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development, and Related Agencies held an oversight hearing on Nuclear 
Energy. Testimony was heard from Dennis Spurgeon, Assistant Secretary, 
Nuclear Energy, Department of Energy; Stan Wise, Chairman, Public 
Service Commission, State of Georgia; Nils Diaz, former Chairman, NRC; 
and public witnesses.
MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT OF 2006
Committee on Armed Services: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 6054, 
Military Commissions Act of 2006.
FEDERAL BUDGETARY CHOICES
Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on How Budgetary Choices Affect 
Work, Saving, and Growth, The Real Purpose of `Dynamic' Estimating. 
Testimony was heard from Douglas J. Holtz-Eakin, former Director, CBO; 
and public witnesses.
NUCLEAR WASTE/HYDROELECTRIC ENERGY EFFICIENCY LEGISLATION
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Air 
Quality held a hearing on nuclear waste storage and disposal policy, 
and hydroelectric license extension and energy efficiency legislation. 
Testimony was heard from Representatives Otter and Mollohan; from the 
following officials of the Department of Energy: Edward F. Sproat, III, 
Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management; and J. Mark 
Robinson, Director, Office of Energy Projects, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission; Luis A. Reyes, Executive Director, Operations, 
NRC; Stan Wise, Chairman, Public Service Commission, State of Georgia; 
and public witnesses.
NIH ETHICS/MANAGEMENT CULTURE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Continuing Ethics and 
Management Concerns at NIH and the Public Health Service Commissioned 
Corps.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Health and Human Services: John Agwunobi, M.D., Assistant 
Secretary for Health; Raynard Kington, M.D., Deputy Director, NIH; John 
Niederhuber, M.D., Director, National Cancer Institute; Thomas R. 
Insel, M.D., Director; and William Fitzsimmons, Executive Officer,

[[Page D957]]

both with the National Institute of Mental Health, NIH.
CYBERSECURITY
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications 
and the Internet, hearing entitled ``CyberSecurity: Protecting 
America's Critical Infrastructure, Economy, and Consumers.'' Testimony 
was heard from David A. Powner, Director, Information Technology 
Management Issues, GAO; George W. Foresman, Under Secretary, 
Preparedness, Department of Homeland Security; Kenneth P. Moran, 
Director, Office of Homeland Security Enforcement Bureau, FCC; and 
public witnesses.
COASTAL INSURANCE MARKETS
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital Markets, 
Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises held a hearing entitled 
``Stabilizing Insurance Markets for Coastal Consumers.'' Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Energy and Resources 
held a hearing entitled ``Interior Department: A Culture of Managerial 
Irresponsibility and Lack of Accountability?'' Testimony was heard from 
Earl E. Devaney, Inspector General, Department of the Interior.
FEDERAL FAMILY HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACT
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federal Workforce and 
Agency Organization approved for full Committee action, as amended, 
H.R. 4859, Federal Family Health Information Technology Act of 2006.
DHS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Management, 
Finance, and Accountability held a hearing entitled ``DHS Financial 
Management: Evaluating Progress in Improving Internal Controls.'' 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Homeland Security: David Norquist, Chief Financial Officer; and David 
Zavada, Assistant Inspector General.
IRAQ: DEMOCRACY OR CIVIL WAR?
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on National Security, 
Emerging Threats and International Relations continued hearings 
entitled ``Iraq: Democracy or Civil War?'', with emphasis on What Will 
It Take To Achieve National Reconciliation? Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the Department of State: David Satterfield, 
Senior Advisor on Iraq to the Secretary; and James Bever, Deputy 
Assistant Administrator, Near East and Asia, U.S. Agency for 
International Development; and public witnesses.
DHS CYBER AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECURITY
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Economic Security, 
Infrastructure Protection and Cybersecurity held a hearing entitled 
``The Future of Cyber and Telecommunications Security at the Department 
of Homeland Security.'' Testimony was heard from George Foresman, Under 
Secretary, Preparedness, Department of Homeland Security; David Powner, 
Director, Information Technology Management Issues, GAO; William 
Pelgrin, Director, Office of Cyber Security and Critical 
Infrastructure, State of New York; and public witnesses.
HOMELAND SECURITY INFORMATION NETWORK
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Intelligence, 
Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment held a hearing 
entitled ``The Homeland Security Information Network: An Update on DHS 
Information Sharing Efforts.'' Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Homeland Security: Frank W. Deffer, 
Assistant Inspector General; Charles E. Allen, Chief Intelligence 
Officer; and Roger T. Rufe, Jr., Director, Operations Directorate; and 
public witnesses.
SAFETY ACT IMPLEMENTATION
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Management, 
Integration, and Oversight and the Subcommittee on Emergency 
Preparedness, Science and Technology held a joint hearing entitled 
``Helping Business Protect the Homeland: Is the Department of Homeland 
Security Effectively Implementing the SAFETY Act?'' Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the Department of Homeland Security: 
Jay Cohen, Under Secretary, Science and Technology; and Elaine C. Duke, 
Chief Procurement Officer; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY
Committee on International Relations: Ordered reported H.R. 6060, 
Department of State Authorities Act of 2006.
  The Committee reported, without recommendation, H. Res. 985, 
Directing the Secretary of State to provide to the House of 
Representatives certain documents in the possession of the Secretary of 
State relating to the report submitted to the Committee on 
International Relations of the House of Representatives on July 28, 
2006, pursuant to the Iran and Syria Nonproliferation Act.

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  The Committee also favorably considered the following measures and 
adopted a motion urging the Chairman to request that they be considered 
on the Suspension Calendar: H.R. 611, amended, Haiti Economic and 
Infrastructure Reconstruction Act; H.R. 1476, amended, Eisenhower 
Exchange Fellowship Program Trust Fund Enhancement Act of 2005; H.R. 
1996, Coral Reef and Coastal Marine Conservation Act of 2005; H.R. 
5805, amended, North Korea Nonproliferation Act of 2006; H. Res. 415, 
amended, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
Socialist Republic of Vietnam needs to do more to resolve claims for 
confiscated real and personal property; H. Res. 622, amended, To 
recognize and honor the Filipino World War II veterans for their 
defense of democratic ideals and their important contribution to the 
outcome of World War II; H. Res. 723, amended, calling on the President 
to take immediate steps to help improve the security situation in 
Darfur, Sudan, with a specific emphasis on civilian protection; H. Res. 
759, amended, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the Government of Japan should formally acknowledge and accept 
responsibility for its sexual enslavement of young women, known to the 
world as ``comfort women,'' during its colonial occupation of Asia and 
the Pacific Islands from the 1930s through the duration of World War 
II; H. Res. 940, amended. Recognizing the 185th anniversary of the 
independence of Peru on July 28, 2006; H. Res. 942, Recognizing the 
centennial anniversary on August 5, 2006, of the Iranian constitution 
of 1906; H. Res. 965, Commending the people of Montenegro on the 
conduct of the referendum on independence, welcoming United States 
recognition of the sovereignty and independence of the republic of 
Montenegro, and welcoming Montenegro membership in the United Nations 
and other international organizations; H. Res. 992, amended, Urging the 
President to appoint a Presidential Special Envoy for Sudan; H. Res. 
976, Condemning human rights abuses by the Government of the Islamic 
Republic of Iran and expressing solidarity with the Iranian people; H. 
Con. Res. 317, Requesting the President to issue a proclamation 
annually calling upon the people of the United States to observe Global 
Family Day, One Day of Peace and Sharing; H. Con. Res. 415, Condemning 
the repression of the Iranian Baha'i community and calling for the 
emancipation of Iranian Baha'is; S. 2125, amended, Democratic Republic 
of the Congo Relief, Recovery, Security, and Democracy; and S. 3836, 
United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy Reauthorization 
Act of 2006.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported, as amended, the following 
bills: H.R. 5005, Firearms Corrections and Improvements Act; H.R. 5418, 
To establish a pilot program in certain United States district courts 
to encourage enhancement of expertise in patent cases among district 
judges; and H.R. 5830, Wright Amendment Reform Act.
OVERSIGHT--AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT: SIXTEEN YEARS LATER 
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution held an 
oversight hearing on The Americans With Disabilities Act: Sixteen Years 
Later. Testimony was heard from Naomi Earp, Chair, EEOC; former 
Representative Tony Coelho of California; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 
5617, 13th Regional Corporation Land Entitlement Act; and H.R. 5781, 
Copper Valley Native Allotment Resolution Act of 2006. Testimony was 
heard from Jim Hughes, Deputy Director, Bureau of Land Management, 
Department of the Interior; Robin Nazzaro, Director, Natural Resources 
and Environment Team, GAO; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--NATIONAL PARK VISITATION TRENDS
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks held an 
oversight hearing entitled ``Visitation Trends in the National Park 
System--Part II.'' Testimony was heard from Chris Jarvi, Associate 
Director, Partnerships, Interpretation and Education, National Park 
Service, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
SECURE FENCE ACT OF 2006
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a closed rule providing 1 
hour of debate in the House on H.R. 6061, to establish operational 
control over the international land and maritime borders of the United 
States, equally divided and controlled by the Chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Homeland Security. The rule waives 
all points of order against consideration of the bill. The rule 
provides that the amendment printed in the Rules Committee report 
accompanying the resolution shall be considered as adopted. Finally, 
the rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. 
Testimony was heard from Representative King of New York.

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PROVIDING FOR EARMARK REFORM IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule providing that upon 
adoption of the resolution, H. Res. 1000, as reported by the Committee 
on Rules, is hereby adopted.
EARMARK REFORM
Committee on Rules: Ordered reported H. Res. 1000, providing for 
earmark reform in the House of Representatives.
BORDER SECURITY TECHNOLOGY
Committee on Science: Held a hearing on How Can Technologies Help 
Secure Our Borders? Testimony was heard from the following officials of 
the Department of Homeland Security: Jay M. Cohen, Under Secretary, 
Science and Technology; and Gregory Giddens, Director, Secure Border 
Initiative Program Executive Office; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--ALASKA PIPELINE CORROSION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Held an oversight 
hearing on Low Pressure Liquid Pipelines: In the North Slope, Greater 
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. Testimony was heard from Thomas Barrett, 
Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 
Department of Homeland Security; and public witnesses.
GREAT LAKES RESTORATION AND PROTECTION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment held a hearing on the Great Lakes Regional 
Collaboration Strategy--Can it be implemented to restore and protect 
the Great Lakes? Testimony was heard from Benjamin H. Grumbles, 
Assistant Administrator, Water, EPA; BG Bruce A. Berwick, USA, 
Commander, Great Lakes and Ohio River Division, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Department of the Interior; Charles Wooley, Deputy Regional 
Director, Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--VETERANS BENEFITS CLAIMS ADJUDICATORS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance 
and Memorial Affairs held an oversight hearing on the training provided 
to Veterans Benefits Administration claims adjudicators and the 
standards used to measure their proficiency and performance. Testimony 
was heard from Michael Walcoff, Associate Deputy Under Secretary, Field 
Operations, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs; and public witnesses.
NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR COMBATING TERRORISM
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Terrorism, 
Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence met in executive 
session to hold a hearing on the National Strategy for Combating 
Terrorism and the Evolving Terrorist Threat. Testimony was heard from 
departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings
CARE FOR DISABLED IN ROMANIA
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission): 
Commission concluded a hearing to examine Romanian governmental and 
non-governmental perspectives on the current state of care of persons 
with disabilities in Romania, after receiving testimony from Adrian 
Mindroiu, Director for European Integration, Government of Romania, and 
Cristian Ispas, Motivation Romania International, and Special Olympics 
Romania Foundation, both of Bucharest, Romania; and Eric Rosenthal, 
Mental Disabilities Rights International, Washington, D.C.