[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 118 (Wednesday, September 20, 2006)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D999-D1001]
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 public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; SUBPOENAS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Ordered reported, as amended, the 
following measures to be introduced: the National Institutes of Health 
Reform Act of 2006; and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization 
Act of 2006.
  The Committee ordered reported the following measures: H.R. 5533, 
amended, Biodefense and Pandemic Vaccine and Drug Development Act of 
2006; H.R. 3248, amended, Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2005; H.R. 971, 
To extend the deadline for commencement of construction of certain 
hydroelectric projects in Connecticut; S. 176, To extend the deadline 
for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project in the 
State of Alaska; S. 244, To extend the deadline for commencement of 
construction of a hydroelectric project in the State of Wyoming; H.R. 
4377, To extend the time required for construction of a hydroelectric 
project; and H.R. 4417, To provide for the reinstatement of a license 
for a certain Federal Energy Regulatory project.
  The Committee also approved a resolution authorizing the issuance of 
subpoenas in connection with the Committee's investigation into data 
brokering, including its investigation into the Hewlett-Packard 
situation, and related matters; and a resolution authorizing the 
issuance of subpoenas in connection with the Committee's investigation 
into the sexual exploitation of children over the Internet, and related 
matters.
STATE REGULATION OF INSURER INVESTMENTS
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital Markets, 
Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises held a hearing entitled 
``Improving Transparency in State Regulation of Insurer Investments.'' 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
FUTURE NUCLEAR PLANTS AND HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Energy and Resources 
held a hearing entitled ``The Next Generation Nuclear Plant and 
Hydrogen Production: A Critical Status Report.'' Testimony was heard 
from Jim Wells, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, GAO; and 
public witnesses.
FEDERAL EXECUTIVE AND JUDICIAL COMPENSATION
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federal Workforce and 
Agency Organization held a hearing entitled ``Executive and Judicial 
Compensation in the Federal Government (Quadrennial Commission).'' 
Testimony was heard from David M. Walker, Comptroller General; D. Brock 
Hornby, Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Maine, and Chairman, 
Judicial Branch, Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United 
States; Philip M. Pro, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, District of 
Nevada; Sean O'Keefe, former Administrator, NASA; and a public witness.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federalism and the 
Census held a hearing entitled ``Historic Preservation and Community 
Development: Why Cities and Towns Should Look to the Past as the Key to 
Their Future.'' Testimony was heard from John Fowler, Executive 
Director, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; Janet Snyder 
Matthews, Associate Director, Cultural Resources, National Park 
Service, Department of the Interior; Edward Sanderson, Executive 
Director; Historical

[[Page D1000]]

Preservation and Heritage Commission, State of Rhode Island; and public 
witnesses.
RADICALIZATION AND TERRORISM THREATS
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Intelligence, 
Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment held a hearing 
entitled ``The Homeland Security Implications of Radicalization.'' 
Testimony was heard from Randall Blake, al Qa'ida Group Chief, National 
Counterterrorism Center; Don Van Duyn, Assistant Director, 
Counterterrorism Division, FBI, Department of Justice; Javed Ali, 
Senior Intelligence Officer, Department of Homeland Security; and 
public witnesses.
AFGHANISTAN: FIVE YEARS AFTER 9/11
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on Afghanistan: 
Five Years After 9/11, Part I. Testimony was heard from Antonio Maria 
Costa, Executive Director, Office of Drugs and Crime, United Nations; 
and public witnesses.
DETERIORATING PEACE IN SUDAN
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa, Global 
Human Rights and International Operations held a hearing on the 
Deteriorating Peace in Sudan. Testimony was heard from Michael Hess, 
Assistant Administrator, Bureau of Democracy, Conflict Assistance and 
Humanitarian Affairs, U.S. Agency for International Development, 
Department of State; and public witnesses.
RESOLUTION COMMENDING UNITED KINGDOM'S EFFORTS IN WAR ON TERROR; SERBIA 
ISSUES AND FUTURE
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Europe and 
Emerging Threats ordered reported H. Res. 989, Commending the United 
Kingdom for its efforts in the War on Terror.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on Serbia: Current Issues and 
Future Direction. Testimony was heard from Daniel P. Serwer, Vice 
President, Center for Post-Conflict Peace and Stability Operations, 
Centers of Innovation, U.S. Institute of Peace; and public witnesses.
MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT OF 2006; ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE MODERNIZATION 
ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported the following bills H.R. 
6054, Military Commissions Act of 2006; and H.R. 5825, amended, 
Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act.
MINERAL COMMODITY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources 
held a hearing on H.R. 6080, to establish the Mineral Commodity 
Information Agency within the Department of the Interior. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT OF 2006
IMMIGRATION LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2006
BORDER PREVENTION ACT OF 2006
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote a closed rule providing for 
consideration of H.R. 4830, to amend chapter 27 of title 18, United 
States Code, to prohibit the unauthorized construction, financing, or 
reckless permitting (on one's land) the construction or use of a tunnel 
or subterranean passageway between the United States and another 
country. The rule provides 1 hour of debate in the House equally 
divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of 
the Committee on the Judiciary. The rule waives all points or order 
against consideration of the bill. The rule provides one motion to 
recommit H.R. 4830.
  The rule further provides for consideration of H.R. 6094, to restore 
the Secretary of Homeland Security's authority to detain dangerous 
aliens, to ensure the removal of deportable criminal aliens, and combat 
alien gang crime, under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of 
debate in the House equally divided and controlled by the chairman and 
ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary. The rule 
waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. The rule 
provides one motion to recommit H.R. 6094.
  The rule further provides for consideration of H.R. 6095, to affirm 
the inherent authority of State and local law enforcement to assist in 
the enforcement of immigration laws, to provide for effective 
prosecution of alien smugglers, and to reform immigration litigation 
procedures, under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of debate in 
the House equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary. The rule waives all 
points or order against consideration of the bill. The rule provides 
one motion to recommit H.R. 6095. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Hostettler and Jackson-Lee of Texas.
CLIMATE CHANGE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing on 
Department of Energy's Plan for Climate Change Technology Programs. 
Testimony was heard

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from Stephen D. Eule, Director, U.S. Climate Change Technology Program, 
Department of Energy; and public witnesses.
INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Research held a hearing on 
International Polar Year: The Scientific Agenda and Federal Role. 
Testimony was heard from Arden Bement, Director, NSF; and public 
witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; SURVEY RESOLUTIONS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Ordered reported the 
following measures: H.R. 1105, amended, Dam Rehabilitation and Repair 
Act of 2005; H.R. 4981, amended, Dam Safety Act of 2006; H.R. 5026, To 
designate the Investigations Building of the Food and Drug 
Administration located at 466 Fernandez Juncos Avenue in San Juan, 
Puerto Rico, as the ``Andres Toro Building;'' H.R. 1556, To designate a 
parcel of land located on the site of the Thomas F. Eagleton United 
States Courthouse in St. Louis, Missouri, as the ``Clyde S. Cahill 
Memorial Park;'' H.R. 5606, To designate the Federal building and 
United States courthouse located at 221 and 211 West Ferguson Street in 
Tyler, Texas as the ``William M. Steger Federal Building and United 
States Courthouse;'' H.R. 2322, To designate the Federal building 
located at 320 North Main Street in McAllen, Texas, as the ``Kika de la 
Garza Federal Building;'' H.R. 4126, amended, Chesapeake Bay 
Restoration Enhancement Act of 2005; H.R. 5546, amended, To designate 
the U.S. courthouse to be constructed in Greenville, South Carolina, as 
the ``Carroll A. Campbell, Jr., Federal Courthouse;'' and H.R. 6051, 
amended, To designate the Federal building located at 2 South Main 
Street in Akron, Ohio, as the ``John F. Seiberling Federal Building.''
  The Committee also approved U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Survey 
Resolutions; and GSA Capital Investment and Leasing Program Resolutions 
for Fiscal Year 2007.
FAA SAFETY PROGRAMS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation held a hearing entitled ``Oversight of Federal Aviation 
Administration Safety Programs.'' Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Transportation: Nicholas 
Sabatini, Associate Administrator, Aviation Safety, FAA; and Todd 
Zinser, Acting Inspector General; Thomas Haueter, Deputy Director, 
Office of Aviation Safety, National Transportation Safety Board; and 
Gerald Dillingham, Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, GAO.
OVERSIGHT--VETERANS FISCAL YEAR REVIEW
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held an oversight hearing to review the 
previous fiscal year and look ahead to the upcoming year. Testimony was 
heard from representatives of veterans organizations.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE MODERNIZATION ACT
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Ordered reported, as 
amended, H.R. 6825, Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act.