[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 29 (Thursday, February 15, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D198-D200]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on 
Fiscal Year 2007 Supplemental Requests for Iraq and Afghan Security 
Forces Fund. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Defense: MG Robert Durbin, Commander, Combined Security 
Transition Command-Afghanistan; BG Michael D. Jones, Deputy Director, 
Political-Military Affairs, Joint Staff; and Peter Rodman, Assistant 
Secretary, International Security Affairs.
HOMELAND SECURITY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing on Coast Guard Iraq Operations, Port Security and Deepwater. 
Testimony

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was heard from ADM Thad Allen, USCG, Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, 
Department of Homeland Security; Steve Caldwell, Assistant Director; 
and John P. Hutton, both with GAO.
LABOR, HHS, EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, Education, and Related Agencies, held a hearing on (Panel I) 
Overview on America's Workers and Education for the 21st Century. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on (Panel II) Overview on Health 
Care Access and the Aging of America. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, 
Veterans' Affairs, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Long-Term 
Health Care Challenges. Testimony was heard from Stephen Heffler, 
Director, National Health Statistics Group, Center for Medicare and 
Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services; A. Bruce 
Steinwald, Director, Healthcare Team, GAO; and Allison Percy, Principal 
Analyst; and John P. Hutton, both with CBO.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs. Testimony was heard from R. James Nicholson, Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs.
RECRUITING AND RETENTION OVERVIEW
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a 
hearing on overview of recruiting and retention. Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the Department of Defense: David S. C. 
Chu, Under Secretary, Personnel and Readiness; LTG Michael D. Rochelle, 
USA, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-l; VADM John C. Harvey, Jr., USN, Chief 
of Naval Personnel; LTG Roger A. Brady, USAF, Deputy Chief of Staff, 
Manpower and Personnel; and LTG Ronald S. Coleman, USMC, Deputy 
Commandant, Manpower and Reserve Affairs.
USDA FY 2008 BUDGET PRIORITIES
Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Priorities. Testimony was heard 
from Mike Johanns, Secretary of Agriculture; and public witnesses.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
MONETARY POLICY AND THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY
Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing on Monetary Policy and 
the State of the Economy. Testimony was heard from Ben S. Bernanke, 
Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; AFGHANISTAN AT THE BRINK
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 957, 
To amend the Iran Sanctions Act to expand and clarify the entities 
against which sanctions may be imposed.
  The Committee favorably considered the following measures and adopted 
a motion urging the Chairman to request that they be considered on the 
Suspension Calendar: H. Res. 98, as amended, Honoring the life and 
achievements of the late Dr. John Garang de Mabior and reaffirming the 
continued commitment of the House of Representatives to a just and 
lasting peace in the Republic of Sudan; H.R. 987, NATO Freedom 
Consolidation Act of 2007; H.R. 1003, To amend the Foreign Affairs 
Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 to reauthorize the United States 
Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy; H. Res. 107, as amended, 
Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Israeli soldiers 
held captive by Hamas and Hezbollah; H. Res. 149, Supporting the goals 
of International Women's Day; and H. Res. 64, as amended, Expressing 
the sense of the House of Representatives that the Government of 
Bangladesh should immediately drop all pending charges against 
Bangladeshi journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury.
  The Committee also held a hearing on Afghanistan on the Brink: Where 
Do We Go From Here? Testimony was heard from Representative Kirk; and 
public witnesses.
PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS OF COMFORT WOMEN
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and 
the Global Environment held a hearing on Protecting the Human Rights of 
Comfort Women. Testimony was heard from Representative Honda; and 
public witnesses.
HOMELAND SECURITY
Committee on Homeland Security: Held a hearing entitled ``Lessons 
Learned and Grading Goals: The Department of Homeland Security of 
2007.'' Testimony was heard from Michael P. Jackson, Deputy Secretary, 
Department of Homeland Security.

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OVERSIGHT--PATENT SYSTEM REFORM
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and 
Intellectual Property held an oversight hearing on American Innovation 
at Risk: The Case for Patent Reform. Testimony was heard from Suzanne 
Michel, Chief Intellectual Property Counsel and the Deputy Assistant 
Director for Policy Coordination, FTC; and public witnesses.
YOUTH VIOLENCE AND GANG INTERVENTIONS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security held a hearing entitled ``Making Communities Safer: 
Youth Violence and Gang Interventions that Work.'' Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Held a hearing entitled 
``Iraq Reconstruction: An Overview.'' Testimony was heard from David M. 
Walker, Comptroller General, GAO; William H. Reed, Director, Defense 
Contract Audit Agency, Department of Defense; and Stuart W. Bowen, Jr., 
Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.
NIST ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS ROLE
Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Technology and 
Innovation held a hearing on The National Institute of Standards and 
Technoloy's Role in Supporting Economic Competitiveness in the 21st 
Century. Testimony was heard from William Jeffrey, Director, National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Commerce; and 
public witnesses.
SHORT SEA SHIPPING
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing entitled ``The 
Development of Short Sea Shipping in the United States.'' Testimony was 
heard from Sean Connaughton, Administrator, Maritime Administration, 
Department of Transportation; Collister Johnson, Jr. Administrator, St. 
Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation; and public witnesses.
FILIPINO VETERANS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held a hearing on Equity for Filipino 
Veterans. Testimony was heard from Representatives Bordallo, Hirono and 
Honda; Ronald R. Aument, Deputy Under Secretary, Benefits, Department 
of Veterans Affairs; Carlos D. Sorreta, Charge d'Affaires, Embassy of 
the Philippines; and public witnesses.
VA INSPECTOR GENERAL
Committee on Veterans Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held an oversight hearing on VA Inspector General-Budget 
and Best Practices. Testimony was heard from George J. Opfer, Inspector 
General, Department of Veterans Affairs.
U.S.-CHINA TRADE RELATIONSHIP
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade held a hearing on 
the U.S.-China trade relationship. Testimony was heard from Karan K. 
Bhatia, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative; from former Representatives 
Dan Glickman of Kansas and Patricia Schroeder of Colorado; and public 
witnesses.
BRIEFING--HOT-SPOTS
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on Hot-Spots. The Committee was briefed by 
departmental witnesses.
IRAN'S INVOLVEMENT IN IRAQ
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
hold a hearing on Iran's Involvement in Iraq. Testimony was heard from 
departmental witnesses.