[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 20, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D365-D368]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on Research and Economics. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the USDA: Gale Buchanan, Under Secretary; 
Education and Economics; Merle D. Pierson, Deputy Under Secretary, 
Research Education and Economics; Edward B. Knipling, Administrator, 
Agriculture Research Service; Colien Hefferan, Administrator, 
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; Katherine 
Smith, Acting Administrator, Economic Research Service; R. Ronald 
Bosecker, Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service; and 
W. Scott Steele, Budget Officer.
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science 
and Related Agencies held a hearing on Equal Employment Opportunities 
Commission. Testimony was heard from Naomi C. Earp, Chair, EEOC.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on International Trade 
Administration/Bureau of Industry and Security. Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the Department of Commerce: Franklin L. 
Lavin, Under Secretary, International Trade; and Mark Foulon, Acting 
Under Secretary, Bureau of Industry and Security.
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Department of 
Energy: Energy Supply and Conservation/Fossil Energy/Electricity 
Delivery and Energy Reliability. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Energy: Alexander Karsner, Assistant 
Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Kevin M. Kolevar, 
Director, Electricity and Energy Reliability; and Thomas D. Shope, 
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Fossil Energy.
HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing on Determining Critical Infrastructure and How To Protect It. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Homeland Security: George Foresman, Under Secretary, National 
Protection and Programs Directorate; Robert Stephan, Assistant 
Secretary, Infrastructure Protection, and Gregory Garcia, Assistant 
Secretary, Cyber Security and Communications; Eileen Larence, Director, 
Homeland Security and Justice Issues; and David Powner, Director, IT 
Management Issues, both with GAO.
INTERIOR AND ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior and Environment, 
and Related Agencies held a hearing on the National Endowment for the 
Humanities/National Endowment for the Arts. Testimony was heard from 
Bruce Cole, Chairman, National Endowment for the Humanities; and Dana 
Gioia, Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts.
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 Worker 
Protection Agencies. Testimony was heard from the following officials 
of the Department of Labor: Mark Wilson, Deputy Assistant Secretary, 
Employment Standards Administration; Bradford P. Campbell, Acting 
Assistant Secretary, Employee Benefits Security Administration; Edwin 
G. Foulke, Assistant Secretary, OSHA; James Carter, Deputy Under 
Secretary, Bureau of International Labor Affairs; and Richard E. 
Stickler, Assistant Secretary, Mine Safety and Health.
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a 
hearing on Library of Congress: Future of Digital Libraries. Testimony 
was heard from the following officials of the Library of Congress: 
James H, Billington, Librarian of Congress; JoAnn C. Jenkins, Chief 
Operating Officer, Office of the Librarian; Deanna Marcum, Associate 
Librarian, Library Services; Laura Campbell, Associate Librarian, 
Strategic Initiatives; Rubens Medina, Law Librarian; Marybeth Peters, 
Register of Copyrights; and Daniel P. Mulhollan, Director, CRS.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS' AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, 
Veterans' Affairs, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Base 
Realignment and Closure. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Defense: Phil Grone, Deputy Under 
Secretary, Installations and Environment; Keith Eastin, Assistant 
Secretary, Army, for Installations and Environment; B.J. Penn, 
Assistant

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Secretary, Navy, Installations and Environment; and William C. 
Anderson, Assistant Secretary, Air Force, Installations, Environment 
and Logistics.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on VA Long-Term Health/Nursing 
Home Care. Testimony was heard from Michael J. Kussman, M.D., Acting 
Under Secretary, Health, Department of Veterans' Affairs.
WOUNDED WARRIOR ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2007
Committee on Armed Services: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 1538, 
Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION REQUESTS--BASE CLOSURES/FACILITIES 
MAINTENANCE BUDGET.
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness held a hearing 
on the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Budget Requests 
for military construction, family housing, base closures and 
facilities' operations and maintenance. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Defense: Philip Grone, Deputy 
Under Secretary, Installations and Environment; Keith Eastin, Assistant 
Secretary, Army, Installations and Environment; B.J. Penn, Assistant 
Secretary, Navy, Installations and Environment; and William C. 
Anderson, Assistant Secretary, Air Force, Installations, Environment 
and Logistics.
SHIPYARD MODERNIZATION/SHIP COST REDUCTION
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary 
Forces held a hearing on U.S. shipyard modernization initiatives and 
ship cost reduction. Testimony was heard from the following officials 
of the Department of the Navy: VADM Paul Sullivan, USN, Commander, 
Naval Sea Systems Command; Allison Stiller, Deputy Assistant Secretary, 
Ship Programs; RADM Charles Goddard, USN, Program Executive Officer, 
Ships; RADM David Architzel, USN, Program Executive Officer, Carriers; 
and RADM William Hilirades, USN, Program Executive Officer, Submarines; 
and public witnesses.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST--ATOMIC ENERGY DEFENSE 
ACTIVITIES
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a 
hearing on the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Budget 
Request for the Department of Energy's atomic energy defense 
activities. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Energy: Thomas P. D'Agostino, Acting Administrator, 
National Nuclear Security Administration; James Rispoli, Assistant 
Secretary, Environmental Management; and Glenn Podonsky, Director, 
Office of Health, Safety and Security.
CLIMATE CHANGE--UTILITY CEO'S VIEWS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Air 
Quality held a hearing on Climate Change: Perspectives of Utility CEOs. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
INTERNATIONAL SOLID WASTE IMPORTATION AND MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2007
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and 
Hazardous Materials approved for full Committee action H.R. 518, 
International Solid Waste Importation and Management Act of 2007.
DARFUR ACCOUNTABILITY AND DIVESTMENT ACT
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Domestic and 
International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology held a hearing on 
H.R. 180, Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007. Testimony 
was heard from Senator Brownback; Representatives Lee, Wolf and Payne; 
and public witnesses.
IRAQ--PROPOSED LEGISLATION
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Held a hearing on proposed legislation on 
Iraq. Testimony was heard from the following Representatives who have 
introduced legislation on this subject: Bordallo, Lynch, Murtha, 
Jackson-Lee of Texas; Thompson of California; Blumenauer; Lee, Sires, 
Larson of Connecticut; Woolsey, Rogers of Alabama; Udall of Colorado; 
Lipinski, Schakowsky, King of Iowa, Berman, Patrick J. Murphy of 
Pennsylvania; Sestak, McGovern; Price of North Carolina; Tauscher, and 
Farr.
WELCOME TO AMERICA?
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on International 
Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight held a hearing on Welcome to 
America? Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
HOMELAND SECURITY BUDGET/US-VISIT REVIEW
Committee on Homeland Security: Held a hearing entitled 
``Organizational and Policy Proposals for the Fiscal Year 2008 
Department of Homeland Security Authorization: Positioning US-VISIT for 
Success and Establishing a Quadrennial Homeland Security Review 
Process.'' Testimony was heard from Robert A. Mocny, Acting Director, 
US-VISIT, Department

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of Homeland Security; Richard Stana, Director, Homeland Security and 
Justice Issues, GAO; and public witnesses.
BORDER CROSSINGS; IMMIGRANTS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and 
Global Counterterrorism continued hearings entitled ``Crossing the 
Border: Immigrants in Detention and Victims of Trafficking, Part II.'' 
Testimony was heard from Gabriel Garcia, Program Manager, Human 
Smuggling and Trafficking Unit, Office of Investigations, Immigration 
and Customs Information, Department of Homeland Security; and public 
witnesses.
ELECTION REFORM
Committee on House Administration: Subcommittee on Elections continued 
hearings on Election Reform: Auditing Federal Elections. Testimony was 
heard from Ion Sancho, Supervisor of Elections, Leon County, Florida; 
Matt Damschroder, Director, Franklin County, Board of Elections, Ohio; 
and public witnesses.
FBI'S USE OF NATIONAL SECURITY LETTERS
Committee on the Judiciary: Held a hearing on the Inspector General's 
Independent Report on the FBI's Use of National Security Letters. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Justice: Glen A. Fine, Inspector General; and Valerie Caproni, General 
Counsel, FBI.
SECOND CHANCE ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security held a hearing on the Second Chance Act of 2007. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE/PUBLIC LANDS ENERGY
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 
Resources held an oversight hearing on the effect of global climate 
change on public lands and resources as a result of federal energy 
policies and actions. Testimony was heard from Mark Myers, Director, 
U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior; Deborah Williams, 
former Assistant to the Department of the Interior, Alaska; and public 
witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK BISON
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests 
and Lands held an oversight hearing on Yellowstone National Park Bison. 
Testimony was heard from Representative Rehberg; Mike Soukup, Associate 
Director, National Park Service, Department of the Interior; John 
Clifford, D.V.M., Deputy Administrator, Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service, USDA; Robin Nazzaro, Director, Natural Resources 
and Environment, GAO; Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana; and public 
witnesses.
FEDERAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Government Management, Organization, and Procurement held a hearing on 
Federal Financial Statements for Fiscal Year 2006: Fiscal Outlook, 
Management Weaknesses and Consequences. Testimony was heard from David 
M. Walker, Comptroller General, GAO; Linda Combs, Controller, OMB; 
James T. Campbell, Acting Chief Financial Officer and William Maharay, 
Deputy Inspector General, Audit Services, both with the Department of 
Energy; David Norquist, Chief Financial Officer and James L. Taylor, 
Deputy Inspector General, both with the Department of Homeland 
Security.
NSF REAUTHORIZATION
Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Research and 
Science Education held a hearing on National Science Foundation 
Reauthorization, Part I. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the NSF: Arden L. Bement, Jr., Director; and Steven C. 
Beering, Chairman, National Science Board.
OVERSIGHT--POST-KATRINA TEMPORARY HOUSING
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management held 
an oversight hearing on Post-Katrina Temporary Housing: Dilemmas and 
Solutions. Testimony was heard from Representative Ross; David R. 
Paulison, Director, FEMA, Department of Homeland Security; and public 
witnesses.
MOTORCOACH SAFETY
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Highways and Transit held a hearing on Motorcoach Safety. Testimony was 
heard from John H. Hill, Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration, Department of Transportation; Mark V. Rosenker, 
Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board; and public witnesses.
IRS OPERATIONS AND THE TAX GAP
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing 
on IRS Operations and the Tax Gap. Testimony was heard from Mark W.

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Everson, Commissioner, IRS, Department of the Treasury.
U.S. KOREA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade held a hearing on 
the U.S./Korea Free Trade Agreement Negotiations. Testimony was heard 
from Karan K. Bhatia, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative; and public 
witnesses.
SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
hold a hearing on Signals Intelligence. Testimony was heard from 
departmental witnesses.