[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 61 (Tuesday, April 17, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4619-S4620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NOTICES OF HEARINGS/MEETINGS


                PERMANENT SUBCOMMITTEE ON INVESTIGATIONS

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I would like to announce for the 
information of the Senate and the public that the Permanent 
Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs will hold a hearing entitled ``Transit 
Benefits: How Some Federal Employees Are Taking Uncle Sam For A Ride.'' 
In 2006, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, at Senator 
Coleman's request, initiated an investigation into possible abuses of 
the Federal Transit Benefit Program. Under this program, the Federal 
Government provides qualified Federal employees with benefits for use 
on public transportation systems in order to reduce air pollution and 
decrease traffic congestion. For instance, employees living in the 
Washington, D.C. area receive a paper card, called a Metrochek or Metro 
Smartrip, with a magnetically encoded value that can be used on 
Metrorail or exchanged for an equivalent value in train or bus tickets. 
The April 24th Subcommittee hearing will examine whether transit 
benefits are being misused, program rules are being violated, and 
agency oversight requires strengthening. Witnesses for the upcoming 
hearing will include the Government Accountability Office, the 
Department of Transportation (DOT), the DOT Inspector General, the 
Department of Defense (DOD), as well as the

[[Page S4620]]

DOD Inspector General. A final witness list will be available on 
Friday, April 20, 2007.
  The Subcommittee hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, April 24, 2007, at 
2:30 p.m. in Room 342 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. For 
further information, please contact Elise J. Bean, of the Permanent 
Subcommittee on Investigations.


           Committee on Energy and Natural Resources--Revised

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I would like to announce for the 
information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been 
scheduled before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  The hearing will be held on April 23, 2007 at 3 p.m. in room SD-366 
of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
  The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on S. 1115, a bill 
to promote the efficient use of oil, natural gas, and electricity, 
reduce oil consumption, and heighten energy efficiency standards for 
consumer products and industrial equipment, and for other purposes.
  Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may 
testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written 
testimony for the hearing record should send two copies of their 
testimony to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United 
States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150.


                    SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER AND POWER

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I would like to announce for the 
information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been 
scheduled before the Subcommittee on Water and Power of the Committee 
on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on April 25, 
2007, at 2:30 p.m. in room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in 
Washington, DC.
  The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the following 
bills: S. 175, to provide for a feasibility study of alternatives to 
augment the water supplies of the Central Oklahoma Master Conservancy 
District and cities served by the District; S. 324, to direct the 
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of water resources in the 
State of New Mexico; S. 542, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior 
to conduct feasibility studies to address certain water shortages 
within the Snake, Boise, and Payette River systems in the State of 
Idaho, and for other purposes; S. 752, to authorize the Secretary of 
the Interior to participate in the implementation of the Platte River 
Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Species in the Central 
and Lower Platte River Basin and to modify the Pathfinder Dam and 
Reservoir; S. 1037, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
assist in the planning, design, and construction of the Tumalo 
Irrigation District Water Conservation Project in Deschutes County, 
Oregon; S. 1116 and H.R. 902, to facilitate the use for irrigation and 
other purposes of water produced in connection with development of 
energy resources; and H.R. 235, to allow for the renegotiation of the 
payment schedule of contracts between the Secretary of the Interior and 
the Redwood Valley County Water District, and for other purposes.
  Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may 
testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written 
testimony for the hearing record should send it to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 
20510-6150, or by email to Gina W[email protected].

                          ____________________