[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 63 (Thursday, April 19, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D530-D532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
FARM BILL CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy 
and Research held a hearing to review USDA Farm Bill conservation 
programs. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
continued hearings on Food Safety and Inspection Service. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the USDA: Richard Raymond, Under 
Secretary, Food Safety; David Goldman, Acting Administrator, Food 
Safety and Inspection Service; and W. Scott Steele, Budget Officer.
DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense met in executive 
session to hold a hearing on U.S. Special Operations--Command. 
Testimony was heard from GEN Doug Brown, Combatant Commander, 
Department of Defense.
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard 
from Members of Congress and public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a 
hearing on the GAO. Testimony was heard from the following officials of 
the GAO: David Walker, Comptroller General; Gene Dodaro, Chief 
Operating Officer; and Sallyanne Harper, Chief Administrative Officer.
STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, 
and Related Programs held a hearing on Public Diplomacy and 
Broadcasting Programs. Testimony was heard from Karen Hughes, Under 
Secretary, Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Department of State.
INTELLIGENCE/RECONNAISSANCE BUDGET
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces held a 
hearing on Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Budget 
Request, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Intelligence, Surveillance, and 
Reconnaissance capabilities. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the GAO: Davi M. D'Agostino, and Sharon L. Pickup, both 
Directors, Defense Capabilities and Management Issues; and Michael J. 
Sullivan, Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management Issues; and the 
following officials of the Department of Defense: Joe Landon, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Command, Control, Communication, Intelligence, 
Surveillance and Reconnaissance; BG Walt Davis, USA, Commander, Joint 
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center of Excellence; LTG David A. Deptula, 
USAF, Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Surveillance, and 
Reconnaissance, U.S. Air Force; MG Jeffrey A. Sorenson, USA, Deputy, 
Acquisition and Systems Management, Office of the Secretary of the Army 
(Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology); RADM Bruce W. Clingan, USN, 
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Deputy Director, Air Warfare; and BG 
Randolph Alles, USMC, Commanding General, Marine Corps Warfighting Lab.
NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE--RENEWING THE SPIRIT
Committee on Education and Labor: Subcommittee on Healthy Families and 
Communities held a hearing on Renewing the Spirit of National and 
Community Service. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
SPY ACT
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection approved for full Committee action, as amended, 
H.R. 964, Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act.
DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS OUTLOOK
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications 
and the Internet, continued hearings entitled ``Digital Future of the 
United States: Part III: Spectrum Opportunities and the Future of 
Wireless.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
FHA REFORM
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Community 
Opportunity held a hearing entitled ``The Expanding American 
Homeownership Act of 2007: H.R. 1852, to modernize and update the 
National Housing Act and enable the Federal Housing Administration to 
use risk-based pricing to more effectively reach underserved borrowers; 
and related FHA Modernization Issues. Testimony was heard from Brian D. 
Montgomery, Assistant Secretary, Housing--Federal Housing Commissioner, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development; and public witnesses.

[[Page D531]]


MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; DARFUR CRISIS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Favorably considered and adopted a motion 
urging the Chairman to request that the following resolutions, as 
amended, be considered on the Suspension Calendar: H. Res. 243, Calling 
on the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to immediately 
and unconditionally release Father Nguyen Van Ly, Nguyen Van Dai, Le 
Thi Cong Nhan, and other political prisoners and prisoners of 
conscience; H. Res. 272, Commemorating the 200th anniversary of the 
abolition of the transatlantic slave trade; and H. Con. Res. 7, Calling 
on the League of Arab States to acknowledge the genocide in the Darfur 
region of Sudan and to step up their efforts to stop the genocide in 
Darfur.
  The Committee also held a hearing on the Current Situation in Darfur. 
Testimony was heard from Mia Farrow, Goodwill Ambassador, UNICEF; and 
public witnesses.
FEDERAL SYSTEMS CYBER SECURITY
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, 
Cybersecurity, and Science Technology held a hearing entitled ``Cyber 
Insecurity: Hackers are Penetrating Federal Systems and Critical 
Infrastructure.'' Testimony was heard from Dave Jarrell, Manager, 
Critical Infrastructure Protection Program, Department of Commerce; 
Donald Reid, Senior Coordinator, Security Infrastructure, Bureau of 
Diplomatic Security, Department of State; Jerry Dixon, Director, 
National Cyber Security Division, Department of Homeland Security; Greg 
Wilshusen, Director, Information Security Issues, GAO; and public 
witnesses
HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT MORALE
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Management, 
Investigations, and Oversight held a hearing entitled ``Addressing the 
Department of Homeland Security's Morale Crisis.'' Testimony was heard 
from Marta Brito Perez, Chief Human Capital Officer, Department of 
Homeland Security; and public witnesses.
AIRPORT SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure Protection held a hearing entitled ``Airport Security: 
The Necessary Improvements to Secure America's Airports.'' Testimony 
was heard from Kip Hawley, Assistant Secretary, Transportation Security 
Administration, Department of Homeland Security; and public witnesses.
FEDERAL JUDICIAL COMPENSATION
Committee on the Judiciary: Sucommittee on Courts, the Internet and 
Intellectual Property held an oversight hearing on Federal Judicial 
Compensation. Testimony was heard from the following Presiding Justices 
of the U.S. Supreme Court: Stephen G. Breyer; and Samuel A. Alito.
IMMIGRATION REFORM
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, 
Refugees, Border Security and International Law held a hearing on 
Shortfalls of 1986 Immigration Reform Legislation. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
FEDERAL LANDS ENERGY OPPORTUNITIES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 
Resources held an oversight hearing on Renewable Energy Opportunities 
and Issues on Federal Lands: Review of Title II, Subtitle B-Geothermal 
Energy of EPAct; and other renewable programs and proposals for public 
resources. Testimony was heard from Jim Hughes, Director, Bureau of 
Land Management, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Insular Affairs held an 
oversight hearing on Current Economic, Social and Security Conditions 
of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Testimony was 
heard from Pedro A. Tenorio, Resident Representative, Commonwealth of 
the Northern Mariana Islands; David B. Cohen, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Insular Affairs, Department of the Interior; and Jeanette 
Franzel, Director, Financial Management and Assurance, GAO.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Natural Parks, Forests 
and Public Lands approved for full Committee action the following 
measures: H.R. 359, amended, Cesar Estrada Chavez Study Act; H.R. 713, 
amended, Niagara Falls National Heritage Area Act; H.R. 986, Eightmile 
Wild and Scenic River Act, H.R. 1080, Grand Teton National Park 
Extension Act of 2007; H.R. 1100, amended, Carl Sandburg Home National 
Historic Site Boundary Revision Act of 2007; and H. Con. Res. 116, 
Expressing the sense of Congress that the National Museum of Wildlife 
Art, located in Jackson, Wyoming, shall be designated as the ``National 
Museum of Wildlife Art of the United States.''

[[Page D532]]


MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power 
approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 487, 
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Equitable Compensation Amendments Act of 
2007; H.R. 1114, Alaska Water Resources Act of 2007; H.R. 1140, South 
Orange County Recycled Water Enhancement Act; H.R. 1337, 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; and H.R. 1662, to amend the Reclamation Safety of Dams 
Act of 1978 to authorize improvements for the security of dams and 
other facilities.
CONTRACTOR TAX ENFORCEMENT
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Government Management, Organization and Procurement held a hearing on 
the following measures: H.R. 1870, Contractor Tax Enforcement Act; and 
H.R. 1865, To amend title 31, United States Code, to allow certain 
local tax debt to be collected through the reduction of Federal tax 
funds. Testimony was heard from Paul A. Denett, Administrator, Office 
of Federal Procurement Policy, OMB; J. Russell George, Inspector 
General, Tax Administration, Department of the Treasury; Gregory D. 
Kutz, Managing Director, Forensic Audits and Special Investigations, 
GAO; and public witnesses.
NSF AUTHORIZATION
Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Research and 
Science approved for full Committee, as amended, H.R. 1867, National 
Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2007.
TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AND MANUFACTURING STIMULATION ACT OF 2007
Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Technology and 
Innovation approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 1868, 
Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Stimulation Act of 2007.
SMALL BUSINESSES' FEDERAL CONTRACTS
Committee on Small Business:, Held a hearing entitled ``Expanding Small 
Businesses' Access to Federal Contracts.'' Testimony was heard from 
Paul Hsu, Associate Administrator, Government Contracting and Business 
Development, SBA; and public witnesses.
HIGH-SPEED RAIL SYSTEMS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on 
Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials held a hearing on High-
Speed Rail Systems. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
AGRICULTURE'S IMPACT ON WATER QUALITY
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment held a hearing on Nonpoint Source Pollution: 
The Impact of Agriculture on Water Quality. Testimony was heard from 
Richard Coombe, Regional Assistant Chief, Natural Resources 
Conservation Service, USDA; Craig Hooks, Director, Office of Wetlands, 
Oceans and Watersheds, Office of Water, EPA; and public witnesses.
VETERANS EDUCATION/TRAINING PROGRAMS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 
held a hearing on State Approving Agencies. Testimony was heard from 
George Scott, Acting Director, Education, Workforce, and Income 
Security Issues, GAO; John McWilliam, Deputy Assistant Secretary, 
Veterans' Employment and Training Service, Department of Labor; Carol 
Griffiths, Chief, Accrediting Agency Evaluation Unit, Accreditation and 
State Liaison Staff, Department of Education; Keith M. Wilson, Director 
of Education Service, Department of Veterans Affairs.
SALISBURY VA MEDICAL CENTER INVESTIGATIONS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on Surgical Services at the W.G. (Bill) 
Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury, North Carolina. Testimony was 
heard from John D. Daigh, M.D., Assistant Inspector General, Healthcare 
Inspections, Office of the Inspector General; and the following 
officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs: Sidney Steinberg, 
M.D., Chief of Staff, W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center; and William 
F. Feeley, Deputy Under Secretary, Health, for Operations and 
Management.
ENERGY AND TAX POLICY
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures 
held a hearing on Energy and Tax Policy. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
NATIONAL CLANDESTINE SERVICE/HUMAN INTELLIGENCE
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Meet in executive session 
to hold a hearing on National Clandestine Service/Human Intelligence. 
Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses.