[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 24, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D556-D559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
FEDERAL MILK MARKETING ORDERS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry 
held a hearing to review the Federal Milk Marketing Order rulemaking 
procedures. Testimony was heard from Lloyd Day, Administrator, 
Agricultural Marking Service, USDA; Kelly Krug, Director, Marketing 
Services, Department of Food and Agriculture, State of California; and 
public witnesses.
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND FEDERAL AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies continued appropriation hearings. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on 
Navy and Marine Corps Force Posture and Acquisition Overview. Testimony 
was heard from the following officials of the Department of Navy: 
Delores M. Etter; Assistant Secretary; VADM Jonathan W. Greenert, USN, 
Deputy Chief, Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities and 
Resources; and LTG Emerson Gardner, USMC, Deputy Commandant, Policy and 
Integration.
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on Woodrow Wilson Center/Kennedy 
Center. Testimony was heard from Lee H. Hamilton, Director, Woodrow 
Wilson Center; and Michael M. Kaiser, Director, Kennedy Center.
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a 
hearing on the Capitol Visitors Center. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Architect of the Capitol's Office: Stephen 
Ayers, Acting Architect; Douglas Jacobs, Project Executive, Capitol 
Visitors Center; and David Ferguson, Chief Administrative Officer; and 
Terrell Dorn, Director-Physical Infrastructure Issues, GAO.
ENSURING EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN
Committee on Education and Labor: Held a hearing on Strengthening the 
Middle Class: Ensuring Equal Pay for Women. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives DeLauro and Norton; and public witnesses.
OSHA STANDARDS/WORKPLACE HAZARDS
Committee on Education and Labor: Subcommittee on Workforce Protections 
held a hearing on Have OSHA Standards Kept Up With Workplace Hazards? 
Testimony was heard from Edwin Foulke, Assistant Secretary, OSHA, 
Department of Labor; and public witnesses.
ENERGY DEPARTMENT LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Air 
Quality held a hearing entitled ``Implementation of EPACT 2005 Loan 
Guarantee Programs by the Department of Energy.'' Testimony was heard 
from Dennis R. Spurgeon, Acting Under Secretary, Department of Energy; 
James C. Cosgrove, Acting Director, Natural Resources and Environment, 
GAO; and public witnesses.

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FDA FOOD SUPPLY SAFETY
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Diminished Capacity: Can the 
FDA Assure the Safety and Security of the Nation's Food Supply?'' 
Testimony was heard from Lisa Shames, Acting Director, Natural 
Resources and Environment, GAO; and public witnesses.
OVERSEAS DIGITAL BROADBAND LESSONS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunication and 
the Internet continued hearings entitled ``Digital Future of the United 
States: Part IV: Broadband Lessons from Abroad. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
TERRORISM RISK INSURANCE
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital Markets, 
Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises held a hearing entitled 
``Policy Options for Extending the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act.'' 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
AIDS RELIEF
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Held a hearing on PEPFAR: An Assessment 
of Progress and Challenges. Testimony was heard from Mark R. Dybul, 
U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Department of State.
U.S.-COLUMBIA RELATIONS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere held a 
hearing on U.S.-Columbia Relations. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Hastert; the following officials of the Department of 
State: Anne W. Patterson, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International 
Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs; and Charles Shapiro, Principal 
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs; Mark 
Schneider, former Director, Peace Corps; Robert Charles, former 
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law 
Enforcement Affairs, Department of State; and public witnesses.
AVIATION SECURITY--PILOT PROGRAM TO SCREEN AIRPORT WORKERS
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Transportation Security 
and Infrastructure Protection approved for full Committee action, as 
amended, H.R. 1413, To direct the Assistant Secretary of Homeland 
Security (Transportation Security Administration) to address 
vulnerabilities in aviation security by carrying out a pilot program to 
screen airport workers with access to secure and sterile areas of 
airports.
TULSA GREENWOOD RIOT ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights 
and Civil Liberties held a hearing on H.R. 1995, Tulsa Greenwood Race 
Riot Claims Accountability Act of 2007. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security approved for full Committee action H.R. 1592, Local 
Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Act of 2007.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 
1700, COPS Improvement Act of 2007; H.R. 916, John R. Justice 
Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act of 2007; and H.R. 933, Witness 
Security and Protection Act of 2007. Testimony was heard from Mark 
Epley, Senior Counsel, Office of the Deputy Attorney General, 
Department of Justice; Kamala D. Harris, District Attorney, City of San 
Francisco, California; and public witnesses.
EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION WORKSITE ENFORCEMENT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, 
Refugees, Border Security, and International Law held a hearing on 
Problems in the Current Employment Verification and Worksite 
Enforcement System. Testimony was heard from Jonathan R. Scharfen, 
Deputy Director, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, 
Department of Homeland Security; and public witnesses.
OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF RENEWABLE ENERGY
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and 
Oceans and the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a 
joint hearing on Renewable Energy Opportunities and Issues on the Outer 
Continental Shelf. Testimony was heard from Mike Olsen, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management, Department of the 
Interior; Ann F. Miles, Director, Division of Hydropower Licensing, 
Office of Energy Projects, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
Department of Energy; Tim Keeney, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Oceans 
and Atmosphere, NOAA, Department of Commerce; and public witnesses.
BATTLEFIELD MISINFORMATION INCIDENTS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Held a hearing on 
Misleading Information from the Battlefield. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the Department of Defense: Thomas F. Gimble, 
Acting Inspector General; BG Rodney

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Johnson, USA, Army Criminal Investigative Command; Specialist Bryan 
O'Neil, USA; Sr. Chief Stephen White, USN, Navy Seal and LTC John 
Robinson, USA, Director, Media Services Division, Soldiers Media 
Center; and public witnesses.
CENSUS 2010 PREPARATION
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Information Policy, Census and National Archives held a hearing on 
Preparations for the 2010 Census. Testimony was heard from Preston Jay 
Waite, Associate Director, Decennial Census, U.S. Census Bureau, 
Department of Commerce; Mathew J. Scire, Director, Strategic Issues, 
GAO; Joseph J. Salvo, Director, Population Division, Department of City 
Planning, New York City; and public witnesses.
SMALL BUSINESS LENDING IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2007
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a voice vote, a structured rule. The 
rule provides 1 hour of general debate on H.R. 1332, Small Business 
Lending Improvements Act of 2007, equally divided and controlled by the 
Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on Small 
Business. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of 
the bill except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI. The rule provides 
that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the 
Committee on Small Business now printed in the bill shall be considered 
as an original bill for the purpose of amendment and shall be 
considered as read. The rule waives all points of order against the 
committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in this report 
and provides that they may be offered only in the order printed in this 
report, may be offered only by a Member designated in this report, 
shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified 
in this report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an 
opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject 
to a demand for a division of the question in the House or in the 
Committee of the Whole. The rule waives all points of order against the 
amendments printed in the report except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule 
XXI. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions. Finally, the rule provides that, notwithstanding the 
operation of the previous question, the Chair may postpone further 
consideration of the bill to a time designated by the Speaker. 
Testimony was heard from Chairman Velazquez and Representatives 
Matheson, Chabot, and Boozman.
TO RESTORE THE PROHIBITION ON THE COMMERCIAL SALE AND SLAUGHTER OF WILD 
FREE-ROAMING HORSES AND BURROS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a voice vote, an open rule with a pre-
printing requirement. The rule provides one hour of general debate on 
H.R. 249, to restore the prohibition on the commercial sale and 
slaughter of wild free-roaming horses and burros, equally divided and 
controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee 
on Natural Resources.
  The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill 
except those arising under clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI. The rule 
provides that the bill shall be considered as read. The rule provides 
that notwithstanding clause 11 of rule XVIII, no amendment to the bill 
shall be in order except those printed in the portion of the 
Congressional Record designated for that purpose in clause 8 of rule 
XVIII and except pro forma amendments for the purpose of debate. Each 
amendment so printed may be offered only by the Member who caused it to 
be printed or his designee and shall be considered as read. The rule 
provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Finally 
the rule provides that, notwithstanding the operation of the previous 
question, the Chair may postpone further consideration of the bill to a 
time designated by the Speaker. Testimony was heard from Representative 
Rahall.
U.S. TROOP READINESS, VETERANS' CARE, KATRINA RECOVERY, AND IRAQ 
ACCOUNTABILITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a voice vote, a rule waiving all points 
of order against the conference report to accompany H.R. 1591, U.S. 
Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq 
Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007, making emergency supplemental 
appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for 
other purposes, and against its consideration. The rule provides that 
the conference report shall be considered as read. Testimony was heard 
from Chairman Obey and Representative Lewis of California.
REAUTHORIZE SBA PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES RELATING TO PROCUREMENT
Committee on Small Business: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 1873, 
To reauthorize the programs and activities of the Small Business 
Administration relating to procurement.
BUY AMERICA
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Highways and Transit held a hearing

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on Buy America. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Transportation: J. Richard Capka, Administrator, Federal 
Highway Administration; and James S. Simpson, Administrator, Federal 
Transit Administration; Randall Iwasaki, Chief Deputy Director, 
Department of Transportation, State of California; John B. Catoe, Jr., 
General Manager, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; and 
public witnesses.
VETERANS MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance 
and Memorial Affairs approved for full Committee action, as amended, 
H.R. 1660, to direct the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs to establish a 
national Cemetery for Veterans in the southern Colorado region.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on Helping Those Left Behind: 
Are We Doing Enough for the Parents, Spouses and Children of Veterans. 
Testimony was heard from Representatives Ellsworth and Latham; Jack 
McCoy, Associate Deputy Under Secretary, Policy and Program Management, 
Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; 
representatives of veterans' organizations; and public witnesses.
ENERGY AND TAX POLICY
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures 
held a hearing on Member proposals on Energy and Tax Policy. Testimony 
was heard from Representatives McDermott, Jefferson, Peterson of 
Minnesota, Pomeroy, Blumenauer, Berkley, Nunes, Doyle, Weldon of 
Florida, McGovern, Terry, Ferguson, Shimkus, Grijalva, Tim Murphy of 
Pennsylvania, Baird, Davis of Kentucky, and Inslee.
INTELLIGENCE MATTERS
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
hold a hearing on Intelligence Matters. Testimony was heard from 
departmental witnesses.