[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 9, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D649-D651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
IMPORTED FOOD/FEED INGREDIENTS SAFETY
Committee on Agriculture: Held a hearing to review the impact of 
imported contaminated food and feed ingredients and of recent food 
safety emergencies on food safety and animal health systems. Testimony 
was heard from Kenneth E. Petersen, Food Safety Inspection Service, 
USDA; and David Acheson, M.D., Assistant Commissioner, Food Protection, 
FDA, Department of Health and Human Services.
DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense met in executive 
session to hold a hearing on Guantanamo, Panel I. Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the Department of Defense: RADM Harry 
B. Harris, Jr., USN, Commander, Joint Task Force-Guantanamo; Daniel J. 
Dell'Orto, Principal Deputy General Counsel; and Joseph A. Benkert, 
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Global Security Affairs.
  The Subcommittee continued hearings on this subject, Panel II. 
Testimony was heard from COL Dwight Sullivan, USMCR, Chief Defense 
Counsel, Office of Military Commissions, Department of Defense; and 
public witnesses.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008
Committee on Armed Services: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 1585, 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008.
U.S. MEDICINE SUPPLY SAFETY
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Assessing the Safety of Our Nation's Drug Supply.'' 
Testimony was heard from Steven K. Galson, M.D., Director, Center for 
Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA, Department of Health and Human 
Services; Marcia Crosse, Director, Health Care Issues, GAO; and public 
witnesses.
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC-MILITARY SUPPORT FOR IRAQ
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on International 
Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight held a hearing on the 
Economic and Military Support for the U.S. Efforts in Iraq: The 
Coalition of the Willing, Then and Now. Testimony was heard from Joseph 
A. Christoff, Director, International Affairs and Trade Team, GAO; 
Kenneth Katzman, Specialist in Middle East Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 
Defense, and Trade Division, CRS, Library of Congress; and a public 
witness.

[[Page D650]]


FEDERAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE COORDINATION
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency 
Communications, Preparedness and Response held a hearing entitled 
``Assessing the Capabilities and Coordination of Federal Emergency 
Response Teams.'' Testimony was heard from Bob Powers, Acting Deputy 
Assistant Administrator, Disaster Operations Directorate, FEMA, 
Department of Homeland Security; and public witnesses.
IMMIGRATION REFORM
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, 
Refugees, Border Security, and International Law continued hearings on 
the U.S. Economy, U.S. Workers, and Immigration Reform. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT IMPLEMENTATION
Committee on Natural Resources: Held an oversight hearing on Endangered 
Species Act Implementation: Science or Politics? Testimony was heard 
from P. Lynn Scarlett, Deputy Secretary, Department of the Interior; 
John Young, former Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Government Management, Organization, and Procurement approved for full 
Committee action the following bills: H.R. 1870, amended, Contractor 
Tax Enforcement Act; 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 refunds; and H.R. 404, amended, Federal Customer Service 
Enhancement Act.
U.S. AID TO PAKISTAN
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National 
Security and Foreign Affairs held a hearing entitled ``Making the Grade 
on the 9/11 Commission Report Card: American Support of Pakistani 
Education Reform.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008
Committee on Rules: Granted, by vote of 8 to 3, a structured rule. The 
rule provides for 1 hour of general debate on H.R. 2081, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for intelligence and intelligence-
related activities of the United States Government, the Community 
Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and 
Disability System, and for other purposes, equally divided and 
controlled by the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Permanent 
Select Committee on Intelligence. The rule waives all points of order 
against consideration of the bill except those arising under clause 9 
of rule XXI. The rule XXI. The rule considers as an original bill for 
the purpose of further amendment the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute recommended by the Permanent Select Committee on 
Intelligence. The committee amendment shall be considered as read. The 
rule waives all points of order against the committee amendment except 
those arising under clause 8 of rule XXI. The rule makes in order those 
amendments printed in the report and waives all points of order against 
such amendments except those arising under clause 9 or 10 or rule XXI. 
The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. 
Finally, the rule permits the Chair, during consideration of the bill 
in the House, to postpone further consideration until a time designated 
by the Speaker. Testimony was heard from Chairman Reyes, 
Representatives Hastings of Florida, Holt, Thompson of California, 
Hoekstra, Wilson of New Mexico, and Rogers of Michigan.
TO PROVIDE FOR THE REDEPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AND 
DEFENSE CONTRACTORS FROM IRAQ--H.R. 2237

U.S. TROOP READINESS, VETERANS' CARE, KATRINA RECOVERY, AND IRAQ 
ACCOUNTABILITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007--H.R. 2206

AGRICULTURAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE AND WESTERN STATES EMERGENCY 
UNFINISHED BUSINESS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007--H.R. 2207
Committee on Rules: Granted by a vote of 8 to 3, a closed rule. The 
resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 2237, to provide for the 
Redeployment of United States Armed Forces and Defense Contractors from 
Iraq. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate in the House equally 
divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of 
the Committee on Appropriations. The rule waives all points of order 
against the bill and against its consideration and provides that the 
bill shall be considered as read. The rule contains one motion to 
recommit with or without instructions.
  The rule also provides for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2206), the 
U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq 
Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007. The rule provides one hour of 
general debate in the House equally divided and controlled by the 
chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
Appropriations. The

[[Page D651]]

rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill 
except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI. It provides that the amendment 
printed in Part A of this report shall be considered as adopted and 
that the bill, as amended, shall be considered as read. The Rule waives 
all points of order against the bill, as amended, and contains one 
motion to recommit on H.R. 2206 with or without instructions.
  The rule further provides for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2207), 
the Agricultural Disaster Assistance and Western States Emergency 
Unfinished Business Appropriations Act, 2007. The rule provides one 
hour of general debate in the House equally divided and controlled by 
the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
Appropriations. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of the bill except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI. It 
provides that the amendment printed in Part B of this report shall be 
considered as adopted and that the bill, as amended, shall be 
considered as read. The Rule waives all points of order against the 
bill, as amended, and contains one motion to recommit on H.R. 2207 with 
or without instructions.
  The rule also provides that in the engrossment of H.R. 2206, the 
Clerk shall await the disposition of H.R. 2237 and H.R. 2207 and shall 
add the respective texts of H.R. 2237 and H.R. 2207, as passed by the 
House, as new matter at the end of H.R. 2206 and shall make appropriate 
conforming changes. Finally the rule provides that during consideration 
of H.R. 2237, H.R. 2206 and H.R. 2207, notwithstanding the operation of 
the previous question, the Chair may postpone further consideration of 
any such bill to a time designated by the Speaker. Testimony was heard 
from Chairman Obey and Representative Kucinich.
RURAL BROADBAND SERVICES
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Rural and Urban 
Entrepreneurship held a hearing entitled ``Maximizing the Value of 
Broadband Services to Rural Communities.'' Testimony was heard from 
Jonathan Adelstein, Commissioner, FCC; and public witnesses.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL MODERNIZATION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation held a hearing on the Future of Air Traffic Control 
Modernization. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Transportation: Robert Sturgell, Deputy Administrator and 
Interim Chief Operating Officer, Air Traffic Organization, FAA; and 
Calvin L. Scovel III, Inspector General; Gerald Dillingham, Director, 
Physical Infrastructure Issues, GAO; and public witnesses.
GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR VETERANS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held a hearing on the Results of the 
Administration's Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes. 
Testimony was heard from R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs.
VA'S LONG-TERM CARE PROGRAMS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
to examine VA's Long-Term Care Programs. Testimony was heard from 
Patricia Vandenberg, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary, Health Policy 
and Planning, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs; and representatives of veterans organizations.
CURRENCY MANIPULATION IMPACTS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade and the Subcommittee 
on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection of the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce, and the Subcommittee on Domestic and International 
Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology of the Committee on Financial 
Services held a joint hearing on Currency Manipulation and Its Effect 
on U.S. Businesses and Workers. Testimony was heard from Mark Sobel, 
Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Monetary and Financial 
Policy, Department of the Treasury; Stephen Claeys, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations, Department 
of Commerce; Daniel Brinza, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, 
Monitoring and Enforcement; Donald L. Evans, former Secretary of 
Commerce; 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.
FOREIGN OIL--ECONOMICS OF DEPENDENCE
Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming: Held a 
hearing entitled ``Economics of Dependence on Foreign Oil--Rising 
Gasoline Prices.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.