[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 12, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D810-D812]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 
APPROPRIATIONS FISCAL YEAR 2008; REVISED SUBALLOCATIONS OF BUDGET 
ALLOCATIONS FISCAL BUDGET FISCAL YEAR 2008
Committee on Appropriations: Ordered reported amended the following 
appropriations for fiscal year 2008: State, Foreign Operations, and 
Related Programs; and Legislative Branch.
  The Committee also approved Revised Suballocation of Budget 
Allocations, Fiscal Year 2008.
SECURITY FORCES
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on the development of the Iraqi Security 
Forces. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Defense: LTG Martin Dempsey, USA, Commander, Multi-
National Security Transition Command--Iraq; and Mark T. Kimmit, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs, Office of 
the Secretary.
SUPREME COURT'S EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION DECISION
Committee on Education and Labor: Held a hearing entitled ``Justice 
Denied? The Implications of the Supreme Court's Ledbetter v. Goodyear 
Employment Discrimination Decision.'' Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
HEALTH LEGISLATION
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
on Discussion Drafts concerning Prescription Drug User Fee Act 
Reauthorization, Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act 
Reauthorization, Drug Safety, and Certain Pediatric Pharmaceutical and 
Device legislation. Testimony was heard from Randall L. Lutter, 
Associate Commissioner, Policy and Planning, FDA, Department of Health 
and Human Services; and public witnesses.
CAMP LEJEUNE CONTAMINATED DRINKING WATER
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Poisoned Patriots: 
Contaminated Drinking Water at Camp Lejeune.'' Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the Department of Defense: MG Robert C. 
Dickerson, Jr., USMC, Commanding General, Camp Lejeune; and Pat 
Leonard, Director. Office of The Judge Advocate General, Claims, 
Investigations, Department of the Navy; Thomas Sinks, Deputy Director, 
National Center for Environmental Health/ATSDR, Agency for Toxic 
Substances and Disease Registry, Department of Health and Human 
Services; the following officials of the EPA: Peter J. Murtha, 
Director, Office of Criminal Enforcement, Forensics, and Training, 
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance; and Franklin Hill, 
Director, Superfund Division; Marcia G. Crosse, Director, Public Health 
and Military Health Care Issues, GAO; and public witnesses.
FLOOD INSURANCE REFORM AND MODERNIZATIONS ACT OF 2007
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Community 
Opportunity held a hearing on H.R. 1682, Flood Insurance Reform and 
Modernization Act of 2007. Testimony was heard from Edward L. Connor, 
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Insurance, FEMA, Department of Homeland 
Security; and public witnesses.
NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigation and the Subcommittee on Management, Investigations and 
Oversight of the Committee on Homeland Security held a joint hearing on 
National Flood Insurance Program: Issues Exposed by the 2005 
Hurricanes. Testimony was heard from Matt Jadacki, Deputy Inspector 
General, Disaster Assistance Oversight, Department of Homeland 
Security; and Orice M. Williams, Director, Financial Markets and 
Community Investment, GAO.
MANDATORY ARBITRATION AGREEMENTS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and 
Administrative Law held a hearing on the Mandatory Arbitration 
Agreements: Are They Fair For Consumers? Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
EMMETT TILL UNSOLVED CIVIL RIGHTS CRIME ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil 
Rights, and Civil Liberty Liberties and the Subcommittee on Crime, 
Terrorism, and Homeland Security held a joint hearing on H.R. 923, 
Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act. Testimony was heard from 
Grace Chung Becker, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Department of 
Justice; and public witnesses.
EMMETT TILL UNSOLVED CIVIL RIGHTS CRIME ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil 
Rights, and Civil Liberties approved for full Committee action, as 
amended, H.R. 923, Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act.

[[Page D811]]


BAIL BOND FAIRNESS ACT OF 2007
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security approved for full Committee action H.R. 2286, Bail 
Bond Fairness Act of 2007.
WATER RECYCLING MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power 
approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 31, 
Elisnore Valley Municipal Water District Wastewater and Recycled Water 
Facilities Act of 2007; H.R. 716, amended, Santa Rosa Urban Water Reuse 
Plan Act; H.R. 1462, Platte River Recovery Implementation Program and 
Pathfinder Modification Authorization Act; H.R. 1503, amended, Avra/
Black Wash Reclamation and Riparian Restoration Project; H.R. 1526, 
amended, Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program Authorization Act of 
2007; and H.R. 1725, Rancho California Water District Recycled Water 
Reclamation Facility Act of 2007.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Ordered reported the 
following measures: H.R. 2635, amended, Carbon-Neutral Government Act 
of 2007; H.R. 404, amended, Federal Customer Service Enhancement Act; 
H.R. 2127, To designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 408 West 6th Street in Chelsea, Oklahoma, as the 
``Clem Rogers McSpadden Post Office Building;'' H.R. 2309, To designate 
the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3916 Milgen 
Road in Columbus, Georgia, as the `` Frank G. Lumpkin, Jr. Post Office 
Building;'' S. 1352, To designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 127 East Locust Street in Fairbury, Illinois, 
as the ``Dr. Frances Townsend Post Office Building;'' H. Con. Res. 87, 
Supporting the goals and ideals of a world day of remembrance for road 
crash victims; H. Res. 361, Recognizing and Honoring Jack Valenti and 
expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives to his 
family on his death; H. Con. Res. 155, Recognizing the historical 
significance of Juneteenth Independence Day, and expressing the sense 
of Congress that history should be regarded as a means for 
understanding the past and more effectively facing the challenges of 
the future; H. Con. Res. 148, Recognizing the significance of National 
Caribbean-American Heritage Month; H. Res. 189, Expressing the sense of 
the House of Representatives that a ``Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans 
Day'' should be established; H. Res. 257, Supporting the goals and 
ideals of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month; H. Con. Res. 142, 
Expressing the sense of the Congress that there should be established a 
National Pet Week; H.R. 2570, to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 301 Boardwalk Drive in Fort Collins, 
Colorado, as the ``Dr. Karl E. Carson Post Office Building;'' and H.R. 
2563, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service 
located at 309 East Linn Street in Marshalltown, Iowa, as the ``Major 
Scott Nisley Post Office.''
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS 
FISCAL YEAR 2008
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a voice vote, an open rule. The rule 
provides 1 hour of general debate on H.R. 2641, making appropriations 
for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 2008, 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 clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI. The rule 
waives points of order against provisions in the bill for failure to 
comply with clause 2 of rule XXI.
  During consideration of the bill for amendment, the Chairman of the 
Committee of the Whole may accord priority recognition to Members who 
have preprinted their amendments in the Congressional Record. 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 of the bill to a time 
designated by the Speaker. Testimony was heard from Representatives 
Visclosky and Hobson.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS FISCAL YEAR 2008
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a voice vote, an open rule providing 
for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2642) making appropriations for 
military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related 
agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008. The rule 
provides for 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by 
the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
Appropriations.
  The bill shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points of 
order against consideration of the bill except those arising under 
clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The rule waives points of order against 
provisions in the bill for failure to comply with clause 2 of rule XXI. 
During consideration of the bill for amendment, the Chairman of the 
Committee of the Whole may accord priority in recognition on the basis 
of whether the Member offering an amendment

[[Page D812]]

has caused it to be printed in the Congressional Record. 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 to a time designated by the 
Speaker. Testimony was heard from Representatives Farr and Wicker.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GLOBALIZATION
Committee on Science and Technology: Held a hearing on the 
Globalization of R&D and Innovation. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
DUPONT AEROSPACE DP-2 AIRCRAFT
Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Investigations and 
Oversight held a hearing on the duPont Aerospace DP-2 Aircraft. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Defense: John Kinzer, DP-2 Program Manager, Office of Naval Research, 
Department of the Navy; and LTC Michael Tremper, USAF, Defense Contract 
Management Agency; and public witnesses.
COAST GUARD DEEPWATER PROGRAM UPDATE
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing on Deepwater: 120-Day 
Update. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Homeland Security: ADM Thad W. Allen, USCG, Commandant, 
U.S. Coast Guard; and Richard L. Skinner, Inspector General.
AMTRAK STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials held a hearing on Amtrak 
Strategic Initiatives. Testimony was heard from the following officials 
of AMTRAK: David Laney, Chairman, Board of Directors; and Alexander 
Kummant, President and CEO.
VA SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE BONUSES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on the process of awarding SES bonuses at 
the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Testimony was heard from 
Christopher Mihm, Managing Director, Strategic Management Team, GAO; 
Gordon Mansfield, Deputy Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs; and 
a public witness.
HEALTH CARE SERVICES EFFECTIVENESS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on 
Strategies to Increase Information on Comparative Clinical 
Effectiveness. Testimony was heard from Representative Allen; Carolyn 
M. Clancy, M..D., Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 
Department of Health and Human Services; Peter R. Orszag, Director, 
CBO; Mark Miller, Executive Director, Medicare Payment Advisory 
Commission; and public witnesses.
BRIEFING--ICM
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on 
Intelligence Community Management met in executive session to receive a 
briefing on ICM. The Subcommittee was briefed by departmental 
witnesses.
CHEMICAL/BIOLOGICAL TERRORISM: OVERSEAS THREATS
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Terrorism, 
Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence met in executive 
session to hold a hearing on Chemical/Biological Terrorism: Overseas 
Threats. Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses.