[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 20, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D866-D868]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on Organizing the Roles, 
Missions, and Requirements of the Department of Defense. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
WORK SAFETY MEASURES
Committee on Education and Labor: Ordered reported, as amended, the 
following bills: H.R. 980, Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation 
Act of 2007; and H.R. 2693, To direct the Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration to issue a standard regulating worker exposure to 
diacetyl.
ENERGY MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Air 
Quality approved for full Committee action the following issues related 
to energy legislation: as amended, promote energy efficiency; as 
amended, to facilitate the transition to a smart grid; re: Department 
of Energy EPAct Loan Guarantees; as amended, to promote renewable fuel 
infrastructure; as amended, to promote advanced battery and plug-in 
hybrid technologies; and, to enhance Energy Information Administration 
data collection.
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM
Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing to receive the annual 
testimony of the Secretary of the Treasury regarding the State of the 
International Financial System. Testimony was heard from Henry M. 
Paulson, Jr., Secretary of the Treasury.
WORLD REFUGEE DAY
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health 
held a hearing on World Refugee Day 2007. Testimony was heard from 
William E. Fitzgerald, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of 
Population, Refugees and Migration, Department of State; and public 
witnesses.
  The Subcommittee also held a briefing on this subject. The 
Subcommittee was briefed by Judy

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Cheng-Hopkins, Assistant High Commissioner, U.N. High Commissioner for 
Refugees.
EU TERRORIST LIST--HEZBOLLAH
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Europe held a hearing on 
Adding Hezbollah to the EU Terrorist List. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT'S CYBERSECURITY
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, 
Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology held a hearing entitled 
``Hacking the Homeland: Investigating Cybersecutiry Vulnerabilities at 
the Department of Homeland Security.'' Testimony was heard from Scott 
Charbo, Chief Information Officer, Department of Homeland Security; and 
the following officials of the GAO: Greg Wilshusen, Director, 
Information Security Issues; and Keith A. Rhodes, Chief Technologist, 
Director, Center for Technology and Engineering.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY--IMPROVED SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Management, 
Investigations and Oversight held a hearing on You Don't Know What You 
Don't Know: Has the Department of Homeland Security Improved its 
Ability to Maintain Situational Awareness Since Hurricane Katrina? 
Testimony was heard from Frank DiFalco, Director, National Operations 
Center, Office of Operations Coordination, Department of Homeland 
Security; Ellen Larence, Director, Homeland Security and Justice 
Issues, GAO; Darrell Darnell, Director, Homeland Security and Emergency 
Management Agency, District of Columbia; COL Terry J. Ebbert, USMC 
(ret.), Director, Office of Homeland Security and Public Safety, New 
Orleans, Louisiana; and James M. Walker, Jr., Director, Homeland 
Security, Department of Homeland Security, State of Alabama.
INSPECTORS GENERAL--INDEPENDENCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Government Management, Organization, and Procurement held a hearing on 
Inspectors General: Independence Accountability. Testimony was heard 
from Clay Johnson, Deputy Director, Management, OMB; Phyllis K. Fong, 
Inspector General, USDA; Christine C. Boesz, Inspector General, NSF; 
Jeffrey C. Steinhoff, Managing Director, Financial Management and 
Assurance, GAO; Vanessa Burrows, Legislative Attorney, CRS, Library of 
Congress; Eleanor J. Hill, former Inspector General, Department of 
Defense; Kenneth M. Mead, former Inspector General, Department of 
Transportation; and Nikki L. Tinsley, former Inspector General, EPA
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS FY 2008
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a voice vote, a structured rule 
providing for consideration of H.R. 2771, the Legislative Branch 
Appropriations Act of 2008. The rule provides for one hour of general 
debate 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 those arising under clauses 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The rule 
provides that the bill shall be considered as read. The rule waives all 
points of order against provisions in the bill for failure to comply 
with clause 2 of rule XXI.
  The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in the report 
and waives all points of order against such amendments except those 
arising under clauses 9 or 10 of Rule XXI. The amendments shall be 
considered as read. 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 Wassermann Schultz; Cardoza, Harman, Cleaver, 
Wamp, Kingston, Upton, Bilirakis and Jordan.
SMALL BIO-ENERGY BUSINESS WORKFORCE
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Contracting and Technology 
held a hearing on meeting the Workforce Demands of Small Bio-Energy 
Businesses. Testimony was heard from Senator Harkin; and public 
witnesses.
TRANSPORTATION ENERGY SECURITY AND CLIMATE MITIGATION ACT OF 2007
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Ordered reported, as 
amended, H.R. 2701, Transportation Energy Security and Climate Change 
Mitigation Act of 2007.
PRIORITY 8 VETERANS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held a hearing on Priority 8 Veterans. 
Testimony was heard from Michael J. Kussman, Under Secretary, Health, 
Veterans Health Administration; representatives of veterans 
organizations; and a public witness.

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RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY CONSERVATION TAX ACT OF 2007
Committee on Ways and Means: Ordered reported H.R. 2776, Renewable 
Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007.