[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 26, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D907-D910]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
DOD MANAGEMENT
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on structure, process and 
tools for improving Department of Defense Management. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: Gordon 
R. England, Deputy Secretary; Jack D. Patterson, Principal Deputy Under 
Secretary, Comptroller; and Paul A. Brinkley, Deputy Under Secretary, 
Business Transportation.
WALTER REED PROGRESS REVIEWS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a 
hearing on findings of the Independent Review Group and an in-progress 
review of actions at Walter Reed. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Independent Review Group: John O. Marsh, Co-
Chair and former Secretary of the Army; and Togo D. West, Jr., former 
Secretary of the Army and former Secretary of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs; the following officials of the Department of the 
Army: GEN Richard A. Cody, USA, Vice Chief of Staff; MG Gale S. 
Pollock, USA, Acting Surgeon General; MG Eric B. Schoomaker, USA, 
Commander and BG Michael S. Tucker, USA, Deputy Commanding General, 
both with the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command and Walter Reed 
Army Medical Center; and COL Terrence McKenrick, USA, Commander, 
Warrior Transition Brigade, Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
EXPEDITIONARY FIGHTING VEHICLE PROGRAM
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary 
Forces held a hearing on the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle Program. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Defense: Roger Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 
Expeditionary Warfare; LTG Emerson Gardner, USMC, Deputy Commander, 
Marine Corps, Program and Resources; David Ahern, Director, Portfolio 
Systems Acquisition, Office of the Under Secretary, Acquisition, 
Technology, and Logistics; and COL. William Taylor, USMC, Program 
Executive Officer, Marine Corps Land Systems.
U.S. DEBT--FOREIGN HOLDINGS
Committee on the Budget: Hearing on Foreign Holdings of U.S. Debt: Is 
Our Economy Vulnerable? Testimony was heard from Peter Orszag, 
Director, CBO; and public witnesses.
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PREDATORY SALES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Predatory Sales Practices in 
Medicare Advantage.'' Testimony was heard from Abby Block, Director, 
Center for Beneficiary Choices, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services, Department of Health and Human Services; Kathleen Healey, 
Director, Health Insurance Assistance Program, Department of Senior 
Services, State of Alabama; Jim Poolman, Commissioner, Department of 
Insurance, State of North Dakota; Kim Holland, Commissioner, Department 
of Insurance, State of Oklahoma; Lee Harrell, Deputy Commissioner, 
Department of Insurance, State of Mississippi; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Ordered reported the following 
measures: H.R. 2547, FDIC Enforcement Enhancement Act; H. Con. Res. 
140, as amended, Recognizing the low presence of minorities in the 
Financial services industry and minorities and women in upper level 
positions of management, and expressing the sense of the Congress that 
active measures should be taken to increase the demographic diversity 
of the financial services industry; and H.R. 2786, Native American 
Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2007.
SEC INVESTOR PROTECTION/MARKET OVERSIGHT
Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing entitled ``A Review of 
Investor Protection and Market Oversight With the Five Commissioners of 
the Securities and Exchange Commission.'' Testimony was heard from the 
following members of the SEC: Christopher Cox, Chairman; Paul S. 
Atkins; Roel C. Campos; Annette L. Nazareth; and Kathleen L. Casey, all 
Commissioners.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Ordered reported the following measures: 
H.R. 176, amended, Shirley A. Chisholm United States-Caribbean 
Educational Exchange Act of 2007; H.R. 1400, amended, Iran Counter-
Proliferation Act of 2007; H.R. 2844, Food Security and Agricultural 
Development Act of 2007; H. Res. 121, amended, Expressing the sense of 
the House of Representatives that the Government of Japan should 
formally acknowledge, apologize, and

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accept historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner for 
its Imperial Armed Force's coercion of young women into sexual slavery, 
known to the world as ``comfort women,'' during its colonial and 
wartime occupation of Asia and the Pacific Islands from the 1930s 
through the duration of World War II; H.R. 2843, Library of Congress 
Public Diplomacy Collection Act of 2007; and H.R. 2798, amended, To 
reauthorize the programs of the Overseas Private Investment 
Corporation.
  The Committee favorably considered the following measures and adopted 
a motion urging the Chairman to request that they be considered on the 
Suspension Calendar: H.R. 2293, amended, To require the Secretary of 
State to submit to Congress a report on efforts to bring to justice the 
Palestinian terrorists who killed John Branchizio, Mark Parson, and 
John Marin Linde; S. 377, U.S.-Poland Parliamentary Youth Exchange Act 
of 2007; H. Res. 208, amended, Honoring Operation Smile in the 25th 
anniversary year of its founding; H. Res. 287, amended, To celebrate 
the 500th anniversary of the first use of the name ``America''; H. Res. 
294, amended, Commending the Kingdom of Lesotho, on the occasion of 
International Women's Day, for the enactment of a law to improve the 
status of married women and ensure the access of married women to 
property rights; H. Res. 378, amended, Honoring World Red Cross Red 
Crescent Day; H. Res. 380, Commending Idaho on winning the bid to host 
the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Game; H. Res. 426, amended, 
Recognizing 2007 as the Year of the Rights of Internally Displaced 
Persons in Colombia, and offering support for efforts to ensure that 
the internally displaced people of Colombia receive the assistance and 
protection they need to rebuild their lives successfully; H. Res. 427, 
Urging the Government of Canada to end the commercial seal hunt; H. 
Res. 467, amended, Condemning the decision by the University and 
College Union of the United Kingdom to support a boycott of Israeli 
academia; H. Res. 482, Expressing support for the new power-sharing 
government in Northern Ireland; H. Res. 497, Expressing the sense of 
the House of Representatives that the Government of the People's 
Republic of China should immediately release from custody the children 
of Rebiya Kadeer and Canadian citizen Huseyin Celil and should refrain 
from further engaging in acts of cultural, linguistic, and religious 
suppression directed against the Uyghur people; H. Res. 500, amended, 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives in opposition to 
efforts by major natural gas exporting countries to establish a cartel 
or other mechanism to manipulate the supply of natural gas to the world 
market for the purpose of setting an arbitrary and nonmarket price or 
as an instrument of political pressure; and H. Con. Res. 136, amended, 
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding high level visits to the 
United States by democratically-elected officials of Taiwan; and H. 
Con. Res. 139, amended, Expressing the sense of the Congress that the 
United States should address the ongoing problem of untouchability in 
India.
VIOLENCE IN CENTRAL AMERICA
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere held a 
hearing on Violence in Central America. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
  The Subcommittee also held a briefing on this subject. The 
Subcommittee was briefed by Ambassador Jose Guillermo Castillo 
Villacorta, Ambassador of Guatemala; and Roberto Flores Bermudez, 
Ambassador of Honduras.
NFL RETIREMENT SYSTEM
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and 
Administrative Law held a hearing on the National Football League's 
System for Compensating Retired Players: An Uneven Playing Field? 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--GUANTANAMO BAY DETAINEE LEGAL RIGHTS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil 
Rights and Civil Liberties held an oversight hearing on Habeas Corpus 
and Detention at Guantanamo Bay. Testimony was heard from Gregory 
Katrsas, Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General, Department of 
Justice; LCDR Charlie Swift, USN, Judge Advocate General Corps, Office 
of Military Commissions, Department of Defense; and public witnesses.
MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCING LAWS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and 
Homeland Security held a hearing on Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Laws--
the Issues. Testimony was heard from Paul G. Cassell, Judge, Judicial 
Conference of the United States; Ricardo H. Hinojosa, Chair, U.S. 
Sentencing Commission; Richard B. Roper, III, U.S. Attorney, Northern 
District of Texas, Dallas, and public witnesses.
POLLINATORS AND HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and 
Oceans held a hearing on The Bird and The Bees: How Pollinators Help 
Maintain Healthy Ecosystems. Testimony was heard from Representatives 
Hastings of Florida and Blumenauer; Mamie Parker, Assistant Director, 
Fisheries and

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Habitat Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Department of the 
Interior; Kevin J. Hackett, National Program Leader for Bees and 
Pollinators, Agricultural Research Service, USDA; and public witnesses.
NEW ORLEANS--LABOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Domestic 
Policy held a hearing on Adequacy of Labor Law Enforcement in New 
Orleans. Testimony was heard from Paul DeCamp, Administrator, Wage and 
Hour Division, Employment Standards Administration, Department of 
Labor; and public witnesses.
2010 CENSUS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Information Policy, Census, and National Archives held a hearing on 
2010 Census: Improving Local Government Participation in LUCA. 
Testimony was heard from Charles Louis Kincannon, Director, U.S. Census 
Bureau, Economics and Statistics Administration, Department of 
Commerce; Mathew J. Scire, Director, Strategic Issues, GAO; and public 
witnesses.
FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS FISCAL YEAR 
2008
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a voice vote, an open rule providing 
for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2829) making appropriations for 
financial services and general government for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2008, and for other purposes. 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 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 printed 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 H.R. 2829 
in the House, to postpone further consideration of the bill to a time 
designated by the Speaker testimony was heard from Representatives 
Serrano and Regula.
FEDERAL AGENCY SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS
Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Technology and 
Innovation held a hearing on SBIR and STTR--How Are the Programs 
Managed Today? Testimony was heard from Michael Caccuitto, SBIR/STTR 
Program Administrator, Office of Small Business Programs, Department of 
Defense; Jo Anne Goodnight, SBIR/STTR Program Coordinator, Office of 
Extramural Research, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services; 
Larry James, SBIR/STTR Program Manager, Department of Energy; Douglas 
A. Comstock, Director, Innovative Partnerships Program Office, NASA; 
and Kesh S. Narayanan, Director, Division of Industrial Innovation and 
Partnerships, Directorate for Engineering, NSF.
INTEGRATED DEEPWATER PROGRAM ACT; COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation approved for full Committee action, 
as amended, the following bills: H.R. 2722, Integrated Deepwater Reform 
Act; and H.R. 2830, Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007.
INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL BENEFITS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials held a hearing on Benefits 
of Intercity Passenger Rail. Testimony was heard from Lieutenant 
Governor John Bohlinger, State of Montana; former Governor Mark 
Schweiker, State of Pennsylvania; Elaine Nekritz, Representative, State 
of Illinois; Velma H. Williams, Commissioner, City of Sanford, Florida; 
Robert N. Jackman, member, Senate, State of Indiana; Frank J. 
Busalacchi, Secretary, Department of Transportation, State of 
Wisconsin; Astrid C. Glynn, Commissioner, Department of Transportation, 
State of New York; Will Kempton, Director, Department of 
Transportation, State of California; and public witnesses.
KIDNEY PATIENT ANEMIA MANAGEMENT CARE
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on 
Safe and Sensible: Ensuring Kidney Patients Receive Safe and 
Appropriate Anemia Management Care. Testimony was heard from Delegate 
Donna M. Christensen, M.D., Virgin Islands; the following officials of 
the Department of Health and Human Services: Leslie V. Norwalk, Acting 
Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Robert A. 
Vito, Regional Inspector General, Office of Evaluation and Inspections; 
and John K. Jenkins, M.D., Director, Office of New

[[Page D910]]

Drugs, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA; and public 
witnesses.
BRIEFING--DOD INSPECTOR GENERAL
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Oversight 
and Investigations met in executive session to receive a briefing on 
the Director of National Intelligence, Inspector General. The 
Subcommittee was briefed by departmental witnesses.
TECHNICAL PROGRAMS
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Technical 
and Tactical met in executive session to hold a hearing on Technical 
Programs. Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses.