[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 111 (Thursday, July 12, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D968-D971]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
ENERGY-BASED DERIVATIVE TRADING
  Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities 
and Risk Management held a hearing to review trading of energy-based 
derivatives. Testimony was heard from Walter Lukken, Acting Chairman 
and Commissioner, CFTC; Orice M. Williams, Director, Financial 
Markets and Community Investment, GAO; and public witnesses.
SUPPLEMENTAL ENERGY AND WATER, AND RELATED AGENCIES, AND COMMERCE, 
JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FISCAL YEAR 2008
Committee on Appropriations: Ordered reported the following 
appropriations for fiscal year 2008: Supplemental Energy and Water 
Development, and Related Agencies; and, as amended, the Commerce, 
Justice, Science, and Related Agencies.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
approved for full Committee action the Agriculture, Rural Development, 
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for Fiscal Year 
2008.
DOD APPROPRIATIONS FISCAL YEAR 2008
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense met in executive 
session and approved for full Committee action the Defense 
Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2008.
MENTAL HEALTH
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a 
hearing on mental health. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Defense: S. Ward Casscells, M.D., 
Assistant Secretary, Health Affairs; VADM Donald C. Arthur, USN, Co-
Chair, Defense Health Board Task Force Mental Health, Surgeon General, 
Department of the Navy, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery; and a public 
witness.
ALTERNATIVES FOR IRAQ'S FUTURE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on A Third Way: Alternatives for Iraq's 
Future, (Part 1). Testimony was heard from GEN Wesley K. Clark, USA 
(ret.); and a public witness.

[[Page D969]]


DEFENSE INSTALLATION ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness held a hearing 
to receive testimony on emerging contaminants and environmental 
management at Department of Defense installations. Testimony was heard 
from Alex A. Beehler, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary, (Environment, 
Safety and Occupational Health), Department of Defense; and John B. 
Stephenson, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, GAO.
JUVENILE JUSTICE/DELINQUENCY PREVENTION
Committee on Education and Labor: Subcommittee on Healthy Families and 
Communities and the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland 
Security of the Committee on the Judiciary held, joint hearing on 
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act: Overview and 
Perspectives. Testimony was heard from Derrick Johnson, Vice-Chair, 
Juvenile Justice Commission, State of Arizona; David Freed. Cumberland 
County District Attorney, State of Pennsylvania; Paul Lawrence, 
Goffstown District Court, New Hampshire State Juvenile Justice Advisory 
Group; and public witnesses.
AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health 
held a hearing on Beyond Oil and Gas: African Growth and Opportunity 
Act's Benefits to Africa. Testimony was heard from Florizelle Liser, 
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, Africa; and public witnesses.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on International 
Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight held a hearing on Ideals vs. 
Reality in Human Rights and U.S. Foreign Policy: The Cases of 
Azerbaijan, Cuba, and Egypt. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
BORDER COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency 
Communications, Preparedness, and Response held a hearing entitled 
``Challenges Facing First Responders in Border Communities.'' Testimony 
was heard from Leesa Morrison, Director, Department of Homeland 
Security, State of Arizona; and public witnesses.
U.S. ATTORNEY INVESTIGATION; REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE SUBPOENA
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and 
Administrative Law held a hearing on the Continuing Investigation into 
the U.S. Attorneys Controversy and Related Matters. The Subcommittee 
adopted a motion to uphold the Chair's ruling regarding Harriet Miers' 
failure to appear and regarding her failure to answer questions and 
provide relevant documents as directed. The Chair ruled that Harriet 
Miers' refusal to comply with the subpoena and appear at this hearing, 
and to answer questions and provide relevant documents regarding these 
concerns, cannot be properly justified on executive privilege or 
related immunity grounds.
  The Subcommittee authorized the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee 
to issue a subpoena to the Republican National Committee, for e-mail 
documents the Committee has requested pertaining to its investigation 
into the recent termination of United States Attorneys and the related 
subjects.
DEA'S REGULATION OF MEDICINE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and 
Homeland Security held a hearing on the Drug Enforcement 
Administration's Regulation of Medicine. Testimony was heard from 
Joseph T. Rannazzisi, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of 
Diversion Control, DEA, Department of Justice; David Murray, Director, 
Counter Drug Technology, Office of National Drug Control Policy; and 
public witnesses.
NATIONAL OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE ACT
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and 
Oceans held a hearing on H.R. 2010, National Offshore Aquaculture Act. 
Testimony was heard from VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, USN (ret.), Under 
Secretary, Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator, NOAA, Department of 
Commerce; Sue Aspelund, Special Assistant to the Commissioner, 
Department of Fish and Game, State of Alaska; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests 
and Public Lands held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 105, 
Northern Neck National Heritage Area Study Act; H.R. 1083, To amend the 
Act establishing the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area in order to 
include Butler County, Pennsylvania, within the boundaries of that 
heritage area; H.R. 1145, Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area Act; 
H.R. 1297, Freedom's Way National Heritage Area Act; H.R. 1815, To 
extend the authorization for the Coastal Heritage Trail in the

[[Page D970]]

State of New Jersey; and H.R. 1885, Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage 
Area Act. Testimony was heard from Representatives Cramer, Olver, 
English of Pennsylvania and LoBiondo; Janet Snyder Matthews, Associate 
Director, Cultural Resources, National Park Service, Department of the 
Interior; and public witnesses.
FEDERAL MERIT-BASED EMPLOYMENT
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federal 
Workforce, Postal Services and the District of Columbia held a hearing 
on Ensuring a Merit-Based Employment System: An Examination of the 
Merit Systems Protection Board and the Office of Special Counsel. 
Testimony was heard from Scott J. Bloch, Special Counsel, Office of 
Special Counsel; Neil A. G. McPhie, Chairman, Merit Systems Protection 
Board; Morton Rosenberg, Senior Analyst, CRS, Library of Congress; and 
public witnesses.
PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN OUTLOOK
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National 
Security and Foreign Affairs held a hearing on Pakistan at the 
Crossroads; Afghanistan in the Balance. Testimony was heard from 
Richard A. Boucher, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central 
Asian Affairs, Department of State.
SBA'S MICROLOAN AND TRADE PROGRAMS
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing SBA's Microloan and Trade 
Programs. Testimony was heard from Michael Hager, Associate 
Administrator, Capital Access, SBA; and public witnesses.
TRANSPORTATION WORKER ID CARD SYSTEM
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing on Transportation 
Worker Identification Card System. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Homeland Security: RADM Brian 
Salerno, USCG, Assistant Commandant, Policy and Planning; and Maurine 
Fanguy, TWIC Program Manager, Transportation Security Administration; 
and public witnesses.
BEACHES ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND COASTAL HEALTH ACT REAUTHORIZATION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources held a hearing on Reauthorization of the Beaches 
Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives Pallone and Bilbray; Benjamin H. Grumbles, 
Assistant Administrator, Office of Water, EPA; Anu K. Mittal, Director, 
Natural Resources and Environment, GAO; Lisa Jackson, Commissioner, 
Department of Environmental Protection, State of New Jersey; Patrick 
Heaney, Town Supervisor, Southhampton, New York; and public witnesses.
VA PROCUREMENT
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 
held a hearing on Federal Procurement. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the SBA: William D. Elmore, Assistant 
Administrator; and Louis Celli, Jr., Chairman, Advisory Committee on 
Veterans' Business Affairs; Scott F. Denniston, Director, Center for 
Veterans' Enterprise, Department of Veterans Affairs; Paul A. Denett, 
Administrator, Office of Procurement Policy, OMB; Charles Cervantes, 
Special Assistant to the Director, Office of Small Business Programs, 
Department of Defense; representatives of veterans organizations; and 
public witnesses.
WOMEN AND MINORITY VETERANS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health and the 
Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs held a joint 
hearing on issues facing Women and Minority Veterans. Testimony was 
heard from Representative Wilson of New Mexico; the following officials 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs: Shirley A. Quarles, R.N., Chair, 
Advisory Committee on Women Veterans; COL. Reginald Malebranche, USA 
(ret.) Member, Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans; Maureen 
Murdoch, M.D., VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Betty Moseley 
Brown, Associate Director, Center for Women Veterans; and Lucretia 
McClenney, Director, Center for Minority Veterans; L. Tammy Duckworth, 
Director, Department of Veterans Affairs, State of Illinois; 
representatives of veterans organizations; and public witnesses.
AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Income Security and Family 
Support held a hearing on Children Who ``Age Out'' of the Foster Care 
System. Testimony was heard from Representative Cardoza; Cornelia 
Ashby, Director, Education, Workforce and Income Security, GAO; and 
public witnesses
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on 
Intelligence Community Management

[[Page D971]]

met in executive session to hold a hearing on Intelligence Community 
Management. Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses
NUCLEAR TERRORISM
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Terrorism, 
Human Intelligence Analysis and Counterterrorism met in executive 
session to hold a hearing on Nuclear Terrorism. Testimony was heard 
from departmental witnesses.
ENERGY INDEPENDENCE WITH 150 MPG VEHICLES
Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming: Held a 
hearing entitled ``Plugging into Energy Independence with 150 MPG 
Vehicles.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.