[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 126 (Thursday, August 2, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1127-D1129]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MARINE CORPS NEXT OF KIN NOTIFICATION
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a 
hearing to follow up on the notification of family members of next of 
kin of deceased and wounded process for the Marine Corps. Testimony was 
heard from GEN Robert Magnus, USMC, Assistant Commandant, U.S. Marine 
Corps, Department of Defense.
HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA BUDGET EFFECTS
Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: 
What will be the long-term effect on the federal budget? Testimony was 
heard from Stanley Czerwinski, Director, Intergovernmental Affairs and 
Strategic Issues, GAO; Donald E. Powell, Federal Coordinator of Gulf 
Coast Rebuilding, Department of Homeland Security; and Reverend Donald 
Boutte, Pastor, St. John Baptist Church, New Orleans, Louisiana.
MERCURY EXPORT BAN ACT
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and 
Hazardous Materials approved for full Committee action, as amended, 
H.R. 1534, Mercury Export Ban Act of 2007.
U.S. AFRICA COMMAND
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health 
held a hearing on Africa Command: Opportunity for Enhanced Engagement 
or the Militarization of U.S.-Africa Relations.'' Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the Department of State: Michael E. 
Hess, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and 
Humanitarian Assistance, U.S. Agency for International Development; and 
Stephen D. Mull, Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Political-
Military Affairs; Theresa M. Whelan, Deputy Assistant Secretary, 
Africa, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense; and public 
witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION
Committee on House Administration: Subcommittee on Elections held an 
oversight hearing on the Election Assistance Commission. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the Election Assistance

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Commission: Donetta Davidson, Chair; and Rosemary Rodriguez, Vice 
Chair; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported the following bills: H. R 
2740, amended, MEJA Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007; H.R. 1119, 
amended, Purple Heart Family Equity Act of 2007; and H.R. 1071, 
September 11 Family Humanitarian Relief and Patriotism Act.
ENDANGERED SALMON PREDATION PREVENTION ACT
Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and 
Oceans, held a hearing on H.R. 1769, Endangered Salmon Predation 
Prevention Act. Testimony was heard from Representatives Baird and 
Hastings of Washington; Bob Lohn, Regional Administrator, National 
Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Region, NOAA, Department of 
Commerce; John E. Reynolds, III, Chairman, Marine Mammal Commission; 
Guy Norman, Regional Director, Department of Fish and Wildlife, State 
of Washington; Robin Brown, Marine Mammal Research Program Leader, 
Department of Fish and Wildlife, State of Oregon; and public witnesses
NATIONAL PARK CENTENNIAL MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks and 
Public Lands held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 3094, National 
Park Centennial Fund Act; and H.R. 2959, National Park Centennial 
Challenge Fund Act. Testimony was heard from Representatives Souder, 
Tiahrt and Baird; Mary A. Bomar, Director, National Park Service, 
Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Ordered reported the 
following measures: H.R. 312, amended, Civilian Service Recognition Act 
of 2007; H.R. 928, amended, Improving Government Accountability Act; H. 
Res. 554, Supporting the Goals and Ideals of National Passport Month; 
H.R. 3106, To designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 805 Main Street in Ferdinand, Indiana, as the 
``Staff Sergeant David L. Nord Post Office;'' H.R. 2778, To designate 
the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3 Quaker 
Ridge Road in New Rochelle, New York, as the ``Robert Merrill Postal 
Station;'' H.R. 1054, amended, District of Columbia Legislative 
Autonomy Act of 2007; and H. Res. 544, Expressing the sympathy and 
pledging the support of the House of Representatives and the people of 
the United States for the victims of the devastating thunderstorms that 
caused severe flooding in 20 counties in eastern Kansas beginning on 
June 26, 2007.
FEDERAL COMPENSATION--BENEFITS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federal 
Workforce, Postal Services, and the District of Columbia continued 
hearings on Federal Compensation, Part 2, Benefits. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives Tom Davis of Virginia; and Moran of Virginia; from 
the following officials of the OPM: Linda M. Springer; and Patrick 
McFarland, Inspector General; Gregory Long, Executive Director, Federal 
Retirement Thrift Investment Board; the following Specialists in Social 
Legislation, Domestic Social Policy Division, Congressional Research 
Service, Library of Congress: Hinda Chaikind and Patrick Purcell; and 
public witnesses.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``Disaster 
Planning and Recovery: Are We Ready for Another Katrina?'' Testimony 
was heard from Paul Schneider, Under Secretary, Management, Department 
of Homeland Security; Lurita Doan, Administrator, GSA; the following 
officials of the Department of Defense: James I. Finley, Deputy Under 
Secretary, Acquisition and Technology; and LTG Robert Van Antwerp, USA, 
Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Robert Henke, 
Assistant Secretary, Management, Department of Veterans Affairs; and 
Steven Preston, Administrator, SBA.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Ordered reported the 
following measures: H.R. 3246, amended, Regional Economic and 
Infrastructure Development Act of 2007; H.R. 3224, amended, Dam 
Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2007; H.R. 3247, amended, Hurricanes 
Katrina and Rita Recovery Facilitation Act of 2007; H.R. 409, To amend 
title 23, United States Code, to inspect highway tunnels; H.R. 2671, To 
designate the United States courthouse located at 301 North Miami 
Avenue, Miami, Florida, as the ``C. Clyde Atkins United States 
Courthouse;'' H.R. 2728, To designate the station of the United States 
Border Patrol located at 25762 Madison Avenue in Murrieta, California, 
as the ``Theodore L. Newton, Jr., and George F. Azrak Border Patrol 
Station;'' H. Res. 444, Supporting the goals and ideals of National 
Aviation Maintenance Technician Day, honoring the invaluable 
contributions of Charles Edward Taylor, regarded as the father of 
aviation maintenance, and recognizing the essential role of aviation 
maintenance technicians in ensuring the safety and security of civil 
and military aircraft; H. Res. 549, Recognizing the importance of 
America's Waterway Watch program; H. Res. 592,

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Supporting first responders in the United States in their efforts to 
prepare for and respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and 
other manmade disasters, and affirming the goals and ideals of National 
First Responder Appreciation Day; and H.R. 3311, To authorize funds for 
emergency repairs and reconstruction of the Interstate I-35 bridge 
located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that collapsed on August 1, 2007, to 
waive the $100,000,000 limitation on emergency relief funds for those 
emergency repairs and reconstruction.
COAST GUARD MARINE SAFETY PROGRAM
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing on Challenges Facing 
the Coast Guard's Marine Safety Program. Testimony was heard from ADM 
Thad Allen, USCG, Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland 
Security; and public witnesses.
CHINA TRADE SAFETY
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade held a hearing on 
Legislation Related to Trade with China. Testimony was heard from 
Senator Stabenow; Representatives Davis of Alabama; Hunter, Regula, 
Knollenberg, Visclosky, Stupak, Ryan of Ohio, Arcuri, and Braley of 
Iowa; David M. Spooner, Assistant Secretary, Import Administration, 
International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce; Mark Sobel, 
Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Monetary and Financial 
Policy, Department of the Treasury; Daniel Brinza, Assistant U.S. Trade 
Representative for Monitory and Enforcement; Daniel Baldwin, Assistant 
Commissioner, Office of International Trade, U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection, Department of Homeland Security; and public witnesses.
BRIEFING--INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY UPDATE ON IRAQ
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on Intelligence Community Update on Iraq. The 
Committee was briefed by departmental witnesses.
BRIEFING--CIA NEW COUNTER TERRORISM ACTIVITY
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Terrorism, 
Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence met in executive 
session to receive a briefing on CIA new Counter Terrorism Activity. 
The Subcommittee was briefed by departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings
MEDIA FREEDOM: OSCE
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded 
a hearing to examine freedom of the media in the Organization for 
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) region, after receiving 
testimony from Nina Ognianova, Committee to Protect Journalists, New 
York, New York; Paula Schriefer, Freedom House, Washington, DC; and 
Fatima Tlisova, Karachay-Cherkess Republic.