[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 130 (Wednesday, September 5, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1157-D1158]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
IRAQI GOVERNMENT'S RECORD OF PERFORMANCE
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on the Comptroller 
General's assessment of the Iraqi government's record of performance. 
Testimony was heard from David M. Walker, Comptroller General, GAO.
DOD'S ROLE IN PROVINCIAL RECONSTRUCTION TEAMS ROLE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on the role of the Department of Defense 
in provincial reconstruction teams. Testimony was heard from Ginger 
Cruz, Deputy Inspector General, Special Inspector General for Iraq 
Reconstruction; and public witnesses.
EMPLOYMENT NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT OF 2007
Committee on Education and Labor: Subcommittee on Health, Labor and 
Pensions held a hearing on H.R. 2015, Employment Non-Discrimination Act 
of 2007. Testimony was heard from Representatives Frank of 
Massachusetts, Baldwin, and Cleaver; and public witnesses.
CREDIT AND MORTGAGE MARKETS RECENT EVENTS
Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing entitled ``Recent 
Events in the Credit and Mortgage Markets and Possible Implications for 
U.S. Consumers and the Global Economy.'' Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of the Treasury: Robert K. Steel, 
Under Secretary, Domestic Finance; and John C. Dugan, Comptroller of 
the Currency; Sheila Bair, Chairman, FDIC; and Erik R. Sirri, Director, 
Division of Market Regulation, SEC.
IRAQI BENCHMARKS: AN OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Held a hearing on Iraqi Benchmarks: An 
Objective Assessment. Testimony was heard from David M. Walker, 
Comptroller General, GAO.
SECURITY GAPS--HOLDING DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY GAPS
Committee on Homeland Security: Held a hearing entitled ``Holding the 
Department of Homeland Security Accountable for Security Gaps.'' 
Testimony was heard from Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland 
Security.
TASK FORCE ON ANTITRUST AND COMPETITION POLICY; WARRANTLESS 
SURVEILLANCE; AND FISA
Committee on the Judiciary: Agreed to a resolution establishing a Task 
Force on Antitrust and Competition Policy.
  The Committee also held a hearing on Warrantless Surveillance and the 
Foreign Intelligence

[[Page D1158]]

Surveillance Act: The Role of Checks and Balances in Protecting 
Americans' Privacy Rights. Testimony was heard from former 
Representative Bob Barr of Georgia; and public witnesses.
NATIVE AMERICAN HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND SELF-DETERMINATION 
REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2007
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 11-1, an open rule with a 
preprinting requirement. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate on 
H.R. 2786, Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination 
Reauthorization Act of 2007, equally divided and controlled by the 
Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on Financial 
Services. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of 
the bill except clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI. The rule provides that 
the bill shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points of 
order against provisions of the bill.
  The rule provides that any amendment to the bill must be preprinted 
in the Congressional Record. Each amendment so printed may be offered 
only by the Member who caused it to be printed or his designee and 
shall be considered as read. The rule provides one motion to recommit 
with or without instructions. The rule provides that the Chair may 
postpone further consideration of the bill to a time designated by the 
Speaker. The rule tables H. Res. 595, H. Res. 596, H. Res. 613, and H. 
Res. 614. Testimony was heard from Chairman Frank and Representative 
Pearce.
VOTER CONFIDENCE AND INCREASED ACCESSIBILITY ACT OF 2007
Committee on Rules: Heard testimony from Chairman Brady and 
Representatives Lofgren, Holt, Ehlers, Conaway, and Fortuno, but action 
was deferred on H.R. 811, Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility 
Act of 2007.
LIQUID FUEL FROM COAL BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES
Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy and 
Environment held a hearing on the Benefits and Challenges of Producing 
Liquid Fuel from Coal: The Role for Federal Research. Testimony was 
heard from Richard D. Boardman, the Secure Energy Initiative Head, 
Idaho National Laboratory, Department of Energy; Joseph Romm, former 
Acting Assistant Secretary, Center for Energy and Climate Solutions, 
Department of Energy; and public witnesses.
STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT BRIDGES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Held a hearing on 
Structurally Deficient Bridges in the United States. Testimony was 
heard from Representative Ellison; the following officials of the 
Department of Transportation: Mary E. Peters, Secretary; and Calvin L. 
Scovel III, Inspector General; Mark V. Rosenker, Chairman, National 
Transportation Safety Board; from the following officials of the State 
of Minnesota: R.T. Rybak, Mayor, Minneapolis; and Robert J. McFarlin, 
Assistant to the Commissioner, Policy and Public Affairs, Department of 
Transportation; Kathleen Novak, Mayor, Northglenn, Colorado; Kirk T. 
Steudle, Director, Department of Transportation, State of Michigan; 
Malcolm T. Kerley, Chief Engineer, Department of Transportation, State 
of Virginia; and public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
COLLEGE COST REDUCTION ACT
Conferees agreed to file a conference report on the differences between 
the Senate and House passed versions of H.R. 2669, to provide for 
reconciliation pursuant to section 601 of the concurrent resolution on 
the budget for fiscal year 2008.