[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 144 (Wednesday, September 26, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1269-D1272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT REAUTHORIZATION
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and 
Risk Management held a hearing to review reauthorization of the 
Commodity Exchange Act. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
ARMY STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on Army Strategic 
initiatives. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of the Army:

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Pete Geren, Secretary; and GEN George Casey, USA, Chief of Staff.
FOOD AND DRUG SAFETY IMPROVEMENT ACT
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
on H.R. 3610, Food and Drug Safety Import Act. Testimony was heard from 
Randall L. Lutter, Deputy Commissioner for Policy, FDA, Department of 
Health and Human Services; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Ordered reported, as amended, the 
following bills: H.R. 3355, Homeowners' Defense Act of 2007; and H.R. 
3524, HOPE VI Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2007.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: The Chairman asked Unanimous Consent to 
request consideration of the following measures in the House under 
suspension of the rules, and there was no objection: S. 1612, 
International Emergency Economic Powers Enhancement Act; H. Res. 635, 
amended, Recognizing the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy 
month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commend Muslims in the 
United States and throughout the world for their faith; H. Con. Res. 
200, amended, Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the immediate 
and unconditional release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; H.R. 2003, amended, 
Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act; H.R. 2828, amended, to 
provide compensation to relatives of United States citizens who were 
killed as a result of the bombings of United States embassies in East 
Africa on August 7, 1998; H. Res. 624, amended, Congratulating the 
State of Israel on chairing a United Nations committee for the first 
time in history; H. Res. 651, amended, Recognizing the warm friendship 
and expanding strategic relationship between the United States and 
Brazil, commending Brazil on successfully reducing its dependence on 
oil by finding alternative ways to satisfy its energy needs, and 
recognizing the importance of the March 9, 2007, United States-Brazil 
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on biofuels cooperation; H. Res. 676, 
Declaring that it should continue to be the policy of the United 
States, consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, to make available to 
Taiwan such defense articles and services as may be necessary for 
Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability; H. Con. Res. 
203, amended, Condemning the persecution of labor rights advocates in 
Iran; H.R. 3432, amended, 200th Anniversary Commemoration Commission of 
the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade Act of 2007; and H. Res. 
405, as amended, Expressing the strong support of the House of 
Representatives for implementation of the July 8, 2006, United Nations-
brokered agreement between President of the Republic of Cyprus Tassos 
Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat relating to 
the reunification of Cyprus.
NATIONAL PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, 
Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology held a hearing entitled 
``Beyond the Checklist: Addressing Shortfalls in National Pandemic 
Influenza Preparedness.'' Testimony was heard from Bernice Steinhardt, 
Director, Strategic Issues, GAO; B. Tilman Jolly, M.D., Associate Chief 
Medical Officer for Medical Readiness, Office for Health Affairs, 
Department of Homeland Security; RADM W. Craig Vanderwagen, M.D., 
Assistant Secretary, Preparedness and Response, Department of Health 
and Human Services; L. Anthony Cirillo, M.D., Chief, Center for 
Emergency Preparedness and Response, Department of Health, State of 
Rhode Island; Peter A. Shult, Director, Communicable Diseases Division, 
Laboratory of Hygiene, State of Wisconsin; Michael C. Caldwell M.D., 
Commissioner, Duchess County Health Department, Poughkeepsie, New York; 
and David L. Lakey, M.D., Commissioner, Center for Consumer and 
External Affairs, Department of State Health Services, Texas.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee Natural Resources: Ordered reported, as amended, the 
following bills: H.R. 1483, To amend the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands 
Management Act of 1996 to extend the authorization for certain national 
heritage areas, and for other purposes; and H.R. 3058, Public Land 
Communities Transition Assistance Act of 2007.
MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS FEDERAL CONTRACTING
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Government Management, Organization, and Procurement held a hearing on 
Federal Contracting: Removing Hurdles from Minority-Owned Small 
Businesses. Testimony was heard from Calvin Jenkins, Deputy Associate 
Administrator, Office of Government Contracting and Business 
Development, SBA; Anthony Martoccio, Director, Office of Small Business 
Programs, Department of Defense; William B. Shear, Director, Office of 
Financial Markets and Community Investment, GAO; Preston Jay Waite, 
Deputy Director, Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce; and 
public witnesses.

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WALTER REED OVERSIGHT
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National 
Security and Foreign Affairs held a hearing entitled ``Third Walter 
Reed Oversight Hearing: Keeping the Nation's Promise to Our Wounded 
Soldiers.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of GAO: 
John Pendleton, Acting Director, Health Care; and Daniel Bertoni, 
Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security; MG Eric 
Schoomaker, USA, Commander, Walter Reed Army Medical Center; Michael L. 
Dominguez, Principal Deputy Under Secretary (Personnel and Readiness), 
Department of Defense; Patrick W. Dunne, Assistant Secretary, Policy 
and Planning, Department of Veterans Affairs.
FLOOD INSURANCE REFORM AND MODERNIZATION ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 8 to 3, a structured rule 
providing 1 hour of general debate on H.R. 3121, Flood Insurance Reform 
and Modernization 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 for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI. The rule provides 
that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the 
Committee on Financial Services, modified by the amendment printed in 
Part A of the Rules Committee report, shall be considered as adopted. 
The bill as amended shall be considered as an original bill for the 
purpose of amendment and shall be considered as read. The rule waives 
all points of order against provisions in the bill as amended.
  The rule makes in order only those further amendments printed in Part 
B of the Rules Committee report. The further amendments made in order 
may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered 
only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, 
shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided 
and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject 
to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the 
question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. All points of 
order against the further amendments except for clauses 9 and 10 of 
rule XXI are waived. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or 
without instructions. Finally, the rule provides that the Chair may 
postpone further consideration of the bill to a time designated by the 
Speaker. Testimony was heard from Chairman Frank and Representatives 
Waters, Cardoza, Castor, Arcuri, Taylor, Blumenauer, Biggert, Burton, 
Rohrabacher, and Miller of Michigan.
SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT EXPANSION ACT OF 2007
Committee on Rules: The Committee granted, by a voice vote, a 
structured rule providing 1 hour of general debate on H.R. 3567, Small 
Business Investment Expansion Act of 2007, equally divided and 
controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee 
on Small Business. 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. All points of order 
against provisions in the bill are waived.
  The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in the Rules 
Committee report. The amendments made in order may be offered only in 
the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member 
designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be 
debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and 
controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to 
amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for a division of the 
question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. All points of 
order against the amendments except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI 
are waived. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions. Finally the rule provides that, notwithstanding the 
operation of the previous question, the Chair may postpone further 
consideration of the bill to a time designated by the Speaker. 
Testimony was heard from Chairman Velazquez and Representative Chabot.
HEALTH IT INTEROPERABILITY/SECURITY
Committee on Science and Technology: Held a hearing on meeting the need 
for Interoperability and Information Security in Health IT. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
SMALL BUSINESS ENERGY TAX INCENTIVES
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Contracting and Technology 
held a hearing on Small Business Renewable Energy Tax Incentive 
Possibilities. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
AIRLINE DELAYS AND CONSUMER ISSUES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation held a hearing on Airline Delays and Consumer Issues. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Transportation: Robert A. Sturgell, Deputy Administrator and Interim 
Chief Operating Officer, Air Traffic Organization, FAA; D. J. Gribbin, 
General Counsel; and Calvin L. Scovel, III, Inspector General; and 
public witnesses.

[[Page D1272]]


FTA NEW STARTS/SMALL STARTS PROGRAM
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Highways and Transit held a hearing on Federal Transit Administration's 
Proposed Rule on the New Starts and Small Starts Programs. Testimony 
was heard from James S. Simpson, Administrator, Federal Transit 
Administration, Department of Transportation; and public witnesses.
VA IT REORGANIZATION
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held a hearing on VA IT Reorganization: 
How Far Has VA Come? Testimony was heard from the following officials 
of the GAO: Valerie Melvin, Director, Human Capital and Management 
Information Issues; and Gregory C. Wilshusen, Director, Information 
Security Issues; and the following officials of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs: Robert T. Howard, Assistant Secretary, Information 
and Technology; Arnaldo Claudio, Executive Director, Office of IT 
Oversight and Compliance; Paul Tibbits, M.D., Deputy Chief Information 
Officer for Development, Office of Information and Technology; and J. 
Ben Davoren, M.D., Director, Clinical Informatics, San Francisco VA 
Medical Center.
HOME MORTGAGE AID; MENTAL HEALTH COVERAGE
Committee on Ways and Means: Ordered reported, as amended, the 
following bills: H.R. 3648, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
to exclude discharges of indebtedness on principal residences from 
gross income, and for other purposes; and H.R. 1424, Paul Wellstone 
Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007.
FORGING A GLOBAL SOLUTION FOR GLOBAL WARMING: INTERNATIONAL 
PERSPECTIVES
Select Committee on Energy Independence: Held a briefing entitled 
``Forging A Global Warming: International Perspectives.'' The Committee 
was briefed by the following officials of the UN Special Envoy on 
Climate Change: Gro Harlem Brundtland; Ricardo Lagos; and Han Seung-
soo; and a public witness.