[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 163 (Thursday, October 25, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1423-D1424]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
AGRICULTURE DISASTER CONDITIONS
Committee on Agriculture: Held a hearing to review agriculture disaster 
conditions across the nation. Testimony was heard from Representative 
Simpson; Brad Rippey, Staff Meteorlogist, Office of Chief Economist, 
USDA; Mike Easley, Governor of North Carolina; Ken Givens, 
Commissioner, Department of Agriculture, State of Tennessee; and public 
witnesses.
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION
Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on Surface Transportation: 
Investment Needs and the Budget. Testimony was heard from Mary E. 
Peters, Secretary of Transportation; Robert A. Sunshine, CBO; and 
public witnesses.
FAIR HOME HEALTH CARE ACT
Committee on Education and Labor: Subcommittee on Workforce Protections 
held a hearing on H.R. 3582, Fair Home Health Care Act. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.

[[Page D1424]]


TRANSPARENCY OF EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES
Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing entitled ``Transparency 
of Extractive Industries: High Stakes for Resource-Rich Countries, 
Citizens and International Business.'' Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
NORTH KOREA SIX PARTY PROCESS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and 
the Global Environment, and the Subcommittee on Terrorism, 
Nonproliferation, and Trade held a hearing on The Six Party Process: 
Progress and Perils in North Korea's Denuclearization. Testimony was 
heard from Christopher R. Hill, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East 
Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State.
U.S. SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO MEXICO
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere 
held a hearing on U.S. Security Assistance to Mexico. Testimony was 
heard from Jess T. Ford, Director, International Affairs and Trade 
Team, GAO; James R. Jones, former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and former 
Representative from Oklahoma; and public witnesses.
ARBITRATION FAIRNESS ACT OF 2007
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and 
Administrative Law held a hearing on H.R. 3010, Arbitration Fairness 
Act of 2007. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT PREVENTION
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and 
Homeland Security held a hearing on Organized Retail Theft Prevention: 
Fostering a Comprehensive Public-Private Response. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
IRAQ
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Held a hearing on Iraq. 
Testimony was heard from Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State.
HEALTH INSURER CONSOLIDATIONS
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on Health Insurer 
Consolidation, The Impact on Small Business. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
SAFETY OF AMERICA'S RAILROADS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Held a hearing on The 
Impact of Railroad Injury, Accident, and Discipline Policies on the 
Safety of America's Railroads. Testimony was heard from Joseph H. 
Boardman, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, Department of 
Transportation; and public witnesses.
VETERANS MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 
approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 513, 
amended, National Heroes Credit Protection Act; and H.R. 3882, To amend 
title 38, United States Code, to change the length of the obligated 
period of service on active duty required for receiving certain 
education benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
  The Subcommittee also held an oversight hearing on VETS DVOP/LVER 
Program. Testimony was heard from Charles Ciccolella, Assistant 
Secretary, Veterans' Employment and Training, Department of Labor; and 
public witnesses.
BRIEFINGS--MIDDLE EAST EVENTS; SIZE OF DNI
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on Recent Middle East Events. Testimony was heard 
from departmental witnesses.
  The Committee also met in executive session to receive a briefing on 
the Size of DNI. Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses.
VOTING IN THE HOUSE--RULES, PROCEDURES, PRECEDENTS, CUSTOM AND PRACTICE
Select Committee to Investigate the Voting Irregularities of August 2, 
2007: Held a hearing on Voting in the House of Representatives--Rules, 
Procedures, Precedents, Custom and Practice. Testimony was heard from 
Charlie Johnson, former Parliamentarian of the House of 
Representatives; and Mark O'Sullivan, Chief Tally Clerk of the House of 
Representatives.