[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 176 (Wednesday, November 14, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1528-D1530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a 
hearing on Capitol Visitor Center. Testimony was heard from Stephen T. 
Ayers, Acting Architect of the Capitol; Bernard Ungar, Capitol Visitor 
Center Project Executive, Architect of the Capitol; Terrie S. Rouse, 
CEO for Visitor Services, Capitol Visitor Center; Chief Phillip D. 
Morse, Sr., Chief of Police, U.S. Capitol Police; and Terrell Dorn, 
Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, GAO.
AFRICA COMMAND
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on Africa Command. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Defense: Ryan Henry, Principal Under Secretary, Policy; and GEN William 
E. Ward, USA, Command U.S. Africa Command; and Ambassador Stephen Mull, 
Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, 
Department of State.
COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY AND AFFORDABILITY ACT OF 2007
Committee on Education and Labor: Began mark up of H.R. 4137, College 
Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007.
  Will continue tomorrow
MERIDA INITIATIVE
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Held a hearing on the Merida Initiative: 
Assessing Plans to Step Up our Security Cooperation with Mexico and 
Central America. Testimony was heard from the following officials of 
the Department of State: Thoms A. Shannon, Jr., Assistant Secretary, 
Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs; and David T. Johnson, Assistant 
Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement 
Affairs.
U.S.-GREECE RELATIONS AND REGIONAL ISSUES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Europe held a hearing on 
U.S.-Greece Relations and Regional Issues. Testimony was heard from R. 
Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary, Political Affairs, Department of 
State.
TSA SECURITY TEST TIP OFF
Committee on Homeland Security: Held a hearing entitled ``Cover Blown--
Did TSA Tip Off Airport Screeners about Covert Testing?'' Testimony was 
heard from Edmond S. Hawley, Assistant Secretary, Transportation 
Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security; Gregory Kutz, 
Managing Director, Office of Forensic Audits and Special 
Investigations, GAO; and a public witness.
ONLINE GAMBLING ENFORCEMENT POLICIES
Committee on the Judiciary: Held a hearing on Establishing Consistent 
Enforcement Policies in the Context of Online Wagers. Testimony was 
heard from Representatives Berkley and Goodlatte; Catherine Hanaway, 
U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Missouri, Department of Justice; 
Valerie Abend, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Critical Infrastructure 
Protection and Compliance, Department of the Treasury; and public 
witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Held a hearing on the following bills: 
H.R. 2445, To amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to 
recognize Alexander Creek as a Native village; H.R. 3350, Alaska Native 
Veterans Land Allotment Equity Act; H.R. 3351, Native American 
Challenge Demonstration Project Act of 2007; and H.R. 3560, Southeast 
Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization Act. Testimony was heard 
from Michael Nedd, Assistant Director, Minerals, Realty and Resource 
Protection, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior; 
Melissa Simpson, Deputy Under Secretary, Natural Resources and 
Environment, USDA; Ben

[[Page D1529]]

Erulkar, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Economic Development, Economic 
Development Administration, Department of Commerce; and public 
witnesses.
STATE DEPARTMENT INSPECTOR GENERAL
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Held a hearing on 
Assessing Whistle Blower Allegations Against the State Department 
Inspector General. Testimony was heard from Howard J. Krongard, 
Inspector General, Department of State.
MERCURY DENTAL FILLINGS ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Domestic 
Policy held a hearing on the Environmental Risks of and Regulatory 
Response to Dental Mercury Amalgam. Testimony was heard from Ephrain 
King, Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA; Norris Alderson, 
M.D., Director, Office of Science and Health Coordination, FDA, 
Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses.
MILITARY ACTION IN IRAN
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National 
Security and Foreign Affairs continued hearings on Iran: Reality, 
Options and Consequences, Part 3--Regional and Global Consequences of 
U.S. Military Action in Iran. Testimony was heard from COL Lawrence 
Wilkerson, USA (ret.), former Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to 
Secretary of State Colin Powell; COL Samuel B. Gardiner, USAF (ret.), 
former faculty member, National War College, the Naval War College, and 
the Air War College; Paul Pillar, former National Intelligence Officer, 
Near East and South Asia, 2000 to 2005 and Deputy Director, CIA 
Counterterrorism Center; LTG Paul K. Van Riper, USMC (ret.) former 
Commanding General of the U.S. Marine Corps Combat Development Command; 
and a public witness.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS MORTGAGE REFORM AND ANTI-PREDATORY LENDING ACT OF 
2007
Committee on Rules: Granted by a non-record vote, a structured rule 
providing one hour of general debate on H.R. 3915, Mortgage Reform and 
Anti-Predatory Lending 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 amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the 
Committee on Financial Services now printed in the bill 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 the 
amendment in the nature of a substitute except for clause 10 of rule 
XXI.
  The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in this report. 
The amendments made in order may be offered only in the order printed 
in this report, may be offered only by a Member designated in this 
report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time 
specified in this report equally divided and controlled by the 
proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment except as 
specified in this report, 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. 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 Frank and Representatives Maloney of 
New York, Watt, Miller of North Carolina and Pryce of Ohio.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS RESTORE ACT OF 2007
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 7 to 2, a closed rule 
providing for further consideration of H.R. 3773, the ``RESTORE Act of 
2007.'' The rule provides for further consideration of the bill 
pursuant to House Resolution 746.
  The rule provides that time for debate on the bill pursuant to House 
Resolution 746 shall be considered as expired. The bill, as amended, 
shall be debatable for one hour, with 30 minutes equally divided and 
controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee 
on the Judiciary and 30 minutes equally divided and controlled by the 
chairman and ranking minority member of the Permanent Select Committee 
on Intelligence. The rule provides that the further amendment printed 
in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this rule shall be 
considered as adopted. Testimony was heard from Chairman Conyers and 
Chairman Reyes and Representatives Smith of Texas and Hoekstra.
SMALL BUSINESS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REPORTING
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Urban and Rural 
Entrepreneurship held a hearing on Program Harmonization in Rural 
America--How the Small Business Administration and the Department of 
Agriculture Can Work Together to Better Serve

[[Page D1530]]

Small Businesses. Testimony was heard from William Shear, Director, 
Financial Markets and Community Investments, GAO; Leon Milobar, 
Nebraska Office, SBA; and public witnesses.
HEALTH CARE GAPS AND INCOME SECURITY
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Income Security and Family 
Support held a hearing on Effects of Gap in Health Coverage on Work, 
Family and Opportunity. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
BRIEFINGS--HOT SPOTS AND CYBER
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on Hot Spots. The Committee was briefed by 
departmental witnesses.
  The Committee also met in executive session to receive a briefing on 
Cyber. The Committee was briefed by departmental witnesses.
STATE LEADERSHIP TOWARDS LOW-CARBON ENERGY FUTURE
  Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Held a 
hearing entitled ``State Leadership Towards a Low-Carbon Energy 
Future.'' Testimony was heard from the ng Governors: Eliot Spitzer, 
New York and Janet Napolitano, Arizona.