[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 16, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D15-D16]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
IRAQ--POST SURGE ALTERNATIVES
Committee on Armed Services; Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on A Continuing Dialogue: Post-Surge 
Alternatives for Iraq. Testimony was heard from the following former 
officials of the Department of Defense: John J. Hume, Deputy Secretary; 
GEN John M. Keane, USA (Ret.), Vice Chief of Staff, Army; and GEN Barry 
McCaffrey, USA (Ret.)
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES--MEDICAID'S CRITICAL ROLE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Helping Families with Needed Care: Medicaid's Critical Role 
for Americans with Disabilities.'' Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
U.S.-PAKISTAN RELATIONS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East and South 
Asia held a hearing on U.S.-Pakistan Relations: Assassination, 
Instability and the Future of U.S. Policy. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
HOPE VI IMPROVEMENT AND REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2007
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a voice vote, a structured rule 
providing 1 hour of general debate on H.R. 3524, HOPE VI Improvement 
and 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

[[Page D16]]

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 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. 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. Finally, the rule tables 
H. Res. 894. Testimony was heard from Chairman Barney Frank of 
Massachusetts, and Representatives Waters, Capito and Neugebauer.
WOMEN'S PROCUREMENT PROGRAM--SBA'S PROGRESS
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``SBA's Progress 
in Implementing the Women's Procurement Program.'' Testimony was heard 
from Steven Preston, Administrator, SBA; Elizabeth Papez, Deputy 
Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel, Department of 
Justice; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; GSA CAPITOL INVESTMENT AND LEASING RESOLUTIONS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Ordered reported the 
following measures: H.R. 3913, To amend the International Center Act to 
authorize the lease or sublease of certain property described in such 
Act to an entity other than a foreign government or international 
organization if certain conditions are met; H.R. 4140. To designate the 
Port Angeles Federal Building in Port Angeles, Washington, as the 
``Richard B. Anderson Federal Building;'' H. Res. 832, Honoring the 
Texas Water Development Board on its selection as a recipient of the 
Environmental Protection Agency's 2007 Clean Water State Revolving and 
Innovation Award; H. Res. 845, amended, Recognizing the 60th 
anniversary of Everglades National Park; H.R. 866, Honoring the brave 
men and women of the United States Coast Guard whose tireless work, 
dedication, and commitment to protecting the United States have led to 
the Coast Guard seizing over 350,000 pounds of cocaine at sea during 
2007, far surpassing all of our previous records.
  The Committee also approved General Services Administration Capitol 
and Leasing Program Resolutions.
ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE BENEFICIARIES--SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security held a 
hearing on Social Security Benefits for Economically Vulnerable 
Beneficiaries. Testimony was heard from David A. Rust, Acting Deputy 
Commissioner, Disability and Income Security Programs, SSA; Laura R. 
Haltzel, Specialist In Social Legislation, CRS, Library of Congress; 
and public witnesses.
BRIEFING--HOT SPOTS
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on Hot Spots. The Committee was briefed by 
departmental witnesses.
CIA TAPES INVESTIGATION
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
hold a hearing on CIA Tapes Investigation. Testimony was heard from 
John Rizzo, Acting General Counsel, CIA.

Joint Meetings
RECESSION AVOIDANCE
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
potential efforts by the federal government to avoid a recession, after 
receiving testimony from Lawrence H. Summers, Harvard University, 
Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Lawrence Mishel, Economic Policy 
Institute, and William W. Beach, Heritage Foundation, both of 
Washington, D.C.