[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 7 (Thursday, January 17, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D21-D22]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
STATUS--DEVELOP IRAQI SECURITY FORCES
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on the Status of Efforts to 
Develop Iraqi Security Forces. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Defense: LTG James M. Dubik, USA, 
Commanding General, Multi-National Security Transition Command--Iraq in 
Baghdad; and Mark Kimmit, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Middle Eastern 
Affairs.
U.S. ECONOMY--NEAR-TERM OUTLOOK
Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on the Near-Term Outlook for 
the U.S. Economy. Testimony was heard from Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman, 
Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System.
UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE IN BALI--ADMINISTRATION PERSPECTIVES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Air 
Quality held a hearing entitled ``Administration Perspectives on United 
Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali.'' Testimony was heard from 
James L. Connaughton, Chairman, Council on Environmental Quality.
NATURALIZATION DELAYS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, 
Refugees, Border Security, and International Law held a hearing on 
Naturalization Delays: Causes, Consequences and Solutions. Testimony 
was heard from Emilio T. Gonzalez, Director, U.S. Citizenship and 
Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security; and public 
witnesses.
ASSESSING VETERANS' CHARITIES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Continued hearings on 
Assessing Veterans' Charities--Part II. Testimony was heard from 
Belinda J. Johns, Senior Assistant Attorney General, State of 
California; and public witnesses.

[[Page D22]]


OVERSIGHT--EXPORT-IMPORT BANK'S IMPLEMENTATION OF SMALL BUSINESS 
MANDATE
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``Oversight of the 
U.S. Export-Import Bank's Implementation of its Small Business 
Mandate.'' Testimony was heard from James H. Lambright, Chairman and 
President, Export-Import Bank; and public witnesses.
NATIONAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION POLICY AND REVENUE STUDY COMMISSION 
REPORT
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Held a hearing on the 
National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission 
Report: Transportation for Tomorrow. Testimony was heard from Frank 
Busalacchi, Secretary, Department of Transportation, State of 
Wisconsin; and public witnesses.
REVIEW PENDING MONTGOMERY GI BILL PROPOSALS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 
held a hearing to review pending Montgomery G.I. Bill legislation. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Defense: Thomas L. Bush, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Reserve 
Affairs; and Curtis L. Gilroy, Director, Accession Policy, Office of 
the Under Secretary, Personnel and Readiness; Keith M. Wilson, 
Director, Education Service, Veterans Benefit Administration, 
Department of Veterans Affairs; and representatives of veterans 
organizations.
VETERANS' HEALTH PROPOSALS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
on the following bills: H.R. 2790, To amend title 38, United States 
Code, to establish the position of Director of Physician Assistant 
Services within the office of the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
for Health; H.R. 3458, To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
carry out a pilot program on the provision of traumatic brain injury 
care in rural areas; H.R. 3819, Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act of 
2007; H.R. 4053, Mental Health Improvements Act of 2007; H.R. 4107, 
Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act; H.R. 4146, To amend title 
38, United States Code, to clarify the availability of emergency 
medical care for veterans in non-Department of Veteran Affairs medical 
facilities; H.R. 4204, Veterans Suicide Study Act; and H.R. 4231, Rural 
Veterans Health Care Access Act of 2007. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Hare, Herseth-Sandlin, Space, Capito, Honda, Boswell 
and Kagen; Gerald M. Cross, M.D., Principal Deputy Under Secretary, 
Health, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; 
and representatives of veterans organizations
BRIEFING--HOT SPOTS
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Terrorism, 
Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence met in executive 
session to receive a briefing on U.S. Hostages in Colombia. The 
Subcommittee was briefed by ADM James Stavridis, USN, Commander, U.S. 
South Command.
POLAR BEARS FUTURE
Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming: Held a 
hearing entitled ``On Thin Ice: the Future of the Polar Bear.'' 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
the Interior: H. Dale Hall, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 
Randall Luthi, Director, Minerals Management Service; and Steven 
Amstrup, Polar Bear Team Leader, U.S. Geological Survey; and public 
witnesses.