[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 13, 2008)] [Daily Digest] [Pages D136-D139] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] Committee Meetings AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a hearing on USDA Secretary. Testimony was heard from Edward Schafer, Secretary of Agriculture. DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on DOD Budget Overview. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: Gordon England, Deputy Secretary; ADM Michael Mullen, USN, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Tina Jonas, Under Secretary, Comptroller. The Subcommittee also had a hearing on United States Marine Corps Readiness. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: LTG James F. Amos, USMC, Deputy Commandant, Combat and Integration; and LTG John G. Castellaw, USMC, Commandant, Aviation. HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a hearing on Management Challenges--Inspector General and GAO. Testimony was heard from David M. Walker, Comptroller General, GAO; and Richard L. Skinner, Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security. INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies held a hearing on U.S. Forest Service. Testimony was heard from Abigail R. Kimbell, Chief, Forest Service, USDA. LABOR, HHS, EDUCATION, APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Implications of Economic Trends for Workers, Families, and the Nation. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a hearing on Architect of the Capitol. Testimony was heard from Stephen Ayers, Acting Architect of the Capitol. TRANSPORTATION, HUD, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Request. Testimony was heard from Alphonso R. Jackson, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. GLOBAL SECURITY ASSESSMENT Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on Global Security Assessment. Testimony was heard from [[Page D137]] Thomas Fingar, Deputy Director, National Intelligence for Analysis, Office of the Director of National Intelligence; Robert Cardillo, Deputy Director, Analysis, Defense Intelligence Agency, Department of Defense; and John A. Kringen, Director, Intelligence, CIA. GLOBAL SECURITY CLEARANCE PROCESSES Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness held a hearing on Readiness at Risk: Department of Defense Security Clearance Processes. Testimony was heard from Greg Torres, Director, Security, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary, Counterintelligence and Security, Department of Defense; Jack Edwards, Director, Defense Capabilities and Management Team, GAO; Kathy Dillaman, Associate Director, Federal Investigative Services Division, OPM; and a public witness. TREASURY BUDGET FISCAL YEAR 2009 Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on Treasury Department Fiscal Year 2009 Budget. Testimony was heard from Henry M. Paulson, Jr., Secretary of the Treasury. MODERN PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES INVESTMENT Committee on Education and Labor: Held a hearing on Modern Public School Facilities: Investing in the Future. Testimony was heard from Representatives Boustany, Castle, Chandler, Etheridge, Holt, Hooley, King of Iowa, and Loebsack; Kathleen J. Moore, Director, School Facilities Planning Division, Department of Education, State of California; Paul Vallas, Superintendent, Recovery School District, New Orleans, Louisiana; and public witnesses. DIESEL EMISSIONS REDUCTION PROJECTS Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality approved for full Committee action H.R. 3754, To authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to accept, as part of a settlement, diesel emission reduction Supplemental Environmental Projects, and for other purposes. Prior to this action, the Subcommittee held a hearing on H.R. 3754. Testimony was heard from Representative Costa; and public witnesses. DIESEL TELEVISION TRANSITION Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet held a hearing entitled ``Status of the DTV Transition: 370 Days and Counting.'' Testimony was heard from Kevin J. Martin, Chairman, FCC; Meredith Baker, Acting Assistant Secretary, Communications and Information, Department of Commerce; and public witnesses. COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing entitled ``The Community Reinvestment Act: Thirty Years of Accomplishments, but Challenges Remain.'' Testimony was heard from Sandra F. Braunstein, Director, Division of Consumer and Community Affairs, Federal Reserve System; Sandra L. Thompson, Director, Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection, FDIC; the following officials of the Department of the Treasury: Ann Jaedicke, Deputy Comptroller, Compliance Policy, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency; and Montrice Godard Yakimov, Managing Director, Compliance and Consumer Protection, Office of Thrift Supervision; Howard F. Pitkin, Commissioner, Department of Banking, State of Connecticut; and public witnesses. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS BUDGET FISCAL YEAR 2009 Committee on Foreign Affairs: Held a hearing on International Relations Budget for Fiscal Year 2009. Testimony was heard from Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State. HOMELAND SECURITY BUDGET FISCAL YEAR 2009 Committee on Homeland Security: Held a hearing entitled ``The President's FY 2009 Budget Request for the Department of Homeland Security.'' Testimony was heard from Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security. ICE INTERROGATION, DETENTION, REMOVAL ISSUES Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law held a hearing on Problems with ICE Interrogation, Detention and Removal Procedures. Testimony was heard from Gary Mead, Assistant Director, Detention and Removal, U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Department of Homeland Security; and public witnesses. The Subcommittee also considered a private immigration bill. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Natural Resources: Ordered reported, as amended, the following bills: H.R. 2176, To provide for and approve the settlement of certain land claims of the Bay Mills Indian Community; H.R. 4115, To provide for and approve the settlement of certain land claims of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians; H.R. 1143, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to lease certain lands in Virgin Islands National Park, and for other purposes; H.R. 1311, Nevada Cancer Institute Expansion Act; H.R. 1922, Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural [[Page D138]] Area Act of 2007; H.R. 816, Orchard Detention Basin Flood Control Act; and H. R 3473, Bountiful City Land Consolidation Act. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 1187, amended, Gulf of Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Boundary Modification and Protection Act; H.R. 1907, amended, Coastal and Estuarine Land Protection Act; H.R. 2342, amended, National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation Act of 2007; H.R. 3352, amended, Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2007; H.R. 3891, To amend the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act to increase the number of Directors on the Board of Directors of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; and H.R. 4933, Captive Wildlife Safety Technical Amendments Act of 2008. MITCHELL REPORT: ILLEGAL USE OF STEROIDS IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Concluded hearings on The Mitchell Report: The Illegal Use of Steroids in Major League Baseball, Day 2. Testimony was heard from Roger Clemens, former Major League Baseball Player; Brian McNamee, former Strength and Conditioning Coach, Major League Baseball; and Charles Scheeler, a member of the staff of the Mitchell Commission. FEDERAL SURPLUS PROPERTY Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement held a hearing on Surplus Property: Improving Donation and Sales Programs. Testimony was heard from Rebecca Rhodes, Deputy Associate Administrator, GSA; Estelle Sanders, Mayor, Roper, North Carolina; and public witnesses. RECOMMENDING THAT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FIND HARRIET MIERS AND JOSHUA BOLTEN, CHIEF OF STAFF, WHITE HOUSE, IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS FOR REFUSAL TO COMPLY WITH SUBPOENAS DULY ISSUED BY THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY; AUTHORIZING THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY TO INITIATE OR INTERVENE IN JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS TO ENFORCE CERTAIN SUBPOENAS Committee on Rules: Granted, by a record vote of 9 to 4, a rule providing for adoption of H. Res. 979 and H. Res. 980 upon adoption of the rule. H. Res. 979 recommends that the House of Representatives find Harriet Miers and Joshua Bolten, Chief of Staff, White House, in contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with subpoenas duly issued by the Committee on the Judiciary. H. Res. 980 authorizes the Committee on the Judiciary to initiate or intervene in judicial proceedings to enforce certain subpoenas. Testimony was heard from Chairman Conyers and Representative Smith of Texas. SAME DAY CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving clause 6(a) of rule XIII (requiring a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on the same day it is reported from the Rules Committee) against certain rules reported from the Rules Committee. The rule applies the waiver to any rule reported on the legislative day of Thursday, February 14, 2008, providing for consideration of a bill addressing foreign intelligence surveillance. The rule also permits consideration of motions to suspend the rules on the legislative day of Thursday, February 14, 2008, related to a bill addressing foreign intelligence surveillance. NASA's FISCAL YEAR 2009 BUDGET Committee on Science and Technology: Held a hearing on NASA's Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Request. Testimony was heard from Michael D. Griffin, Administrator, NASA. SBIR MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, hearing entitled ``SBIR: Advancing Medical Breakthroughs.'' Testimony was heard from Jo Anne Goodnight, SBIR/STTR Coordinator, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses. TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Held a hearing on Reviewing the Recommendations of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission. Testimony was heard from Mary Peters, Secretary of Transportation; and public witnesses. RUNWAY SAFETY Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Aviation held a hearing on Runway Safety, Testimony was heard from Gerald Dillingham, Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, GAO; Hank Krakowski, Chief, Operating Officer, Air Traffic Organization, FAA, Department of Transportation; and public witnesses. [[Page D139]] EXPIRING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held a hearing on Review of Expiring Programs. Testimony was heard from Charles Ciccolella, Assistant Secretary, Veterans' Employment and Training, Department of Labor; Scott Bloch, Special Counsel, Office of Special Counsel; Keith Pedigo, Associate Deputy Under Secretary, Office of Policy and Program Management, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs. VA INSPECTOR GENERAL/IT BUDGET Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on VA FY 2009 Budget--Office of the Inspector General and Office of Information and Technology. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs: Jon A. Wooditch, Deputy Inspector General; and Robert T. Howard, Assistant Secretary, Information and Technology; and Valerie Melvin, Director, Information Technology, GAO. BUDGET PROPOSALS FISCAL YEAR 2009--OMB/HHS Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing on the Administration's budget proposals for fiscal year 2009, OMB. Testimony was heard from James Nussle, Director, OMB. The Committee also held a hearing on the Administration's budget proposals fiscal year 2009 for the Department of Health and Human Services. Testimony was heard from Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services. 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. COUNTERINTELLIGENCE HOT SPOTS Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence met in executive session to hold a hearing on Counterintelligence Hot Spots. Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses. Joint Meetings SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUNDS Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the efficacy of sovereign wealth funds, government investment funds, funded by foreign currency reserves, but managed separately from official currency reserves, focusing on the U.S. economy and national security risks, after receiving testimony from David H. McCormick, Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs; and Stuart E. Eizenstat, Covington and Burling LLP, and Douglas Rediker, New America Foundation, both of Washington, D.C. FINLAND'S LEADERSHIP OF THE OSCE Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded a hearing to examine Finland's leadership of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), focusing on plans, priorities, and challenges that face the region, after receiving testimony from Ilkka Kanerva, Finland Minister for Foreign Affairs, Helsinki.