[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.