[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 27, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D188-D192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES
Committee on Agriculture: Approved Budget Views and Estimates for 
Fiscal Year 2009 for submission to the Committee on the Budget.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on Drug Safety. Testimony was heard from Janet Woodcock, M.D., 
Deputy Commissioner, Scientific and Medical Programs, Chief Medical 
Officer and Acting Director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, 
Department of Agriculture; and public witnesses.
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing on National Science Board/
National Science Foundation. Testimony was heard from Arden L. Bement, 
Jr., Director, National Science Foundation.

[[Page D189]]


DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on 
Shipbuilding. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Defense: Vice ADM Barry McCullough, USN, Deputy Chief, 
Naval Operations, Integration of Capabilities and Resources (N8); and 
Allison Stiller, Assistant Secretary, (Research, Development and 
Acquisition).
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Bureau of 
Reclamation Commission. Testimony was heard from Robert W. Johnson, 
Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior.
FINANCIAL SERVICES, GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a hearing on the Election Administration. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Election 
Assistance Commission: Rosemary Rodriguez, Chair; Caroline Hunter, 
Vice-Chair; Donetta L. Davidson; and Gracia Hillman, both 
Commissioners; and public witnesses.
INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on Bureau of Land Management. Testimony 
was heard from Henry Bisson, Deputy Director, Bureau of Land 
Management, Department of the Interior.
LABOR, HHS AND EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, Education and Related Agencies held a hearing on Department 
of Health and Human Services. Testimony was heard from Michael O. 
Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Office of 
Inspector General. Testimony was heard from the following officials of 
the Department of Veterans' Affairs: John Daigh, Jr., M.D., Assistant 
Inspector General, Healthcare Inspections; James J. O'Neill, Assistant 
Inspector General, Investigations; Belinda Finn, Assistant Inspector 
General, Audits; and Maureen Regan, Counsel to the Inspector General.
STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, 
and Related Agencies held a hearing on Fiscal Year 2009 Budget, U.S. 
Agency for International Development. Testimony was heard from 
Henrietta Fore, Administrator, U.S. Agency for International 
Development, and Director, United States Foreign Assistance, Department 
of State.
AIR FORCE BUDGET
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on Fiscal Year 2009 
National Defense Authorization Budget Request from the Department of 
the Air Force. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of the Air Force: Michael W. Wynne, Secretary; and GEN T. 
Michael Moseley, USAF, Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force.
MARINE CORPS BUDGET
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary 
Forces held a hearing on Fiscal Year 2009 National Defense 
Authorization Budget Request overview for the United States Marine 
Corps. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the U.S. 
Marine Corps: LTG James F. Amos, USMC, Deputy Commandant, Combat 
Development and Integration; LTG John G. Castellaw, USMC, Deputy 
Commandant, Programs and Resources; and BG Michael M. Brogan, USMC, 
Commander, Marine Corps Systems Command.
DEFENSE STRATEGIC PROGRAMS BUDGET
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a 
hearing on U.S. Strategic Posture/Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Request for 
Strategic Programs. Testimony was heard from the following officials of 
the Department of Defense: GEN Kevin P. Chilton, USAF, Commander, U.S. 
Strategic Command; and Michael Vickers, Assistant Secretary, Special 
Operations/Low Intensity Conflict/Interdependent Capabilities, Office 
of the Secretary, Policy; and Thomas D'Agostino, Administrator, 
National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy.
DOD BUDGET; HHS BUDGET
Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on Department of Defense Fiscal 
Year 2009 Budget. Testimony was heard from Gordon R. England, Deputy 
Secretary of Defense.
  The Committee also held a hearing on Department of Health and Human 
Services Fiscal Year

[[Page D190]]

2009 Budget. Testimony was heard from Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of 
Health and Human Services.
DRUGS IN SPORTS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection held a hearing entitled ``Drugs in Sports: 
Compromising the Health of Athletes and Undermining the Integrity of 
Competition.'' Testimony was heard from representatives of various 
professional sports organizations, player associations, and public 
witnesses.
WIRELESS/BROADBAND CONSUMER PROTECTION
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications 
and the Internet held a hearing on Wireless Consumer Protection and 
Community Broadband Empowerment. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
MONETARY POLICY AND THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY
Committee on Financial Services: Concluded hearings on Monetary Policy 
and the State of the Economy. Testimony was heard from Ben S. Bernanke, 
Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Ordered reported the following bills: 
H.R. 5501, Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde, United States Global 
Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization 
Act of 2008; and, as amended, H.R. 1084, Reconstruction and 
Stabilization Civilian Management Act of 2007.
  The Committee favorably considered the following resolutions and 
adopted a motion urging the Chairman to request that they be considered 
on the Suspension Calendar: H. Res. 185, Expressing the sense of the 
House of Representatives regarding the creation of refugee populations 
in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Persian Gulf region as a 
result of human rights violations; H. Res. 854, Expressing the 
gratitude to all member states of the International Commission of the 
International Tracing Service (ITS) on ratifying the May 2006 Agreement 
to amend the 1955 Bonn Accords granting open access to vast Holocaust 
and other World War II related archives located in Bad Arolsen, 
Germany; H. Res. 865, Expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that the March 2007 report of the United Nations Office 
on Drugs and Crime and the International Bank for Reconstruction and 
Development makes an important contribution to the understanding of the 
high levels of crime and violence in the Caribbean, and that the United 
States should work with Caribbean countries to address crime and 
violence in the region; H. Res. 951, Condemning the ongoing Palestinian 
rocket attacks on Israeli civilians, and for other purposes; H. Con. 
Res. 154, Expressing the sense of Congress that the fatal radiation 
poisoning of Russian dissident and writer Alexandria Litvinenko raises 
significant concerns about the potential involvement of elements of the 
Russian Government in Mr. Litvinenko's death and about the security and 
proliferation of radioactive materials; H. Con. Res. 255, Expressing 
the sense of Congress regarding the United States commitment to 
preservation of religious and cultural sites and condemning instances 
where sites are desecrated; H. Con. Res. 278, Supporting Taiwan's 
fourth direct and democratic presidential elections in March 2008; and 
H. Con. Res. 290, Commemorating the 175th anniversary of the special 
relationship between the United States and the Kingdom of Thailand.
MULTIDRUG RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health 
held a hearing on Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis: Assessing the U.S. 
Response to an Emerging Global Threat. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of State: Mark R. Dybul, 
Coordinator, Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator; and Kent R. 
Hill, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Global Health, U.S. Agency 
for International Development; and Julie L. Gerberding, M.D., Director, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and 
Human Services.
  The Subcommittee also had a briefing on this subject. The 
Subcommittee was briefed by Mario Raviglione, M.D., Director, Stop TB 
Department, World Health Organization.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND VULNERABLE SOCIETIES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and 
the Global Environment held a hearing on Climate Change and Vulnerable 
Societies: A Post-Bali Overview. Testimony was heard from Harlan 
Watson, Special Representative and Senior Climate Negotiator, Bureau of 
Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs, Department 
of State.
  The Subcommittee also held a briefing on this subject. The 
Subcommittee was briefed by public witnesses.
BORDER SECURITY TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and 
Global Counterterrorism and the Subcommittee on Management, 
Investigations and Oversight held a joint hearing entitled `` Project

[[Page D191]]

28: Lessons Learned and the Future of SBInet.'' Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 
Department of Homeland Security: Jayson P. Ahern, Deputy Commissioner; 
David V. Aguilar, Chief, U.S. Border Patrol; and Gregory Giddens, 
Executive Director, Secure Border Initiative; Richard Stana, Director, 
Homeland Security and Justice, GAO; and a public witness.
OVERSIGHT--PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and 
Intellectual Property held an oversight hearing on the U.S. Patent and 
Trademark Office. Testimony was heard from Jon W. Dudas, Under 
Secretary, Intellectual Property, Director, U.S. Patent and Trademark 
Office, Department of Commerce; Robin M. Nazzaro, Director, National 
Resources and Environment, GAO; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--TRIBAL LAND TRUSTS
Committee on Natural Resources: Held an oversight hearing on the 
Department of Interior's recently released guidance on taking land into 
trust for Indian Tribes and its ramifications. Testimony was heard from 
Carl Artman, Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs, Department of the 
Interior, and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--BUDGET PARK SERVICE, FOREST SERVICE AND BUREAU OF 
RECLAMATION
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests 
and Public Lands held an oversight hearing on the Fiscal Year 2009 
Budget Requests for the National Park Service, the Forest Service and 
the Bureau of Land Management. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of the Interior: Mary Bomar, Director, 
National Park Service; and Henri Bisson, Deputy Director, Bureau of 
Land Management; and Gail Kimbell Chief, Forest Service, USDA.
FEDERAL CONTRACTING REFORM
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Government Management, Organization and Procurement held a hearing on 
Contracting Reform: Expert Recommendations and pending measures. 
Testimony was heard from Paul A. Denett, Administrator, Office of 
Federal Procurement Policy, OMB; John Hutton, Director, Acquisition and 
Sourcing Management, GAO; and public witnesses.
WALTER REED INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National 
Security and Foreign Affairs held a hearing on One Year After Walter 
Reed: An Independent Assessment of the Care, Support, and Disability 
Evaluation for Wounded Soldiers. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the GAO: John Pendleton, Acting Director, Health Care; and 
Daniel Bertoni, Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security; 
and the following officials of the Department of Defense: LTG Eric 
Schoomaker, M.D., USA, Surgeon General/Commander U.S. Army Medical 
Command; and Michael L. Dominguez, Principal Deputy Under Secretary 
(Personnel and Readiness); and Patrick W. Dunne, Assistant Secretary, 
Policy and Planning, Department of Veterans Affairs.
HOUSE OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL ETHICS
Committee on Rules: Heard testimony from Representatives Capuano, 
Murphy of Connecticut, Space, Smith of Texas, Boehner, Shays and Kirk, 
but action was deferred on H. Res. 895, Establishing within the House 
of Representatives an Office of Congressional Ethics, and for other 
purposes.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science and Technology: Ordered reported, as amended, the 
following bills: H.R. 3916, To provide for the next generation of 
border and maritime security technologies; H.R. 4847, U.S. Fire 
Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008; and H.R. 5161, Green 
Transportation Infrastructure Research and Technology Transfer Act.
BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES
Committee on Small Business: Approved Committee Budget Views and 
Estimates for Fiscal Year 2009 for submission to the Committee on the 
Budget.
VA CONSTRUCTION AUTHORIZATION
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
on VA Construction Authorization. Testimony was heard from Donald 
Orndoff, Director, Office of Construction and Facilities Management, 
Department of Veterans Affairs; and representatives of veterans 
organizations.
CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Income Security and Family 
Support held a hearing on Improving the Child Welfare System. Testimony 
was heard from Representatives Davis of Illinois; Fattah and Bachmann; 
Ken Deibert, Deputy Director, Department of Economic Security--
Children,

[[Page D192]]

Youth and Family Services, State of Arizona; Jim Purcell, Executive 
Director, Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies, New York City; 
and public witnesses.
SECURITY CLEARANCES
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on 
Intelligence Community Management held a hearing on Security 
Clearances. Testimony was heard from Kathy Dillaman, Associate 
Director, Investigations, OPM; Clay Johnson, Deputy Director, OMB; Eric 
Boswell, Assistant Deputy Director, Security, Office of the Director of 
National Intelligence; and Brenda Farrell, Director, Military and 
Civilian Personnel and Healthcare, Defense Capabilities and Management, 
GAO.
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 Hot Spots. The 
Subcommittee was briefed by departmental witnesses.