[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 51 (Wednesday, April 2, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D361-D364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION CENTER FOR BIOLOGICS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on Food and Drug Administration Center for Biologics Evaluation 
and Research. Testimony was heard from Jesse L. Goodman, Director, 
Center for Biologics, Evaluation and Research, Department of Health and 
Human Services.
LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Legal Services 
Corporation. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Legal Services Corporation: Helaine Barnett, President; and Frank B. 
Strickland, Chairman.
  The Subcommittee also continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
DOE WEAPONS ACTIVITIES/NAVAL REACTORS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Department of 
Energy--Weapons Activities and Naval Reactors. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the Department of Energy: Thomas P. 
D'Agostino, Under Secretary, Nuclear Security and Administrator, 
National Nuclear Security Administration; Robert L. Smolen, Deputy 
Administrator, Defense Programs; and Kirkland Donald, Deputy 
Administrator, Naval Reactors.
OPM
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a hearing on OPM. Testimony was heard from 
Linda Springer, Director, OPM.
CARGO/SUPPLY CHAIN SECURITY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing on Cargo, Container and Supply Chain Security. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the Department of Homeland 
Security: Jayson Ahern, Deputy Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection; and Vayl Oxford, Director, Domestic Nuclear Detection 
Office; and public witnesses.
INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on the Indian Health Service. Testimony 
was heard from Bob McSwain, Acting Director, Indian Health Service, 
Department of Health and Human Services.
DOD--BUDGET OVERVIEW
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, 
Veterans' Affairs and Related Agencies held a hearing on Department of 
Defense--Budget Overview. Testimony was herd from the following 
officials of the Department of Defense: Tina W. Jonas, Comptroller; and 
Wayne Arny, Deputy Under Secretary, Installations and Environment.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, 
and Related Programs held a hearing on Contributions to International 
Peacekeeping Activities (CIPA) and the Contributions to International 
Organizations (CID) accounts. Testimony was heard from Kristen 
Silverberg, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Organization 
Affairs, Department of State.
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION POLICY/REVENUE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing 
and Urban Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Highways 
and Transit Programs: The DOT Perspective on the Urgent Funding Needs 
for Today and Tomorrow. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Transportation: Phyllis Scheinberg, 
Assistant Secretary, Budget and Programs and Chief Financial Officer; 
James Simpson, Administrator, Federal Transit Administration; and James 
Ray, Acting Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on Thoughts and Recommendations 
from the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study 
Commission. Testimony was heard from Frank Busalacchi, Commissioner, 
Department of Transportation, Wisconsin; and public witnesses.
FAMILY SMOKING PREVENTION AND TOBACCO CONTROL ACT
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 
1108, Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.
INTERNET GAMBLING ENFORCEMENT REGULATIONS
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Domestic and 
International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology held a hearing 
entitled ``Proposed

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UIGEA Regulations: Burden without Benefit?'' Testimony was heard from 
Louise L. Roseman, Director, Division of Reserve Bank Operations and 
Payment Systems, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System; Valerie 
Abend, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Critical Infrastructure Protection 
and Compliance Policy, Department of the Treasury; and public 
witnesses.
U.N. PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on International 
Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight held a hearing on the United 
Nations Peacekeeping Operations: An Underfunded International Mandate--
the Role of the United States Testimony was heard from Kristen 
Silverberg, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Organization 
Affairs, Department of State.
  The Subcommittee also held a briefing on this subject. The 
Subcommittee was briefed by Jane Holl Lute, Assistant Secretary-General 
for Peacekeeping Operations and Officer in Charge of the Department of 
Field Support, United Nations.
AFGHANISTAN--TALIBAN RESURGENCE
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East and South 
Asia held a hearing on the Strategic Chaos and Taliban Resurgence in 
Afghanistan. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on House Administration: Ordered reported the following 
measures: H.R. 5493, To provide that the usual day for paying salaries 
in or under the House of Representatives may be established by 
regulations of the Committee on House Administration; H. Res. 1068, 
amended, Permitting active duty members of the Armed Forces who are 
assigned to a Congressional liaison office of the Department of Defense 
at the House of Representatives to obtain membership in the exercise 
facility established for employees of the House of Representatives; 
H.R. 5036, amended, Emergency Assistance for Secure Elections Act of 
2008; H.R. 281, Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act of 2007; H.R. 3032, 
amended, To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to permit 
candidates for election for Federal office to designate an individual 
who will be authorized to disburse funds of the authorized campaign 
committees of the candidate in the event of the death of the candidate.
  The Committee also approved an amendment to Regulations Governing the 
Use of Official Funds, by Members, Committees, and Officers of the U.S. 
House of Representatives.
  The Committee also approved pending Committee business.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 
5570, amended, Religious Worker Visa Extension Act of 2008; H.R. 5060, 
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow athletes admitted 
as nonimmigrants described in section 101(a)(15)(P) of such Act to 
renew their period of authorized admission in 5-year increments; H.R. 
5569, To extend for 5 years the EB-5 regional center pilot program; 
H.R. 5571, To extend for 5 years the program relating to waiver of the 
foreign country residence requirement with respect to international 
medical graduates; H.R. 1777, Need-Based Educational Aid Act of 2007; 
and a private relief bill.
  The Committee also adversely reported to the House 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
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Ordered reported the following bills: 
H.R. 3513, amended, Cooper Salmon Wilderness Act; H.R. 5151, amended, 
Wild Monongahela Act: A National Legacy for West Virginia's Special 
Places; H.R. 831, amended, Coffman Cove Administrative Site Conveyance 
Act; and H.R. 3734, Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National 
Conservation Area Act.
FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Information Policy, Census, and National Archives held a hearing on 
Examining the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 2008. Testimony 
was heard from Robin Nazzaro, Director, National Resources and 
Environment, GAO; Robert Flaak, Director, Committee Management 
Secretariat, GSA; Frank Wilson, Director, Administration and 
Management, Department of Defense; and a public witness.
UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2007
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a structured rule providing 
for consideration of H.R. 4847, the ``United States Fire Administration 
Reauthorization Act of 2008.'' The rule provides 1 hour of general 
debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Science and Technology.
  The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill 
except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The rule 
provides that, in lieu

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of the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the 
Committee on Science and Technology now printed in the bill, the 
amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in part A of the Rules 
Committee report shall be considered as an original bill for 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 printed in 
part A of the report except those arising under clause 10 of rule XXI.
  The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in part B of 
the Rules Committee report. Amendments so printed 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 a proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to 
amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the 
question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole.
  The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions. Finally, notwithstanding the operation of the previous 
question, the Chair may postpone further consideration of the bill to a 
time designated by the Speaker. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Mitchell and Gingrey.
INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION
Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Research and 
Science Education held a hearing on International Science and 
Technology Cooperation. Testimony was heard from John H. Marburger III, 
Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy; Arden Bement, 
Director, NSF; the following officials of the Department of State: Nina 
Fedoroff, Science and Technology Advisor to the Secretary; and Jeff 
Miotke, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Science, Space and Health, Bureau 
of Oceans and International and Environmental and Scientific Affairs; 
and Michael F. O'Brien, Assistant Administrator, External Relations, 
NASA.
NATIONAL FLOOD PLAIN REMAPPING
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Energy Management held a 
hearing on National Flood Plain Remapping: The Practical Impact. 
Testimony was heard from Representatives Ehlers, Boozman, Miller of 
Michigan, Matsui, and Hall of New York; Steven Stockton, Deputy 
Director, Civil Works, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of 
Defense; David Maurstad, Assistant Administrator, Mitigation 
Directorate, FEMA; and public witnesses.
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY/VISION ISSUES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Related 
Vision Issues. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs: James Orcutt, M.D., Chief of 
Ophthalmology, Barbara Sigford, M.D., National Program Director, 
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, both with the Veterans Health 
Administration, and Glenn Cockerman, M.D., Chief of Ophthalmology, VA 
Palo Alto Health Care System; COL Loreen K. Sutton, M.D., Director, 
Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain 
Injury, Department of Defense; and public witnesses.
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.
SUBPOENAS TO EPA; CURBING SOARING AVIATION EMISSIONS
Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming: Approved a 
resolution authorizing the Select Committee to issue subpoenas to the 
EPA as necessary to obtain the EPA's draft regulations and finding of 
``endangerment,'' from motor vehicle emissions as provided under the 
Clean Air Act regulatory and in response to the regulatory and in 
response to the Massachusetts v. EPA decision.
  The Select Committee also held a hearing entitled ``From the Wright 
Brothers to the Right Solutions: Curbing Soaring Aviation Emissions.'' 
Testimony was heard from Dan K. Elwell, Assistant Administrator, 
Policy, Planning, and Environment, FAA, Department of Transportation; 
Bob Meyers, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and 
Radiation, EPA; and public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
CURRENT ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the 
current economic outlook, after receiving testimony from Ben S. 
Bernanke, Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
BUSINESS MEETING
Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies--2008: Committee 
announced the following membership: Senator Feinstein (Chairman), 
Senator Reid, Senator Bennett, Representative Pelosi, Representative 
Hoyer, and Representative Boehner.

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  Also, Committee approved its budget.