[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 9, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D405-D409]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MARKETING AND REGULATORY PROGRAMS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on Marketing and Regulatory Programs. Testimony was heard from 
Bruce I. Knight, Under Secretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs, 
USDA.
U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE; INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION; BUREAU 
OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science 
and Related Agencies held a hearing on the USTR. Testimony was heard 
from Ambassador Susan C. Schwab, United States Trade Representative.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the International Trade 
Administration. Testimony was heard from Christopher A. Padilla, Under 
Secretary, International Trade, Department of Commerce.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the Bureau of Alcohol, 
Tobacco and Firearms. Testimony was heard from Michael J. Sullivan, 
Director, ATF, Department of Justice.
FCC
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and 
General Government held a hearing on the Federal Communications 
Commission. Testimony was heard from Kevin J. Martin, Chairman, FCC.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on the Smithsonian Institution. 
Testimony was heard from Cristian Samper, Acting Secretary, Smithsonian 
Institution.
U.S. CAPITOL POLICE BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a 
hearing on the U.S. Capitol Police Budget. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the U.S. Capitol Police: Phillip Morse, Chief; 
and Daniel Nichols, Assistant Chief.
ARMY BUDGET
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, 
Veterans' Affairs and Related Agencies held a hearing on the Army 
Budget. Testimony was heard from Gen. George W. Casey, Jr., USA, Chief 
of Staff, Department of the Army.
STATUS--IRAQ WAR AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS; STATUS OF U.S. GROUND 
FORCES
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on the status of the war 
and political developments in Iraq. Testimony was heard from GEN David 
H. Petraeus, USA, Commanding General, Multi-National Force--Iraq, 
Department of Defense; and Ryan C. Crocker, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, 
Department of State.
  The Committee also held a hearing and on the current status of U.S. 
ground forces. Testimony was

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heard from GEN Richard A. Cody, USA, Vice Chief of Staff; and GEN 
Robert A. Magnus, USMC, Assistant Commandant, Marine Corps.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Education and Labor: Ordered reported the following bills: 
H.R. 5522, amended, Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Act 
of 2008; and H.R. 5715, To ensure continued availability of access to 
the Federal student loan program for students and families.
PROTECTING THE MEDICAID SAFETY NET ACT OF 2008
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health approved for 
full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 5613, Protecting the Medicaid 
Safety Net Act of 2008.
HOUSING STABILIZATION AND HOMEOWNERSHIP RETENTION
Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing entitled `` Using FHA 
for Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention.'' Testimony was 
heard from Sheila C. Bair, Chairman, FDIC; the following officials of 
the Department of the Treasury: John C. Dugan, Comptroller of the 
Currency; and John M. Reich, Director, Office of Thrift Supervision; 
Randall Kroszner, member, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System; 
Brian Montgomery, Assistant Secretary, Housing-Federal Housing 
Commissioner, Department of Housing and Urban Development; and public 
witnesses.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
IRAQ REPORT
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Held a hearing on Report on Iraq. 
Testimony was heard from David H. Petraeus, USA, Commanding General, 
Multi-National Force--Iraq, Department of Defense; and Ryan C. Crocker, 
Ambassador to Iraq, Department of Defense.
FEMA RESPONSE/RECOVERY CAPABILITIES
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency 
Communications, Preparedness, and Response held a hearing entitled 
``Moving Beyond the First Five Years: Ensuring FEMA's Ability to 
Respond and Recover in the Wake of a National Catastrophe.'' Testimony 
was heard from Harvey E. Johnson, Jr., Acting Deputy Administrator and 
Chief Operating Officer, FEMA, Department of Homeland Security.
HOMELAND SECURITY'S MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Management, 
Investigations, and Oversight held a hearing entitled ``Moving Beyond 
the First Five Years: Solving the Department of Homeland Security's 
Management Challenges.'' Testimony was heard from Elaine Duke, Deputy 
Under Secretary, Management, Department of Homeland Security; Norman J. 
Rabkin, Managing Director, Homeland Security and Justice Team, GAO; and 
public witnesses.
2008 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES AND CAUCUSES
Committee on House Administration: Held a hearing on the 2008 
Presidential Primaries and Caucuses: ``What we've learned so far.'' 
Testimony was heard from April E. Pye, Interim Director, Registration 
and Elections, Fulton County, Georgia; Alisha Alexander, Elections 
Administrator, County Board of Elections, Prince George's County, 
Maryland; Linda Weedon, Deputy Director, Elections, Maricopa County, 
Arizona; and public witnesses
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Held a hearing on the following bills: 
H.R. 5608, Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments 
Act, H.R. 3522, To ratify a conveyance of a portion of the Jicarilla 
Apache Reservation to Rio Arriba County, State of New Mexico, pursuant 
to the settlement of litigation between the Jicarilla Apache Nation and 
Rio Arriba County, State of New Mexico, to authorize issuance of a 
patent for said lands, and to change the exterior boundary of the 
Jicarilla Apache Reservation accordingly, H.R. 3490, Tuolumne Me-Wuk 
Land Transfer Act of 2007, S. 2457, to provide for extensions of leases 
of certain land by Mashantucket Pequot (Western) Tribe, and H.R. 5680, 
To amend certain laws relating to Native Americans, and for other 
purposes. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of the Interior: James Cason, Associate Deputy Secretary; 
and Jerry Gidner, Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs; Robert McSwain, 
Acting Director, Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human 
Services; Philip N. Hogen, Chairman, National Indian Gaming Commission; 
and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Ordered reported the 
following measures: H.R. 5687, as amended, To amend the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act to increase the transparency and accountability 
of Federal advisory committees; H.R. 752, amended, Federal Electronic 
Equipment Donation Act of 2007; H.R. 1734, To designate the facility of 
the United States Postal Service located at 630

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Northeast Killingsworth Avenue in Portland, Oregon, as the ``Dr. Martin 
Luther King, Jr. Post Office;'' H. Res. 1026, Recognizing the 100th 
anniversary of the founding of the Congressional Club; H.R. 5601, To 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
7925 West Russell Road in Las Vegas, Nevada, as the ``Sergeant Irving 
Joseph Schwartz Post Office Building;'' and H.R. 5631, To designate the 
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1155 Seminole 
Trail in Charlottesville, Virginia, as the ``Corporal Bradley T. Arms 
Post Office Building.''
2010 CENSUS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Subcommittee on 
Information Policy, Census, and National Archives held a joint hearing 
on 2010 Census, Progress on the Development of the Field Data 
Collection Automation Program. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Bureau of the Census: Department of Commerce: Steven 
H. Murdock, Director; and Preston Jay Waite, Deputy Director; the 
following officials of the GAO: Mathew Scire, Director, Strategic 
Issues; and David Powner, Director, Information Technology Management 
Issues; and public witnesses.
FEDERAL SECURITY ID CARDS; BACKGROUND CHECKS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Government Management, Organization, and Procurement held a hearing on 
Federal Security: ID Cards and Background Checks. Testimony was heard 
from Karen Evans, Administrator, Electronic Government and Information 
Technology, OMB; Kathy Dillaman, Associate Director, Investigations, 
OPM; Linda Koontz, Director, Information Management Issues, GAO; 
Michael Sade, Acting Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Office of 
Integrated Technology Service, Federal Acquisition Service, GSA; Thomas 
Wisner, Deputy Chief Information Officer for the Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management, Department of 
Labor; and public witnesses.
COLUMBIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT RELATING TO CONSIDERATION
Committee on Rules: Committee granted, by a vote of 9 to 3, a rule 
providing that section 151(e)(1) and section 151(f)(1) of the Trade Act 
of 1974 shall not apply in the case of H.R. 5724, to implement the 
United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement.
GAS PRICES' IMPACT ON SMALL BUSINESS
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Investigations and 
Oversight held a hearing entitled ``The Impact of Increasing Gas Prices 
on Small Businesses.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
AVIATION DELAYS AND CONSUMER ISSUES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation held a hearing on Aviation Delays and Consumer Issues. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Transportation: Calvin L. Scovel, III, Inspector General; and D. J. 
Gribbin, General Counsel, Office of the Secretary; and public 
witnesses.
METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Highways and Transit held a hearing on Transportation Challenges of 
Metropolitan Areas. Testimony was heard from Jolene Molitoris, 
Assistant Director, Department of Transportation, State of Ohio; and 
public witnesses.
ENDING VETERANS HOMELESSNESS
Committee on Veterans Affairs: Held a hearing on Ending Homelessness 
for our Nation's Veterans. Testimony was heard from Peter H. Dougherty, 
Director, Homeless Veterans Programs, Department of Veterans Affairs; 
Libby Perl, Analyst in Housing, CRS; a representative of a veterans 
organization; and public witnesses.
HOUSING ASSISTANCE TAX ACT; TAXPAYER ASSISTANCE AND SIMPLIFICATION ACT
Committee on Ways and Means: Ordered reported, as amended, the 
following bills: H.R. 5720, Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008; and 
H.R. 5719, Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008.
ASSESSING THE FIGHT AGAINST AL-QAEDA
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Held a hearing on Assessing 
the Fight Against Al-Qaeda. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
GLOBAL WARMING AND PUBLIC HEALTH
Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming: Held a 
hearing entitled ``Healthy Planet, Healthy People: Global Warming and 
Public Health.'' Testimony was heard from Howard Frumkin, M.D., 
Director, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services; and 
public witnesses.

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                    COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY,

                             APRIL 10, 2008

        (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)


                                 Senate

  Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development, to hold hearings to examine proposed budget estimates 
for fiscal year 2009 for the Department of the Army, Army Corps of 
Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and the Department of the 
Interior, 9:30 a.m., SD-124.
  Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and 
Related Agencies, to hold hearings to examine the Federal Housing 
Administration's role in addressing the housing crisis, 10 a.m., SD-
138.
  Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, 
to hold hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
year 2009 for the Department of Justice, 10 a.m., SD-192.
  Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans' Affairs, and 
Related Agencies, to hold hearings to examine proposed budget 
estimates for fiscal year 2009 for the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 2 p.m., SD-124.
  Committee on Armed Services: to hold hearings to examine the 
situation in Iraq, focusing on the progress made by the Government 
in Iraq meeting benchmarks and achieving reconciliation, the future 
U.S. military presence in Iraq, and the situation in Afghanistan, 2 
p.m., SH-216.
  Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: to hold hearings 
to examine U.S. credit markets, focusing on proposals to mitigate 
foreclosures and restore liquidity to the mortgage markets, 10 a.m., 
SD-538.
  Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee 
on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security, to hold hearings to 
examine aviation safety oversight, 10 a.m., SR-253.
  Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine challenges facing 
Hawaii's Air Service Market, 2:30 p.m., SR-253.
  Committee on Environment and Public Works: to hold hearings to 
examine the nomination of David R. Hill, of Missouri, to be an 
Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, 9 
a.m., SD-406.
  Committee on Finance: to hold hearings to examine identity theft, 
10 a.m., SD-215.
  Committee on Foreign Relations: to hold hearings to examine 
negotiating a long-term relationship with Iraq, 9:30 a.m., SD-419.
  Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: to hold 
hearings to examine climate change, focusing on a challenge for 
public health, 10 a.m., SD-430.
  Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: business 
meeting to consider pending legislation, and the nomination of 
Harvey E. Johnson, Jr., of Virginia, to be Deputy Administrator, 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland 
Security, 10 a.m., SD-342.
  Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine the nominations of 
Andrew Saul, of New York, Alejandro Modesto Sanchez, of Florida, and 
Gordon James Whiting, of New York, all to be Members of the Federal 
Retirement Thrift Investment Board, 2 p.m., SD-342.
  Select Committee on Intelligence: to hold closed hearings to 
examine certain intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., SH-219.


                                 House

  Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies, on 
Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services, 10 a.m., 2362-A Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, 
on NOAA, 10 a.m., 2358-A Rayburn, and on EEOC, 3 p.m., H-309 
Capitol.
  Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, on Department of 
Energy--Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Waste, 9 a.m., 2362-B Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, on 
Small Business Administration, 10 a.m., 2220 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Homeland Security, on Secretary of DHS, 10 a.m., 
2359 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, on Government Accountability 
Office, 1 p.m., H-144 Capitol.
  Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans' Affairs and 
Related Agencies, on European Command, 1:30 p.m., H-143 Capitol.
  Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, 
on U.S. Policy and Program in Iraq, 11 a.m., 2358-C Rayburn, and on 
U.S. Treasury International Assistance Programs and U.S. 
Contributions to International Financial Institutions, 2 p.m., 2359 
Rayburn.
  Committee on Armed Services: hearing on Contingency Contracting: 
Implementing a Call for Urgent Reform, 10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, hearing on Army acquisition 
programs, 2 p.m., 2118 Rayburn.
  Committee on Education and Labor, Subcommittee on Workplace 
Protections, hearing on the 15th Anniversary of the Family Medical 
Leave Act: Achievements and Next Steps, 10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn.
  Committee on Energy and Commerce, hearing entitled ``Strengths and 
Weaknesses of Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions Using Existing 
Clean Air Act Authorities,'' 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn .
  Committee on Financial Services, to continue hearings entitled `` 
Using FHA for Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention,'' 
10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn.
  Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on International 
Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, hearing on War Power for 
the 21st Century: The Constitutional Perspective, 3 p.m., 2172 
Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, hearing and briefing on 
the Crisis in the Andes: The Border Dispute Between Columbia and 
Ecuador, and Implications for the Region, 11 a.m., 2172 Rayburn.
  Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security, hearing on the Reauthorization and Improvement of 
DNA Initiatives of the Justice For All Act of 2004, 10 a.m., 2141 
Rayburn.

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  Committee on Natural Resources, hearing on the following bills: 
H.R. 5541, Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act; 
and H.R. 5648, Emergency Wildland Fire Response Act of 2008, 10 
a.m., 1324 Longworth.
  Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on 
National Security and Foreign Affairs, hearing on Investigation into 
the Sale of Sensitive, In-Demand Military Equipment and Supplies on 
the Internet, 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn.
  Committee on Small Business, hearing entitled ``Modernizing the 
Tax Code: Updating the Internal Revenue Code to Help Small 
Businesses Stimulate the Economy,'' 10 a.m., 1539 Rayburn.
  Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on 
Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, hearing on Cosco Busan and 
Marine Casualty Investigation, 10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and 
Emergency Management, hearing on the Old Post Office Building: The 
General Services Administration's Plans for Future Use, 2. p.m., 
2167 Rayburn.
  Committee on Veterans Affairs, Subcommittee on Disability 
Assistance and Memorial Affairs, hearing on Veterans Disability 
Benefits Claims Modernization Act of 2008, and H.R. 5509, Noble 
Warrior Act, 2 p.m., 334 Cannon.
  Committe on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Income Security and 
Family Support, hearing on extending unemployment insurance, 10 
a.m., B-318 Rayburn.
  Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, executive, briefing on 
Colombia, 8:30 a.m., and, executive, hearing on the Fiscal Year 2009 
Budget--Cyber Initiative, 10 a.m., H-405 Capitol.


                             Joint Meetings

  Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: to hold hearings 
to examine the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe 
(OSCE), focusing on the displacement of Iraqi citizens on Jordan, 
Syria, Egypt, Turkey, and other surrounding countries in the region, 
2:30 p.m., 1100, Longworth Building.