[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 29, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D516-D517]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE PROGRAM
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense/Select 
Intelligence Oversight Panel met in executive session to hold a hearing 
on the Military Intelligence Program. Testimony was heard from James R. 
Clapper, Jr., Under Secretary, Intelligence, Department of Defense.
HEPARIN DISASTER
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``The Heparin Disaster: Chinese 
Counterfeits and American Failures.'' Testimony was heard from Janet 
Woodcock, M.D. Director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA, 
Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--DEFENSE DEPARTMENT ACQUISITIONS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Subcommittee on 
National Security and Foreign Affairs held a joint hearing on Oversight 
of Defense Department Acquisitions. Testimony was heard from Michael J. 
Sullivan, Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, GAO; and from 
the following officials of the Department of Defense: David Patterson, 
Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Comptroller; and James Finley, 
Deputy Under Secretary, Acquisition and Technology.

[[Page D517]]


MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; RECRUITING AND RETAINING FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federal 
Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia approved for 
full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 5550, amended, To amend 
title 5, United States Code, to increase the maximum age to qualify for 
coverage as a ``child'' under the health benefits program for Federal 
employees; and H.R. 5912, To amend title 39, United States Code, to 
make cigarettes and certain other tobacco products nonmailable, and for 
other purposes.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on Catching Up Benefits That 
Will Help Recruit and Retain Federal Employees. Testimony was heard 
from Greg Long, Executive Director, Federal Retirement Thrift 
Investment Board; Daniel A. Green, Deputy Associate Director, Employee 
and Family Support Policy, Strategic Human Resources Policy Division, 
OPM; and public witnesses.
COMBUSTIBLE DUST EXPLOSION AND FIRE PREVENTION ACT OF 2008
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a structured rule. The rule 
provides one hour of general debate on H.R. 5522, the Combustible Dust 
Explosion and Fire Prevention Act of 2008, equally divided and 
controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee 
on Education and Labor. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of the bill except clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI. The rule 
provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended 
by the Committee on Education and Labor now printed in the bill shall 
be considered as an original bill for the 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 except for clause 
10 of rule XXI.
  The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in the Rules 
Committee report. The amendments made in order 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 the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to 
amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for a division of the 
question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. All points of 
order against the amendments except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI 
are waived. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions. The rule provides that, 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 by 
Chairman George Miller of California, and Representatives McKeon and 
Wilson of South Carolina.
SENATE AMENDMENT--GENETIC INFORMATION NONDISCRIMINATION ACT OF 2008
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a voice vote, a rule making in order a 
motion by the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor to 
concur in the Senate amendment. The rule waives all points of order 
against the motion except clause 10 of rule XXI. The rule provides that 
the Senate amendment and the motion shall be considered as read. The 
rule provides one hour of debate on the motion with 20 minutes equally 
divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of 
the Committee on Education and Labor; 20 minutes equally divided and 
controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee 
Energy and Commerce; and 20 minutes equally divided and controlled by 
the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee Ways and 
Means. The rule further provides that the Chair may postpone further 
consideration of the motion to a time designated by the Speaker. 
Testimony was heard by Chairman George Miller of California and 
Representative McKeon.
GLOBAL WARMING'S IMPACT ON OCEANS
Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming: Held a 
hearing entitled ``Rising Taxes, Rising Temperatures: Global Warming's 
Impact on the Oceans.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
EUROPE'S BLACK POPULATION
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded 
a hearing to examine challenges and opportunities of Europe's Black 
population, focusing on hate crimes and discrimination, anti-
immigration and national identity debates, and growing security 
concerns, after receiving testimony from Joe Frans, United Nations 
Working Group on People of African Descent, former Swedish 
Parliamentarian, Stockholm, Sweden; Gary Younge, The Guardian, New 
York, New York; Allison Blakeley, Boston University, Boston, 
Massachusetts; Philomena Essed, Dutch Equal Treatment Commission, 
Berkeley, California; and Clarence Lusane, American University, 
Washington, D.C.