[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 92 (Thursday, June 5, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D695-D697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
ANIMAL DRUG PROPOSALS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Committee Prints on Administration Legislative Proposals on 
the Animal Drug User Fee Act Amendments of 2008 and the Animal Generic 
Drug User Fee Act of 2008.'' Testimony was heard from Bernadette 
Dunham, D.V.M., Director, Center for Veterinary Medicine, FDA, 
Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses.

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MULTILATERAL CLEAN TECHNOLOGY FUND
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Domestic and 
International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology held a hearing 
entitled ``Examining the Administration's Proposal to Establish a 
Multilateral Clean Technology Fund.'' Testimony was heard from David H. 
McCormick, Under Secretary, International Affairs, Department of the 
Treasury; and public witnesses.
IRAN'S NUCLEAR ASPIRATIONS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East and South 
Asia held a hearing on More Than Just Enrichment: Iran's Strategic 
Aspirations and the Future of the Middle East. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
COMBATING TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and 
Global Counterterrorism held a hearing entitled ``The Merida 
Initiative: Examining U.S. Efforts to Combat Transnational Criminal 
Organizations.'' Testimony was heard from Paul Rosenzweig, Assistant 
Secretary (Acting), Office of International Affairs and Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Policy, Department of Homeland Security; and David 
T. Johnson, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and 
Law Enforcement Affairs, Department of State.
PROTECTING EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES IN BUSINESS BANKRUPTCIES ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and 
Administrative Law held a hearing on H.R. 3652, Protecting Employees 
and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act of 2007. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
MAHER ARAR DEPORTATION INVESTIGATION
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil 
Rights, and Civil Liberties and the Subcommittee on International 
Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight of the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs held a joint hearing on U.S. Department of Homeland Security 
Inspector General Report OIG-08-18: The Removal of a Canadian Citizen 
to Syria. Testimony was heard from Robert L. Skinner, Inspector 
General, Department of Homeland Security; Clark Kent Ervin, former 
Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security; and a public 
witness.
TRIBAL FUNDS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Held a hearing on the following bills: 
H.R. 2306, Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Judgment Fund Distribution Act of 
2007; and H.R. 3699, To provide for the use and distribution of the 
funds awarded to the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe in Minnesota Chippewa 
Tribe v United States, Docket Nos. 19 and 188 United States Court of 
Federal Claims. Testimony was heard from Representatives Oberstar and 
Peterson of Minnesota; Jerry Gidner, Director, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, Department of the Interior; and Tribal leaders.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests 
and Public Lands held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 573, 
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Corrections Act; H.R. 3702, Montana 
Cemetery Act of 2007; H.R. 3809, To amend the Delaware and Lehigh 
National Heritage Corridor Act of 1988 regarding the local coordinating 
entity of the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor; H.R. 
4199, To amend the Dayton Aviation Heritage Preservation Act of 1992 to 
add sites to the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park; 
H.R. 4828, Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site Boundary 
Expansion Act of 2007; and H.E. 5583, Grand Canyon Watersheds 
Protection Act of 2008. Testimony was heard from Representatives 
Visclosky, Kanjorski, Turner, Dent and Rehberg; Katherine H. Stevenson, 
Assistant Director, Business Services, National Park Service, 
Department of the Interior; Mark Rey, Under Secretary, Natural 
Resources and Environment, USDA; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--FEDERAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Government Management, Organization, and Procurement held a hearing on 
Oversight of Federal Financial Management. Testimony was heard from 
Gene L. Dodaro, Acting Comptroller General of the United States, GAO; 
Daniel Werful, Deputy Controller, OMB; and J. David Patterson, 
Principal Deputy Under Secretary (Comptroller), Department of Defense.
FEDERAL OCEAN ACIDIFICATION RESEARCH AND MONITORING ACT
Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy and 
Environment held a hearing on H.R. 4174, Federal Ocean Acidification 
Research and Monitoring Act of 2007. Testimony was heard from Richard 
A. Feely, Supervisory Chemical Oceanographer, Pacific Marine 
Environmental Laboratory,

[[Page D697]]

NOAA, Department of Commerce; and public witnesses.
HOUSING CRISISTAX INCENTIVES TO STIMULATE ECONOMY
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``The Housing 
CrisiSIdentifying Tax Incentives to Stimulate the Economy.'' Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
MAINTAINING HIGHWAYS/TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Highways and Transit held a hearing on Maintaining our Nation's Highway 
and Transit Infrastructure. Testimony was heard from Pete K. Rahn, 
Director, Department of Transportation, State of Missouri; Allen D. 
Biehler, Secretary of Transportation, State of Pennsylvania; and public 
witnesses.
RAILROAD HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials held a hearing on 
Historic Preservation of Railroad Property and Facilities. Testimony 
was heard from John M. Fowler, Executive Director, Advisory Council on 
Historic Preservation; Patrick B. Simmons, Director, Rail Division, 
Department of Transportation, State of North Carolina; Elizabeth 
Merritt, Deputy General Counsel, National Trust for Historic 
Preservation; and public witnesses.
VETERANS' MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health approved for 
full Committee action, as amended, the following bills: H.R. 2818, To 
amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the establishment of 
Epilepsy Centers of Excellence in the Veterans Health Administration of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs; and H.R. 2192, To amend title 38, 
United States Code, to establish an Ombudsman within the Department of 
Veterans Affairs.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 
4089, To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the collective 
bargaining rights and procedures for review of adverse actions of 
certain employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other 
purposes; H.R. 4463, Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act; and 
H.R. 5888, To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran 
eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for 
emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility. Testimony 
was heard from Representatives Filner, Doyle and Walz of Minnnesota; 
and Gerald M. Cross, M.D., Principal Deputy Under Secretary, Health, 
Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.