[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 97 (Thursday, June 12, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D738-D740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FISCAL 
YEAR 2009
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies approved for full Committee action the 
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations for 
Fiscal Year 2009.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS FISCAL YEAR 2009
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies approved for full Committee 
action the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related 
Agencies Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2009.
CHEMICAL FACILITY SECURITY
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and 
Hazardous Materials held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 5533, 
Chemical Facilities Act of 2008; and HR. 5577, Chemical Facility Anti-
Terrorism Act of 2008. Testimony was heard from Benjamin Grumbles, 
Assistant Administrator. Office of Water, EPA; Robert B. Stephan, 
Assistant Secretary, Infrastructure Protection, National Protection and 
Programs Directorate, Department of Homeland Security; and public 
witnesses.
SUBPOENAS--FOOD SAFETY RECORDS; FDA'S FOOD PROTECTION PLAN
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations met and approved the issuance of subpoenas for records 
in connection with the Subcommittee's ongoing investigation regarding 
the safety of the Nation's food supply.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing entitled ``American Lives Still 
at Risk: When Will FDA's Food Protection Plan Be Fully Funded and 
Implemented?'' Testimony was heard from Lisa Shames, Director, Food and 
Agriculture Issues, GAO: David W. K. Acheson, M.D., Assistant 
Commissioner, Food Protection, FDA, Department of Homeland Security; 
and public witnesses.
RUSSIA, IRAN AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Held a hearing on Russia, Iran, and 
Nuclear Weapons: Implications of the Proposed U.S.-Russia Agreement. 
Testimony was heard from Representative Markey; John C. Rood, Acting 
Under Secretary, Arms Control and International Security, Department of 
State; Robert J.

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Einhorn, former Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Nonproliferation, 
Department of State; and public witnesses.
U.S.-JAPAN RELATIONS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and 
the Global Environment, hearing on U.S.-Japan Relations: An Overview. 
Testimony was heard from Alexander A. Arvizu, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of 
State; and a public witness.
FAIR HOUSING ACT ENFORCEMENT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil 
Rights, and Civil Liberties held a hearing on the Enforcement of the 
Fair Housing Act of 1968. Testimony was heard from Jessie Liu, Deputy 
Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, Department of 
Justice; Kim Kendrick, Assistant Secretary, Office of Fair Housing and 
Equal Opportunity, Department of Housing and Urban Development; and 
public witnesses.
GREEN CARDS--HIGHLY-SKILLED WORKER
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigrations, Citizenship, 
Refugees, Border Security and International Law held a hearing on the 
Need for Green Cards for Highly Skilled Workers. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
CARBON DIOXIDE--ENHANCES OIL RECOVERY
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral 
Resources held an oversight hearing on Spinning Straw Into Black Gold: 
Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Carbon Dioxide. Testimony was heard from 
Timothy Spisak, Chief, Fluid Minerals Division, Bureau of Land 
Management, Department of the Interior; Scott Klara, Director, 
Strategic Center for Coal, National Energy Technology Laboratory, 
Department of Energy; and public witnesses.
U.S.-PALAU FREE ASSOCIATION
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Insular Affairs held an 
oversight hearing on the Implementation of the Compact of Free 
Associations Between the United States and the Republic of Palau. 
Testimony was heard from Tom Bussanich, Director, Budget Grants 
Management Division, Office of Insular Affairs, Department of the 
Interior; Glyn T. Davies, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau 
of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State; David Gootnick, 
Director, International Affairs and Trade, GAO; and Billy Kuartei, 
Chief of Staff to H. E. Tommy Remengesau, Republic of Palau.
OVERSIGHT--HYDROPOWER
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power held an 
oversight hearing on Hydropower: Providing 75% of America's Current 
Renewable Energy, Exploring its role as a continued source of Clean, 
Renewable Energy for the Future. Testimony was heard from Bob Johnson, 
Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior; Howard 
Gruenspecht, Deputy Administrator, Energy Information Administration, 
Department of Energy; Bob Morton, member, Senate, State of Washington; 
and public witnesses.
ABRAMOFF INVESTIGATION REPORT; MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Approved a Committee 
report entitled ``Jack Abramoff's Contacts with White House 
Officials.''
  The Committee also ordered reported the following measures: H. Res. 
984, Expressing the support for the designation of July 26, 2008, as 
National Day of the Cowboy; H. Res. 1002, amended, Expressing the 
support for the designation of April 2008 as Public Radio Recognition 
Month; H. Res 1029, amended, Congratulating and recognizing Mr. Juan 
Antonio ``Chi Chi'' Rodriguez for his continuing success on and off the 
golf course, for his generosity and devotion to charity, and for his 
exemplary dedication to the intellectual and moral growth of thousands 
of low-income and disadvantaged youth in our country; H. Res. 1219, 
Celebrating the symbol of the United States flag and supporting the 
goals and ideals of Flag Day; H. Res. 1237, Recognizing the historical 
significance of Juneteenth Independence Day, and expressing the sense 
of the House of Representatives that history should be regarded as a 
means for understanding the past and more effectively facing the 
challenges of the future; H. Con. Res. 195, Expressing the sense of 
Congress that a National Dysphagia Awareness Month should be 
established; H. Con. Res. 370, Expressing support for the designation 
of Gospel Music Heritage Month and honoring gospel music for its 
valuable contributions to American culture; H.R. 4010, To designate the 
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 West Percy 
Street in Mississippi, as the ``Minnie Cox Post Office Building''; H.R. 
5506, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service 
located at 369 Martin Luther Jr. Drive in Jersey City, New Jersey, as 
the ``Bishop Ralph E. Brower Post Office Building''; H.R. 5975, To 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
101 West Main Street in Waterville, New York, as the ``Cpl. John P. 
Sigsbee Post Office''; H.R. 6061, To designate the facility of the 
United States Postal Service located at 219 East Main Street

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in West Frankfort, Illinois, as the ``Kenneth James Gray Post Office 
Building''; H.R. 6085, To designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 42222 Rancho Las Palmas Drive in Rancho 
Mirage, California, as the ``Gerald R. Ford Post Office Building''; 
H.R. 6092, To designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 101 Tallapoosa Street in Bremen, Georgia, as the 
``Sergeant Paul Saylor Post Office Building''; H.R. 6150, To designate 
the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14500 
Lorain Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio, as the `` John P. Gallagher Post 
Office Building''; and S. 171, To designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 301 Street in Commerce, Oklahoma, as 
the ``Mickey Mantle Post Office Building.''
EPA'S INTEGRATED RISK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Investigation and 
Oversight held a hearing on Toxic Communities: How EPA's IRIS Program 
Fails the Public. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS TAX REPORTING
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``Electronic 
Payments Tax Reporting: Another Tax Burden for Small Businesses.'' 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MARITIME COMMERCIAL VESSEL DISCHARGES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment held a hearing on Discharges Incidental to 
the Normal Operation of a Commercial Vessel. Testimony was heard from 
James Hanlon, Director, Office of Wastewater Management, EPA; Andrew 
Fisk, Bureau Director, Land and Water Quality, Department of 
Environmental Protection, State of Maine; William W. Walker, Executive 
Director, Department of Marine Resources, State of Mississippi; and 
public witnesses.
VETERAN'S MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance 
and Memorial Affairs held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 1197, 
Prisoner of War Benefits Act of 2007; H.R. 3008, Rural Veterans 
Services Outreach and Training Act; H.R. 3070, Disabled Veterans' 
Caregiver Compensation Act; H.R. 3795, You Were There, You Get Care Act 
of 2007; H.R. 4274, Gold Star Parents Annuity Act of 2007; H.R. 5155, 
Combat Veterans Debt Elimination Act of 2008; H.R. 5448, Full Faith in 
Veterans Act of 2008; H.R. 5454, To amend title 38, United States Code, 
to establish a presumption of service connection of amyotrophic lateral 
sclerosis for purposes of the laws administered by the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs; H.R. 5709, Veterans Disability Fairness Act; H.R. 
5954, To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide veterans for 
presumptions of service connection for purposes of benefits under laws 
administered by Secretary of Veterans Affairs for diseases associated 
with service in the Armed Forces and exposure to biological, chemical, 
or other toxic agents as part of Project 112, and for other purposes; 
H.R. 5985, Compensation for Combat Veterans Act; and H.R. 6032, To 
amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to provide wartime disability compensation for certain veterans 
with Parkinson's Disease. Testimony was heard from Representatives Wu, 
Shea-Porter, Allen, Thompson of California; and Rehberg; Bradley G. 
Mayes, Director, Compensation Pension Services, Veterans Benefits 
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Sidath Viranga 
Panangala. Analyst, Veterans Policy, CRS, Library of Congress; 
representatives of veterans organizations; and public witnesses.
BRIEFING--DOD PROGRAMS
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on DOD Programs. The Committee was briefed by LTG 
James Clapper, USAF (Ret.), Under Secretary of Defense, Intelligence.
GLOBAL CHANGE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ASSESSMENT
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on 
Intelligence Community Management met in executive session to receive a 
briefing on Global Change National Intelligence Assessment. The 
Subcommittee was briefed by departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings
IRAQ WAR FUNDING
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the 
future costs of funding the war in Iraq, after receiving testimony from 
Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, Helena; and Christine Eibner, RAND 
Corporation, Captain Tom Tarantino (Ret.) USA, Iraq and Afghanistan 
Veterans of America (IAVA), and William W. Beach, Heritage Foundation, 
all of Washington, D.C.