[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 102 (Thursday, June 19, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D777-D779]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS FISCAL YEAR 2008
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
approved for full Committee action the Agriculture, Rural Development, 
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations for 
Fiscal Year 2009.
LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, EDUCATION, AND RELATED APPROPRIATIONS 
FISCAL YEAR 2009
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, Education, and Related Agencies approved for full Committee 
action the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related 
Agencies Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2009.
WORKPLACE INJURIES AND ILLNESSES--UNDERREPORTING
Committee on Education and Labor: Held a hearing on Hidden Tragedy: 
Underreporting of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses. Testimony was heard 
from: John Ruser, Assistant Commandant, Safety and Health Statistics, 
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor; Bob Whitmore, former 
Chief, OSHA Division of Recordkeeping, Department of Labor; and public 
witnesses.
STATE OF THOROUGHBRED RACING
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection held a hearing entitled ``Breeding, Drugs, and 
Breakdowns: The State of Thoroughbred Horseracing and the Welfare of 
the Thoroughbred Racehorse.'' Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Air 
Quality held a hearing entitled ``Legislative Proposals to Reduce 
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: An Overview.'' Testimony was heard from 
Douglas P. Scott, Director, Environmental Protection Agency, State of 
Illinois; and public witnesses.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRESERVATION
Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing entitled ``Affordable 
Housing and Preservation and Protection of Tenants.'' Testimony was 
heard from John L. Garvin, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Multi-Family 
Housing Programs and Senior Advisor to the Federal Housing 
Commissioner, Department of Housing and Urban Development; Shaun 
Donovan, Commissioner, Department of Housing Preservation and 
Development, City of New York; Clarence Snuggs, Deputy Secretary, 
Department of Housing and Community Development, State of Maryland; and 
public witnesses.
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR UNDERGRADUATES FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on International 
Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight and the Subcommittee on 
Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness of the 
Committee on Education and Labor held a joint hearing on Restoring 
America's Leadership through Scholarships for Undergraduates from 
Developing Countries: The Uniting Students in America (USA) Proposal. 
Testimony was heard from George Scott, Director, Education, Workforce, 
and Income Security Team, GAO; and public witnesses.
INTERNATIONAL GENETICS REGULATIONS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Terrorism, 
Nonproliferation and Trade held a hearing on Genetics and other Human 
Modification Technologies: Sensible International Regulation of New 
Kind of Arms Race. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
FALSE CLAIMS ACT CORRECTION ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and 
Intellectual Property and the Subcommittee on Commercial and 
Administrative Law held a joint hearing on H.R. 4854, False Claims Act 
Correction Act. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--UTAH NAVAJO TRUST FUND
Committee on Natural Resources: Held an oversight hearing on Utah 
Navajo Trust Fund. Testimony was heard from Ross O. Swimmer, Special 
Trustee for American Indians, Department of the Interior; Tani Pack 
Downing, Deputy Chief of Staff and General Counsel, Office of the 
Governor, State of Utah; and public witnesses.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT--GRANTMAKING PRACTICES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Held a hearing on 
Examining Grantmaking Practices at the Department of Justice. Testimony 
was heard from J. Robert Flores, Administrator, Office of Juvenile 
Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, 
Department of Justice.

[[Page D778]]


FISA ACT AMENDMENTS OF 2008
Committee on Rules: Committee granted, by a non-record vote, a closed 
rule providing for consideration of H.R. 6304, the ``FISA Amendments 
Act of 2008.'' The rule provides for 1 hour of debate equally divided 
among and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the 
Committee on the Judiciary and the chairman and ranking minority member 
of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
  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 the bill shall be considered as read. The rule waives all 
points of order against provisions of the bill. The rule provides one 
motion to recommit with or without instructions. Finally, the rule 
permits the Chair, during consideration of the bill, to postpone 
further consideration of it to a time designated by the Speaker. 
Testimony was heard from Chairman Reyes and Representative Jackson-Lee 
of Texas.
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FY 2008--PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF 
SENATE AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE AMENDMENTS TO SENATE AMENDMENT
Committee on Rules: Committee granted, by a non-record vote, a rule 
providing for consideration of the Senate amendments to the House 
amendments to the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 2642), the 
``Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008.'' The rule would make in order 
a motion offered by the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations 
that the House (1) concur in the Senate amendment to the House 
amendment numbered 1 and (2) concur in the Senate amendment to the 
House amendment numbered 2 with the amendment printed in the Rules 
Committee report.
  The rule waives all points of order against the motion except those 
arising under clause 10 of rule XXI. The motion shall be debatable for 
1 hour equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. The Senate 
amendment and the motion shall be considered as read. The Chair shall 
divide the question between the dispositions of the two Senate 
amendments.
  Notwithstanding the operation of the previous question, the Chair may 
postpone consideration of the motion to a time designated by the 
Speaker. The rule permits the chairman of the Committee on 
Appropriations to insert in the Congressional Record dated June 19, 
2008, such material as he may deem explanatory of the motion.
  The rule provides that it shall be in order to consider a concurrent 
resolution providing for the adjournment of the House and Senate during 
the month of July. Testimony was heard from Chairman Obey and 
Representatives Woolsey, Lee and Shays.
FEDERAL WEATHER SATELLITE PROGRAM
Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy and 
Environment held a hearing on an Insecure Forecast for Continuity of 
Climate and Weather Data: The NPOESS Weather Satellite Program. 
Testimony was heard from David Powner, Director, Information Technology 
Management Issues, GAO; VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., USN (Ret.), 
Under Secretary, Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator, NOAA, 
Department of Commerce.
SMALL BUSINESS EXPORTS
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``Small Business 
Exports in the Current Economic Climate.'' Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard, and Maritime Transportation held a hearing on Federal Maritime 
Commission Management and Regulation of International Shipping. 
Testimony was heard from the following Commissioners of the Federal 
Maritime Commission: Rebecca F. Dye; Joseph E. Brennan; and Harold J. 
Creel, Jr., and public witnesses.
MISSISSIPPI REDEVELOPMENT
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Economic Opportunity held a hearing on Moving Mississippi Forward: 
Ongoing Progress and Remaining Problems. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Taylor, Thompson of Mississippi, and Pickering; Sidney 
Melton, Director, Mississippi Transitional Recovery Office, FEMA, 
Department of Homeland Security; Michael Womack, Director, Emergency 
Management Agency, States of Mississippi; and public witnesses.
VETERANS MEASURES
Committee on Veterans Affairs: Held a hearing on the following bills: 
H.R. 2721, to amend title 10. United States Code, to require the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop, and the Secretary of Defense 
to distribute to members of the Armed Forces upon their discharge or 
release from active duty, information in a compact disc read-only 
memory format that lists and explains the health, education, and other 
benefits for which veterans are eligible under the laws administered by 
the Secretary of Veterans; H.R. 2786, Servicemembers Telecom Contract 
Relief Act; H.R. 6070, Military Spouses Residency Relief Act;

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H.R. 4255, United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Program Act of 
2007; H.R. 6221, Veteran-Owned Small Business Protection and 
Clarification Act of 2008; H.R. 6224, Pilot College Work Study Programs 
for Veterans Act of 2008; H.R. 6225, Injunctive Relief for Veterans Act 
of 2008; and H.R. 6272, To authorize discretionary appropriations to 
carry out the Service Members Occupational Conversion and Training Act 
of 1992, Testimony was heard from Representatives Filner, Zoe Lofgren 
of California, Cardoza, Carter, and Welch of Vermont; R. Keith Pedigo, 
Associate Deputy Under Secretary, Policy and Program Management, 
Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; 
representatives of veterans organizations; and public witnesses.
ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENTS STATUS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight, and the 
Subcommittee on Social Security held a joint hearing on Economic 
Stimulus Payments. Testimony was heard from the following officials of 
the IRS, Department of the Treasury: Douglas H. Shulman, Commissioner; 
and Nina E. Olson, National Taxpayer Advocate; and Linda McMahon. 
Deputy Commissioner, Operations, SSA.
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.

Joint Meetings
ILLEGAL DRUGS
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the 
drug policy of the United States, focusing on the economic impact, 
societal costs, and policy responses, after receiving testimony from 
Peter Reuter, University of Maryland School of Public Policy and 
Department of Criminology, College Park; John M. Walsh, Washington 
Office on Latin America, Washington, D.C.; and Anne J. Swern and Norma 
Fernandes, both of Kings County, Brooklyn, New York.