[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 9, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D858-D860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT AMENDMENTS
Committee on Agriculture: Held a hearing to review legislation amending 
the Commodity Exchange Act. Testimony was heard from Representatives 
Matheson, Van Hollen, DeLauro, Stupak, Larson of Connecticut, and Welch 
of Vermont.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.

[[Page D859]]


IRAQI SECURITY FORCES DEVELOPMENT
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on an update on efforts to 
develop and support the Iraqi Security Forces. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the Department of Defense: LTG James Dubik, 
USA, Commander, Multi Security Transition Command--Iraq; and 
Christopher Straub, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Middle Eastern Affairs, 
Office of the Secretary.
DEFENSE LANGUAGE/CULTURAL AWARENESS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on Defense Language and Cultural 
Awareness Transformation: To What End? At What Cost? Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
FOOD PRICES' CHILD NUTRITION IMPACTS
Committee on Education and Labor: Held a hearing on the Rising Cost of 
Food and Its Impact on Federal Child Nutrition Programs. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the USDA: Kate Houston, Deputy 
Under Secretary, Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services; and Ephraim 
Leibtag, Economist; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health approved for 
full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 2851, amended, 
Michelle's Law; H.R. 6432, Animal Drug User Fee Amendments of 2008; and 
H.R. 6433, Animal Generic Drug User Fee Act of 2008.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital Markets, 
Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises approved for full 
Committee action the following: H.R. 5840, amended, Insurance 
Information Act of 2008; H.R. 5792, amended, Increasing Insurance 
Coverage Options for Consumers Act of 2008; H.R. 5611, amended, 
National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers Reform Act of 
2008; and the Securities Act of 2008.
HOUSING/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Community 
Opportunity held a hearing entitled ``Federal Spending Requirements in 
Housing and Community Development Programs: Challenges in 2008 and 
Beyond.'' Testimony was heard from Dominique Blom, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Office of Public Housing Investments, Department of Housing 
and Urban Development; and public witnesses.
U.S. POLICY TOWARD IRAN
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Held a hearing on U.S. Policy Toward 
Iran. Testimony was heard from William J. Burns, Under Secretary, 
Political Affairs, Department of State.
EUROPE-ISRAEL DIPLOMACY
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Europe and the 
Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia held a joint hearing on 
Europe and Israel: Strengthening the Partnership. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
POST-9/11--PROTECTING MASS GATHERINGS
Committee on Homeland Security: Held a hearing entitled ``The Challenge 
of Protecting Mass Gatherings in a Post-9/11 World.'' Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the Department of Homeland 
Security: COL Robert B. Stephan, USAF (Ret.), Assistant Secretary, 
Infrastructure Protection; and VADM Roger R. Rufe, Jr., USCG (Ret.), 
Director, Operations Directorate; SGT Scott McCartney, Office of the 
Governor, State of California; and public witnesses.
FORMALDEHYDE IN FEMA TRAILERS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Held a hearing on 
Manufacturers of FEMA Trailers and Elevated Formaldehyde Levels. 
Testimony was heard from Michael McGeehin, Director, Environmental 
Hazards and Health Effects, National Center for Environmental Health, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and 
Human Services; and public witnesses.
TRUCK WEIGHTS AND LENGTHS REGULATIONS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Highways and Transit held a hearing on Truck Weights and Lengths: 
Assessing the Impacts of Existing Laws and Regulations. Testimony was 
heard from Jeffrey F. Paniati, Executive Director, Federal Highway 
Administration, Department of Transportation; David Cole, Commissioner, 
Department of Transportation, State of Maine; Jeff G. Honefanger, 
Manager, Special Hauling Permits, Department of Transportation, State 
of Ohio; and public witnesses.
TREATING PTSD WITH SUICIDE-INDUCING DRUGS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held a hearing on Why Does the VA 
Continue to Give a Suicide-Inducing Drug to Veterans with PTSD? 
Testimony

[[Page D860]]

was heard from the following officials of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs: James B. Peake, M.D., Secretary; and John D. Daigh, Jr., M.D., 
Assistant Inspector General, Health Care Inspections, Office of 
Inspector General; Paul Seligman, M.D., Associate Director, Safety 
Policy and Communication, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA, 
Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses.
COLUMBIA HOSTAGE SITUATION
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Meet in executive session 
to receive a briefing on Colombia Hostage Situation. The Committee was 
briefed by departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.