[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 122 (Thursday, July 24, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D945-D947]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
AGRICULTURE PRODUCERS RENEWABLE FUELS STANDARD ELIGIBILITY
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, 
and Research held a hearing to review Renewable Fuels Standard 
implementation and agriculture producer eligibility. Testimony was 
heard from Robert Meyers, Principal Deputy Administrator, Office of Air 
and Radiation, EPA; Arthur Blazer, Forestry Division, Department of 
Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources, State of New Mexico; and public 
witnesses.
PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT; IMPROVING PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Committee on Education and Labor: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 
1338, Paycheck Fairness Act.
  The Committee also held a hearing on the Benefits of Physical and 
Health Education for our Nation's Children. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Kind and Wamp; Lori Rose Benson, Director, Fitness and 
Health Education, Department of Education, New York City; Richard 
Simmons, Fitness Expert; Tim Brown, former Oakland Raider; and public 
witnesses.
CARBON SEQUESTRATION'S DRINKING WATER RISKS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and 
Hazardous Materials held a hearing entitled ``Carbon Sequestration: 
Risks, Opportunities, and Protection of Drinking Water.'' Testimony was 
heard from Benjamin Grumbles, Assistant Administrator, Office of Water, 
EPA; Robert C. Burruss, Research Geologist, Energy Resources Team, U.S. 
Geological Survey, Department of the Interior; Scott M. Klara, 
Director, Strategic Center for Coal, National Energy Technology 
Laboratory, Department of Energy; and public witnesses.
LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Long-Term Care Insurance: Are 
Consumers Protected for the Long Term?'' Testimony was heard from John 
E. Dicken, Director, Health Care, GAO; Jack E. Vogelsong, Chief, 
Division of Long Term Living Outreach and Education, Department of 
Aging, State of Pennsylvania; Sean Dilweg, Commissioner of Insurance, 
State of Wisconsin; Kevin M. McCarty, Commissioner of Insurance, State 
of Florida; Eric Dinallo, Superintendent, Department of Insurance, 
State of New York; Mike Kreidler, Commissioner, Office of the Insurance 
Commissioner, State of Washington; and public witnesses.
FINANCIAL MARKETS REGULATORY RESTRUCTURING; WEAK DOLLAR'S ECONOMIC 
IMPLICATIONS
Committee on Financial Services: Continued hearings entitled ``Systemic 
Risk and the Financial Markets.'' Testimony was heard from Christopher 
Cox, Chairman, SEC; and Timothy F. Geithner, President and Chief 
Executive Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Federal Reserve 
System.
  The Committee also held a hearing entitled ``Implications of a Weaker 
Dollar for Oil Prices and the U.S. Economy.'' Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.

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MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Ordered reported H.R. 6574, United 
States-Russian Federation Nuclear Cooperation Agreement Act of 2008.
  By unanimous consent, the Committee urged the Chairman to request 
that the following resolutions be considered on the Suspension 
Calendar: H. Res. 1370, amended, Calling on the Government of the 
People's Republic of China to immediately end its abuses of the human 
rights of its citizens, to cease repression of Tibetan and Uighur 
citizens, and to end its support for the Governments of Sudan and Burma 
to ensure that the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games take place in an 
atmosphere that honors the Olympic traditions of freedom and openness; 
H. Res. 1369, Recognizing nongovernmental organizations working to 
bring just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians; H. Res. 
1351, amended, Expressing support for the United Nations African Union 
Mission in Darfur (NAMID) and calling upon United Nations Member States 
and the international community to contribute the resources necessary 
to ensure the success of UNAMID; H. Res. 1361, Expressing the sense of 
the House of Representatives that the United States should lead a high-
level diplomatic effort to defeat the campaign by some members of the 
Organization of Islamic Conference to divert the United Nation's Durban 
Review Conference from a review of problems in their own and other 
countries by attacking Israel, promoting anti-Semitism, and undermining 
the Universal Charter of Human Rights and to ensure that the Durban 
Review Conference serves as a forum to review commitments to combat all 
forms of racism; and H. Con. Res. 374, amended, Supporting the spirit 
of peace and desire for unity displayed in the letter from 138 Muslim 
scholars, and in the Pope's response.
NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Terrorism, 
Nonproliferation and Trade, hearing on Saving the NPT and the 
Nonproliferation Regime in an Era of Nuclear Renaissance. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
STATE VIDEO TAX FAIRNESS ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and 
Administrative Law approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 
3679, State Video Tax Fairness Act of 2007.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2004 LESSONS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil 
Rights, and Civil Liberties held a hearing on Lessons Learned from the 
2004 Presidential Election. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
IMMIGRATION RAIDS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, 
Refugees, Border Security, and International Law held a hearing on 
Immigration Raids: Postville and Beyond. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Braley of Iowa; Jackson-Lee of Texas, Woolsey, and 
David Davis of Tennessee; Deborah Rhodes, Senior Associate Deputy 
Attorney General, Department of Justice; March Forman Director of 
Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of 
Homeland Security; and public witnesses.
MARINE SANCTUARY MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and 
Oceans held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 6537, Sanctuary 
Enhancement Act of 2008; and H.R. 6204, Thunder Bay National Marine 
Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve Boundary Modification Act. Testimony 
was heard from Representatives Ros-Lehtinen and McCotter; John 
Dunnigan, Assistant Administrator, Ocean Services and Coastal Zone 
Management, National Ocean Service, NOAA, Department of Commerce; and 
public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--DISABLED ACCESS TO FEDERAL LANDS
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests 
and Public Lands held an oversight hearing on Expanding Access to 
Federal Lands for People with Disabilities. Testimony was heard from 
James S. Bedwell, Director, Recreation, Heritage, and Volunteer 
Resources, Forest Service, USDA; Stephen E. Whitesell, Associate 
Director, Park Planning, Facilities, and Lands, National Park Service, 
Department of the Interior; Carole Fraser, Universal Access 
Coordinator, Division of Lands and Forests, Department of Environmental 
Conservation, New York State; and public witnesses.
MEDICARE DRUG BENEFIT DISCOUNTS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Held a hearing entitled 
``The Medicare Drug Benefit: Are Private Insurers Getting Good 
Discounts for the Taxpayer?'' Testimony was heard from Kerry Weems, 
Acting Administrator, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 
Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses.
POSTAL REFORM
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federal 
Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia held a hearing 
entitled

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``The Three R's of the Postal Network Plan: Realignment, Right-Sizing, 
and Responsiveness.'' Testimony was heard from Phillip Herr, Director, 
Physical Infrastructure Issues, GAO; the following officials of the 
U.S. Postal Service: David Williams, Inspector General; and Patrick 
Donahoe, Deputy Postmaster General; John Waller, Director, Office of 
Accountability and Compliance, Postal Regulatory Commission; and public 
witnesses.
STRENGTHENING WINDSTORM HAZARD MITIGATION
Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Technology and 
Innovation held a hearing on The National Windstorm Impact Reduction 
Program: Strengthening Windstorm Hazard Mitigation. Testimony was heard 
from Sharon L. Hays, Associate Director, Office of Science and 
Technology Policy; and public witnesses.
SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC STIMULUS
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``Economic 
Stimulus for Small Business: A Look Back and Assessing Need for 
Additional Relief.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
COMMERCIAL TRUCK DRIVER MEDICAL OVERSIGHT
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Held a hearing on 
FMCSA's Progress in Improving Medical Oversight of Commercial Drivers. 
Testimony was heard from Mitchell A. Garber, M.D., Medical Officer, 
National Transportation Safety Board; Gregory D. Kutz, Managing 
Director, Forensic Audits and Special Investigations, GAO; and Rose 
McMurray, Chief Safety Officer and Assistant Administrator, Federal 
Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Department of Transportation.
AVIATION SECURITY UPDATE
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation held a hearing on Aviation Security: An Update. Testimony was 
heard from Kip Hawley, Assistant Secretary, Transportation Security 
Administration, Department of Homeland Security; Cathleen Berrick, 
Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues, GAO; Timothy L. 
Campbell, Executive Director, Aviation Administration, State of 
Maryland; and public witnesses.
PROMOTING HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on 
promoting health information technology. Testimony was heard from Peter 
R. Orszag, Director, CBO; and public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
SMALL MARKET DRUGS
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the 
escalating prices of certain prescription drugs, focusing on the impact 
on the pharmaceutical market, hospital budgets, and patients' medical 
bills, especially people with rare diseases, after receiving testimony 
from Madeline M. Carpinelli, University of Minnesota College of 
Pharmacy PRIME Institute, and Alan L. Goldbloom, Children's Hospitals 
and Clinics of Minnesota, both of Minneapolis; and Danielle Foltz, 
Providence, Rhode Island.