[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 30, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D988-D991]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
RURAL ELECTRICITY RELIABILITY
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, 
and Research held a hearing to review electricity reliability in rural 
America. Testimony was heard from Jim Andrew, Administrator, Rural 
Development Electric Programs, USDA; Cynthia A. Marlette, General 
Counsel, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy; 
Former Representative Glenn English of Oklahoma; Jim Nichols, former 
Minnesota State Senator and former Secretary of Agriculture, State of 
Minnesota; and public witnesses.
FRESH PRODUCE TRACEABILITY
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic 
Agriculture held a hearing to review legal and technological capacity 
for full traceability in fresh produce. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives DeGette and Putnam; the following officials of the 
Department of Health and Human Services: David W.K. Acheson, M.D., 
Associate Commissioner, Food Protection, FDA; and Lonnie J. King, 
Director, D.V.M., National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and 
Enteric Diseases, Center for Disease Control; and public witnesses.
DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense met in executive 
session and approved for full Committee action the Defense 
Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2009.

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SUPREME COURT--GUANTANAMO DECISION
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on Implications of the 
Supreme Court's Boumediene Decision for Detainees at Guantanamo Bay, 
Cuba: Non-governmental Perspective. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
RISING FOOD PRICES
Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on Rising Food Prices: Budget 
Challenges. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
LABOR IMPACT PROPOSED DELTA/NORTHWEST AIRLINE MERGER
Committee on Education and Labor: Subcommittee on Health, Employment 
and Pensions held a hearing on the Proposed Delta/Northwest Airline 
Merger: The Impact on Workers. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Ordered reported, as amended, the 
following bills: H.R. 6308, Municipal Bond Fairness Act; H.R. 5772, 
Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2008.
TACTILELY DISTINGUISHABLE CURRENCY
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Domestic and 
International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology held a hearing 
entitled ``Examining Issues Related to Tactilely Distinguishable 
Currency.'' Testimony was heard from Larry R. Felix, Director, Bureau 
of Engraving and Printing, Department of the Treasury; and public 
witnesses.
FUTURE OF AL-QAIDA
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Intelligence, 
Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment held a hearing 
entitled ``Reassessing the Threat: The Future of Al Qaeda and Its 
Implications for Homeland Security.'' Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
HOMELAND SECURITY REVIEW
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Management, 
Investigations, and Oversight held a hearing entitled ``The Quadrennial 
Homeland Security Review.'' Testimony was heard from Alan Cohn, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Policy Strategic Plans, Department of Homeland 
Security; and a public witness.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS
Committee on House Administration: Ordered reported the following 
bills: H.R. 6339, amended, Federal Employees Deserve to Volunteer on 
the Elections Act of 2008; H.R. 6474, To authorize the Chief 
Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives to carry out a 
series of demonstration projects to promote the use of innovative 
technologies in reducing energy consumption and promoting energy 
efficiency and cost savings in the House of Representatives; H.R. 6475, 
Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Act of 2008; H.R. 6589, amended, 
Charles H.W. Meehann Law Library Improvement and Modernization Act; 
H.R. 998, amended, Civil Rights History Project Act of 2007; H.R. 6625, 
amended, Veterans Voting Support Act; H.R. 6627, Smithsonian 
Institution Facilities Authorization Act of 2008; H.R. 6608, House 
Reservists Pay Adjustment Act of 2008; and H. Res. 1207, amended, 
Directing the Chief Administrative Officer of the House to provide 
individuals whose pay is disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer 
by electronic funds transfer with the option of receiving receipts of 
pay and withholdings electronically.
  The Committee also approved the following Committee Resolutions: an 
amendment to Regulations of the Committee on House Administration 
pertaining to shared employees; and a resolution adopting amendments to 
the Committee's implementing Regulations for Student Loan Repayment.
CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS RESOLUTION KARL ROVE; MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported a resolution and report 
finding Karl Rove in contempt for failure to appear pursuant to 
subpoena and recommending to the House of Representatives that Mr. Rove 
be cited for contempt of Congress.
  The Committee also ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 6577, 
Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact; H.R. 
6126, Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act of 2008; H.R. 6064, 
amended, National Silver Act; H.R. 6503, Missing Alzheimer's Disease 
Patient Alert Program Reauthorization of 2008; H.R. 5167, amended, 
Justice for Victims of Torture and Terrorism Act; and H.R. 4479, To 
enact certain laws relating to public contracts as title 41, United 
States Code, ``Public Contracts;'' and private relief bills.
  The Committee also approved private relief bills.
U.S. FACILITIES IN IRAQ--DEFICIENT ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Held a hearing on 
Deficient Electrical Systems at U.S. Facilities in Iraq. Testimony was 
heard from Senator Casey; the following officials of the Department of 
Defense: Charlie E. Williams, Jr., Director, Defense Contract 
Management Agency; Jeffrey P. Parsons, Executive Director, Army 
Contracting Command,

[[Page D990]]

U.S. Army; and Gordon S. Heddell, Acting Inspector General; Keith 
Ernst, former Director, Defense Contract Management Agency, Department 
of Defense; and a public witness.
CENSUS BUDGET ISSUES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Information Policy, Census, and National Archives held a hearing 
entitled ``Critical Budget Issues Affecting the 2010 Census--Part 2.'' 
Testimony was heard from Steven H. Murdock, Director, U.S. Bureau of 
the Census, Department of Commerce; Kenneth Prewitt, former Director, 
U.S. Bureau of the Census, and Marvin Raines, former Associate 
Director, Field Operations, U.S. Bureau of the Census, Department of 
Commerce; and a public witness.
PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a structured rule providing 
for consideration of H.R. 1338, the ``Paycheck Fairness Act.'' The rule 
provides one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by 
the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Education 
and Labor. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of 
the bill except clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI. The rule provides that 
the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the 
Committee on Education and Labor now printed in the bill shall be 
considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment and shall 
be considered as read. The rule waives all points of order against the 
amendment in the nature of a substitute except for clause 10 of rule 
XXI. The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in the Rules 
Committee report. The amendments made in order may be offered only in 
the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member 
designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be 
debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and 
controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to 
amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for a division of the 
question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. All points of 
order against the amendments except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI 
are waived. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions. The rule provides that, notwithstanding the operation of 
the previous question, the Chair may postpone further consideration of 
the bill to a time designated by the Speaker. Testimony was heard from 
Chairman Miller of California, Representatives DeLauro, Bean, and 
McKeon.
HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY ACT CONFERENCE REPORT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule that waives all 
points of order against the conference report on H.R. 4137, the Higher 
Education Opportunity Act and against its consideration. The rule 
provides that the conference report shall be considered as read. 
Testimony was heard from Chairman Miller of California and 
Representative McKeon.
NASA'S PAST AND FUTURE
Committee on Science and Technology: Held a hearing on NASA at 50: Past 
Accomplishments and Future Opportunities and Challenges. Testimony was 
heard from former Senator John Glenn of Ohio; and public witnesses.
REDUCING REGULATORY BURDENS
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Regulations, Health Care 
and Trade held a hearing entitled ``Burdens on Small Firms: What Rules 
Need Reform?'' Testimony was heard from Susan E. Dudley, Administrator, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB; Thomas M. Sullivan, 
Chief Counsel for Advocacy, SBA; Chris Wagner, Deputy Commissioner, 
Small Business/Self Employed Division, Internal Revenue Service, 
Department of the Treasury; and public witnesses.
CREDIT CRUNCH: EFFECTS ON FEDERAL LEASING/CONSTRUCTION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management held a 
hearing on Credit Crunch: A Hearing on the Effects on Federal Leasing 
and Construction. Testimony was heard from David Winstead, 
Commissioner, Public Buildings Service, GSA, and public witnesses.
RESTORING AMERICA'S GREAT WATERS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment held a hearing on Protecting and Restoring 
America's Great Waters--Part II: Chesapeake Bay. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives Sarbanes and Wittman of Virginia; from the 
following officials of the EPA: Benjamin H. Grumbles, Assistant 
Administrator, Office of Water; and Wade Najjum, Assistant Inspector 
General; Anu K. Mittal, Director, Natural Resources and Environment 
Team, GAO; William Matuszeski, former Director, Chesapeake Bay Program 
Office, EPA; W. Tayloe Murphy, Jr., former Secretary of Natural 
Resources, State of Virginia; and public witnesses.

[[Page D991]]


BRIEFING--CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATIONS
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on Congressional Notifications. The Committee was 
briefed by departmental witnesses.
SECURITY CLEARANCE REFORM
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on 
Intelligence Community Management held a hearing on Security Clearance 
Reform. Testimony was heard from Brenda S. Farrell, Director, Defense 
Capabilities and Management, GAO.
ENERGY INDEPENDENCE--ROLE OF NATURAL GAS
Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming: Held a 
hearing entitled ``What's Cooking with Gas: the Role of Natural Gas in 
Energy Independence and Global Warming Solutions.'' Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
ENERGY CRISIS
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine ways 
to solve the energy crisis, focusing on reducing dependence on foreign 
oil, creating new energy resources, and strengthening the nation's 
economy, after receiving testimony from Ian Bowles, Executive Office of 
Energy and Environmental Affairs, Boston, Massachusetts; Dan W. 
Reicher, Google.org, Mountain View, California; Jonathan Koomey, 
Stanford University, Stanford, California; and Mark P. Mills, Digital 
Power Capital, Arlington, Virginia.