[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 4, 2009)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D209-D210]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing on the Place of NOAA 
Science in the Overall Science Enterprise. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development and Related Agencies held a hearing on Department of 
Energy: Project Management Oversight. Testimony was heard from a public 
witness.
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on EPA Oversight. Testimony was heard 
from John Stephenson, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, GAO; 
and Bill A. Roderick, Acting Inspector General, EPA.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Ordered reported the following bills: 
H.R. 1256: Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act; H.R. 
1259, Dextromethorphan Distribution Act of 2009; H.R. 1246, Early 
Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2009; H.R. 1253, Health 
Insurance Restrictions and Limitations Clarification Act of 2009; H.R. 
20, as amended, Melanie Blocker Stokes Mom's Opportunity to Access 
Health Education, Research, and Support for Postpartum Depression Act; 
H.R. 479, as amended, Wakefield Act; H.R. 577, as amended, Vision Care 
for Kids Act of 2009; H.R. 756, National Pain Care Policy Act of 2009; 
H.R. 914, Physician Workforce Enhancement Act of 2009; and H.R. 307, 
Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act.
TARP OVERSIGHT
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial Institutions 
and Consumer Credit held a hearing entitled ``TARP Oversight: Is TARP 
Working for Main Street?'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
IMMIGRATION IMMIGRANT LAW
Committee on Homeland Security: Held hearing entitled ``Examining 
287(g): The Role of State and Local Law Enforcement in Immigration 
Law.'' Testimony was heard from William Riley, Acting Chairman, Office 
of State and Local Coordination, U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security; Richard Stana, Director, 
Homeland Security and Justice Issues, GAO; from the following officials 
of the State of Maryland: Chief J. Thomas Manger, Montgomery County 
Police Department; Sheriff Chuck Jenkins, Fairfax County and a public 
witness.
AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN: UNDERSTANDING A COMPLEX THREAT ENVIRONMENT
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National 
Security and Foreign Affairs held a hearing on Afghanistan and 
Pakistan: Understanding a Complex Threat Environment. Testimony

[[Page D210]]

was heard from Paul R. Pillar, former National Intelligence Officer for 
the Near East and South Asia; and public witnesses.
HELPING FAMILIES SAVE THEIR HOMES ACT OF 2009
Committee on Rules: Committee granted, by non-record vote, a rule 
providing for further consideration of H.R. 1106, Helping Families Save 
Their Homes Act of 2009. The rule provides that amendment number 1 
printed in House report 111-21 to be offered by Representative John 
Conyers or his designee shall be perfected by the modification printed 
in the report of the Committee on Rules.
21st CENTURY WATER PLANNING
Committee on Science and Technology: Held a hearing on 21st Century 
Water Planning: the Importance of a Coordinated Federal Approach. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
CURRENT ECONOMY--STATE OF RENEWABLE FUELS
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``The State of the 
Renewable Fuels Industry in the Current Economy.'' Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
WATER QUALITY INVESTMENT ACT OF 2009
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment approved for full Committee action H.R. 1262 
``Water Quality Investment Act of 2009.''
VA LEGISLATION
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 
held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 147, To amend the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their 
income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans; H.R. 
228, To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a 
scholarship program for students seeking a degree or certificate in the 
areas of visual impairment and orientation and mobility; H.R. 297, 
Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Subsistence Allowance 
Improvement Act of 2009; H.R. 466, Wounded Veteran Job Security Act; 
H.R. 929, To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to 
provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market; H.R. 
942, Veterans Self-Employment Act of 2009; H.R. 950, To amend chapter 
33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance 
for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through 
distance learning; H.R. 1088, Mandatory Veterans Specialist Training 
Act of 2009; H.R. 1089, Veterans Employment Rights Realignment Act of 
2009; and other draft legislation. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Doggett, Israel, Welch, and Alexander; Keith M. Wilson, 
Director, Office of Education Service, Department of Veterans Affairs; 
Patrick H. Boulay, Chief, USERRA Unit, U.S. Office of Special Counsel; 
representatives of veterans organizations; and public witnesses.
PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2010 BUDGET OVERVIEW
Committee on Ways and Means: Concluded hearings on the President's 
Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Overview. Testimony was heard from Pete R. 
Orszag, Director, OMB.
PREPARING FOR COPENHAGEN: HOW DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ARE FIGHTING CLIMATE 
CHANGE
Select Committee on Energy Independence: Held a hearing entitled 
``Preparing for Copenhagen: How Developing Countries Are Fighting 
Climate Change.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.