[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 52 (Thursday, March 26, 2009)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D329-D331]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
STATE OF OBESITY IN THE U.S.
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Department Operations, 
Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry held a hearing on the state of 
obesity in the United States. Testimony was heard from William Dietz, 
M.D., Director, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity 
Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of 
Health and Human Services; and public witnesses.
TOBACCO PRODUCTION IN THE U.S.
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Rural Development, 
Biotechnology, Specialty Crops, and Foreign Agriculture held a hearing 
to review tobacco production in the United States. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector 
General. Testimony was heard from Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector 
General, Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses.
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing on DEA. Testimony was 
heard from Michelle M. Leonhart. Acting Administrator, DEA, Department 
of Justice.
HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing on S&T Research and Transitioning Products Into Use. Testimony 
was heard from Bradley Buswell, Acting Under Secretary, Science and 
Technology, Department of Homeland Security.
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and 
Related Agencies continued hearings on Native-American and Alaska 
Natives Issues. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
LABOR, HHS, EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, Education and Related Agencies held a hearing on NIH: Budget 
Overview, Implementation of ARRA and Status of the National Children's 
Study. Testimony was heard from Raynard Kington, M.D., Acting Director, 
NIH, Department of Health and Human Services.
STATE, AND FOREIGN OPERATIONS APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, and Foreign 
Operations, and Related Programs continue appropriations hearings. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

[[Page D330]]


STATUS OF THE FUTURE COMBAT SYSTEMS PROGRAM
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces held a 
hearing on status of the future combat systems program. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the GAO: Paul L. Francis, 
Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management; William R.Graveline, 
Assistant Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management; Marcus 
Ferguson, Senior Analyst.
FUTURE CAPABILITIES OF U.S. MARITIME FORCES
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary 
Forces held a hearing on requirements for the future capabilities of 
the United States maritime forces. Testimony was heard from Ron 
O'Rourke, Senior Naval Analyst, CRS, Library of Congress; RADM. William 
Houley, USN (Ret.); and a public witness.
FUTURE ROLES AND MISSIONS OF THE MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a 
hearing on future roles and missions of the Missile Defense Agency. 
Testimony was heard from David G. Ahern, Director, Portfolio Systems 
Acquisition, Office of the Under Secretary, Acquisition, Technology, 
and Logistics, Department of Defense; John Pendleton, Director, Defense 
Capabilities and Management Team, GAO; and a public witness.
ECONOMIC AND EMPLOYMENT IMPACT ON THE ARTS AND MUSIC INDUSTRY
Committee on Education and Labor: Held a hearing on the economic and 
employment impact of the Arts and music industry. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives Slaughter and Bishop of Utah; and public 
witnesses.
DIGITAL TELEVISION TRANSITION
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Communications, 
Technology and the Internet held a hearing on Oversight of the Digital 
Television Transition. Testimony was heard from Michael J. Copps, 
Acting Chairman, FCC; Anna Gomez, Acting Assistant Secretary, 
Communications and Information, Department of Commerce; and public 
witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--EXPERIMENTAL HUMAN TESTING FOR PROFIT
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on Institutional Review Boards that 
Oversee Experimental Human Testing for Profit. Testimony was heard from 
Gregory Kutz, Managing Director, Forensic Audits and Special 
Investigations, GAO; the following officials of the Department of 
Health and Human Services: Jerry Menikoff, Director, Office for Human 
Research Protections; and Joanne Less, Director, Good Clinical Practice 
Programs, FDA; and a public witness.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; COMPREHENSIVE REGULATORY REFORM
Committee on Financial Services: Ordered reported the following 
measures: H.R. 1664, as amended, To amend the executive compensation 
provisions of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to 
prohibit unreasonable and excessive compensation and compensation not 
based on performance standards; and H. Res. 251. Directing the 
Secretary of the Treasury to transmit to the House of Representatives 
all information his possession relating to specific communications with 
American International Group, Inc. (AIG).
  The Committee also held a hearing entitled ``Addressing the Need for 
Comprehensive Regulatory Reform.'' Testimony was heard from Timothy F. 
Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury.
CONSOLIDATING DHS
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Management, 
Investigations, and Oversight held a hearing entitled ``Consolidating 
DHS: An Update on the St. Elizabeth Project.'' Testimony was heard from 
Donald Bathurst, Chief Administrative Officer, Department of Homeland 
Security; and William Guerin, Assistant Commissioner for Construction 
Programs, Public Buildings Service, GSA.
2008 ELECTION
Committee on House Administration: Subcommittee on Elections held a 
hearing on the 2008 Election: A look back on what went right and wrong. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the U.S. Election 
Assistance Commission: Gineen Beach, Chairwoman; and Gracia Hillman, 
Vice-Chairwoman; Eric Eversole, former Attorney, Civil Rights Division, 
Department of Justice; and public witnesses.
REPRESENTATION OF INDIGENT DEFENDANTS IN CRIMINAL CASES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and 
Homeland Security held a hearing on the Representation of Indigent 
Defendants in Criminal Cases: A Constitutional Crisis in Michigan and 
Other States? Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

[[Page D331]]


ASSESSING STRATEGIC RESOURCES IN AFGHANISTAN
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National 
Security and Foreign Affairs held a hearing on Troops, Diplomats, and 
Aid: Assessing Strategic Resources for Afghanistan. Testimony was heard 
from LTG. David W. Barno, USA (Ret.) former Commander, Combined Forces 
Command-Afghanistan; Ambassador James Dobbins, former Special Envoy for 
Afghanistan; David Kilcullen, former Special Advisor for 
Counterinsurgency to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; and a public 
witness.
SAME DAY CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS REPORTED BY THE RULES 
COMMITTEE
Committee on Rules: The Committee granted, by a non-record vote, a rule 
waiving clause 6(a) of rule XIII (requiring a two-thirds vote to 
consider a rule on the same day it is reported from the Rules 
Committee) against certain resolutions reported from the Rules 
Committee. The rule applies the waiver to any resolution reported 
through the legislative day of March 30, 2009, providing for 
consideration or disposition of the bill (H.R. 1388) to reauthorize and 
reform the national service laws, an amendment thereto, or a conference 
report thereon.
AVIATION AND THE EMERGING USE OF BIOFUELS
Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Space and 
Aeronautics, hearing on Aviation and the Emerging Use of Biofuels. 
Testimony was heard from Jaiwon Shin, Associate Administrator, 
Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, NASA; and public witnesses.
EXPANDING EQUITY INVESTMENT IN SMALL BUSINESS
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Investigations and 
Oversight held a hearing entitled ``Expanding Equity Investment in 
Small Business.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
DOT'S DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAMS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Held a hearing on the 
Department of Transportation's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise 
Programs. Testimony was heard from Representative Clyburn; and the 
following officials of the Department of Transportation: Joel Szabat, 
Acting Assistant Secretary, Transportation Policy; and Robert C. Ashby, 
Deputy Assistant General Counsel, Regulation and Enforcement; and 
public witnesses.
CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION
Committee on Ways and Means: Continued hearings on Climate Change 
Legislation. Legislative. Testimony was heard from Douglas Elmendorf, 
Director, CBO; and public witnesses.
USDI UPDATE BRIEFING; AFGHANISTAN ROLL BRIEFING
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on USDI Update. The Committee was briefed by James 
Clapper, Under Secretary, Intelligence, Department of Defense.
  The Committee also met in executive session to receive a briefing on 
Afghanistan Roll-Out. The Committee was briefed by Dennis Blair, 
Director of National Intelligence.

Joint Meetings
HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded 
a hearing to examine human rights in Afghanistan, after receiving 
testimony from Sima Samar, Afghanistan Independent Human Rights 
Commission, Kabul, Afghanistan; and Scott Worden, United States 
Institute of Peace, Washington, D.C.


                     COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY,

                             MARCH 27, 2009

        (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)


                                 Senate

  No meetings/hearings are scheduled.


                                 House

  No committee meetings are scheduled.