[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 65 (Thursday, April 30, 2009)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D482-D483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MAJOR WEAPONS SYSTEM ACQUISITION REFORM
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on reform of major weapons 
system acquisition and related legislative proposals. Testimony was 
heard from the following former officials of the Department of Defense: 
David Berteau, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Production and 
Logistics; Rudy deLeon, Deputy Secretary; and David S.C. Chu; Under 
Secretary, Personnel and Readiness, and Director, Program Analysis and 
Evaluation; and Paul Francis, Director, Acquisitions and Sourcing 
Management, GAO.
SPACE SYSTEM ACQUISITIONS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Force held a 
hearing on space system acquisitions and the industrial base. Testimony 
was heard from Joshua T. Hartman, Director, Space and Intelligence 
Capabilities Office, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary for 
Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Department of Defense; Cristina 
T. Chaplain, Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, GAO; and a 
public witness.
WORKPLACE HEALTH/SAFETY VIOLATION ENFORCEMENT
Committee on Education and Labor: Subcommittee on Workforce Protections 
held a hearing on Improving OSHA's Enhanced Enforcement Programs. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Labor: Jordan Barab, Acting Assistant Secretary, Occupational Safety 
and Health Administration; and Elliot Lewis, Assistant Inspector 
General, Audits; and public witnesses.
FEDERAL SWINE FLU RESPONSE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Swine Flu Outbreak and the U.S. Federal Response.'' 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Health and Human Services: RADM Anne Schuchat, M.D., Interim Deputy 
Director, Science and Public Health Program, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention; Joshua M. Sharfstein, M.D., Acting 
Commissioner, FDA; and RADM W. Craig Vanderwagen, M.D., USN, Assistant 
Secretary, Preparedness and Response.
COMBATING MARITIME PIRACY
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on International 
Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight held a hearing on 
International Efforts to Combat Maritime Piracy. Testimony was heard 
from Stephen D. Mull, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary, Political 
Affairs, Department of State; and RADM William D. Baumgartner, USCG, 
Judge Advocate General and Chief Counsel, U.S. Coast Guard, Department 
of Homeland Security.
BRIEFING--COMBATING VIOLENCE -U.S.-MEXICO BORDER REGION
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and 
Global Counterterrorism. Members received a briefing to provide an 
update on the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to combat 
violence in the U.S.-Mexico border region They were briefed by Alan 
Bersin, Assistant Secretary, International Affairs and Special 
Representative for Border Affairs, Department of Homeland Security.
BRIEFING--INTEROPERABLE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency 
Communications, Preparedness and Response. Members received a briefing 
on the Department of Homeland Security's progress on the issue of 
interoperable emergency communications. They were briefed by the 
following officials of the Department of Homeland Security: Chris 
Essid, Director; and Taylor Heard, Deputy Director, both with Emergency 
Communications.
PATENT REFORM ACT OF 2009
Committee on the Judiciary: Hearing on H.R. 1260, Patent Reform Act of 
2009. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
SCIENCE'S REGULATORY REFORM ROLE
Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Investigations and 
Oversight held a hearing on the Role of Science in the Regulatory 
Reform. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
 Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Rural Development, 
Entrepreneurship and Trade approved for full Committee action the 
following bills: H.R. 1803, Veterans Business Center Act of 2009; H.R. 
1807, Educating Entrepreneurs through Today's Technology Act; H.R. 
1834, Native American Business Development Enhancement Act of 2009; 
H.R. 1838, To amend the Small Business Act to modify certain provisions 
relating to women's business centers; H.R. 1839, To amend the Small 
Business Act to improve SCORE, and for other purposes; H.R. 1842, 
Expanding Entrepreneurship Act of 2009; and H.R. 1845, Small Business 
Development Centers Modernization Act of 2009.

[[Page D483]]


COAL COMBUSTION WASTE STORAGE AND WATER QUALITY
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment held a hearing on Coal Combustion Waste 
Storage and Water Quality. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the EPA: Barry Breen, Acting Assistant Administrator, 
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response; Michael Shapiro, Acting 
Assistant Administrator, Office of Water; and Catherine McCabe, Acting 
Assistant Administrator, Office of Enforcement and Compliance 
Assurance; Shari Wilson, Secretary, Department of the Environment, 
Maryland; and public witnesses.
VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health, hearing on 
Charting the VA's Progress on meeting the Mental Health Needs of our 
Veterans: Discussion of Funding, Mental Health Strategic Plan, and the 
Uniform Mental Health Services Handbook. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs: Michael 
Sheperd, M.D., Senior Physician, Office of Healthcare Inspections, 
Office of the Inspector General; and Ira Katz, M.D., Deputy Chief, 
Patient Care Services Officer, Mental Health Services, Veterans 
Administration; representatives of veterans organizations; and public 
witnesses.
BRIEFING--AFGHANISTAN
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on Afghanistan. The Committee was briefed by 
departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the 
economic outlook, after receiving testimony from Christina D. Romer, 
Chair, Council of Economic Advisers.