[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 45 (Thursday, March 31, 2011)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D327-D329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS: DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction and 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine 
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2012 for the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, after receiving testimony from Eric K. Shinseki, 
Secretary, Robert A. Petzel, Under Secretary for Health, Veterans 
Health Administration, Michael Walcoff, Acting Under Secretary for 
Benefits, Veterans Benefits Administration, Steve L. Muro, Acting Under 
Secretary for Memorial Affairs, National Cemetery Administration, Roger 
W. Baker, Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology, Office of 
Information and Technology, and W. Todd Grams, Acting Assistant 
Secretary for Management and Chief Financial Officer, all of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
APPROPRIATIONS: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch 
concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
year 2012 for the Library of Congress (LOC) and Open World Leadership 
Center, after receiving testimony from James H. Billington, Librarian 
of Congress, and Robert Dizard, Jr., Chief of Staff, Office of the 
Librarian, both of the Library of Congress; and John O'Keefe, Executive 
Director, Open World Leadership Center.
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION REQUEST AND FUTURE YEARS DEFENSE PROGRAM
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
the Department of the Army in review of the Defense Authorization 
request for fiscal year 2012 and the Future Years Defense Program, 
after receiving testimony from John M. McHugh, Secretary of the Army, 
and General George W. Casey Jr., Chief of Staff of the Army, both of 
the Department of Defense.
OPERATION ODYSSEY DAWN
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
Operation Odyssey Dawn and the situation in Libya, after receiving 
testimony from Robert M. Gates, Secretary, and Admiral Michael G. 
Mullen, USN, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, both of the Department of 
Defense.
HYDROPOWER POLICY
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a 
hearing to examine S. 629, to improve hydropower, S. 630, to promote 
marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy research and development, and 
Title I, subtitle D of the American Clean Energy Leadership Act of 
2009, after receiving testimony from Michael L. Connor, Commissioner, 
Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior; Steven G. Chalk, 
Chief Operating Officer and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Renewable Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 
Department of Energy; Jeff C. Wright, Director, Office of Energy 
Projects, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; John Seebach, American 
Rivers, and Andrew Munro, National Hydropower Association, both of 
Washington, D.C., Sean O'Neill, Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition, 
Darnestown, Maryland; and Michael E. Webber, The University

[[Page D328]]

of Texas at Austin Center for International Energy and Environmental 
Policy, Austin.
ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS BUDGET
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure concluded a hearing to examine the 
President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2012 for the Army 
Corps of Engineers, after receiving testimony from Jo-Ellen Darcy, 
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, and Lieutenant General 
Robert Van Antwerp, Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
both of the Department of Defense.
ASIAN-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION
Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine Asian-
Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2011, focusing on breaking down 
barriers, creating economic growth, after receiving testimony from John 
K. Veroneau, Covington and Burling LLP, and Peter Scher, JPMorgan 
Chase, United States Representative to the APEC Business Advisory 
Council, both of Washington, D.C.; Bert Robins, Seacast, Inc., Butte, 
Montana; and Richard M. Hartvigsen, Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc., Provo, 
Utah.
COUNTERNARCOTICS AND CITIZEN SECURITY IN THE AMERICAS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, 
Peace Corps and Global Narcotics Affairs concluded a hearing to examine 
counternarcotics and citizen security in the Americas, after receiving 
testimony from William R. Brownfield, Assistant Secretary of State for 
International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs; R. Gil 
Kerlikowske, Director, National Drug Control Policy, Executive Office 
of the President; William F. Wechsler, Deputy Assistant Secretary of 
Defense for Counternarcotics and Global Threats; Vanda Felbab-Brown, 
The Brookings Institution, Cynthia J. Arnson, and Eric L. Olson, both 
of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and Stephen 
Johnson, Center for Strategic and International Studies, all of 
Washington, D.C.
LIBYA
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to 
examine the situation in Libya, after receiving testimony from James 
Steinberg, Deputy Secretary of State.
DRUG GANGS' EVER EVOLVING TACTICS TO PENETRATE THE BORDER
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Ad Hoc 
Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery and Intergovernmental Affairs 
concluded a hearing to examine drug gangs' ever-evolving tactics to 
penetrate the border and the Federal government's ability to stop them, 
after receiving testimony from Donna Bucella, Assistant Commissioner, 
Office of Intelligence and Operations Coordination, U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection, and James A. Dinkins, Executive Associate Director, 
Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement, both of the Department of Homeland Security; Thomas M. 
Harrigan, Assistant Administrator and Chief of Operations, Drug 
Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice; Kent Bitsko, 
Executive Director, Nevada High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Las 
Vegas; and Frances Flener, Arkansas State Drug Director, Little Rock.
MINE SAFETY
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee 
concluded a hearing to examine improving safety at dangerous mines one 
year after Upper Big Branch, after receiving testimony from Joseph A. 
Main, Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health, and Elliot P. 
Lewis, Assistant Inspector General for Audit, Office of the Inspector 
General, both of the Department of Labor.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the 
following business items:
  S. 222, to limit investor and homeowner losses in foreclosures;
  S. 216, to increase criminal penalties for certain knowing and 
international violations relating to food that is misbranded or 
adulterated, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and
  The nominations of John J. McConnell, Jr., to be United States 
District Judge for the District of Rhode Island, Kevin Hunter Sharp, to 
be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee, 
Roy Bale Dalton, Jr., to be United States District Judge for the Middle 
District of Florida, and Claire C. Cecchi, to be United States District 
Judge for the District of New Jersey.
U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND THE OFFICE OF ADVOCACY BUDGET
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship: Committee concluded a 
hearing to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal 
year 2012 for the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Office of 
Advocacy, after receiving testimony from Karen G. Mills, Administrator, 
and Winslow Sargeant, Chief Counsel for Advocacy, both of the U.S. 
Small Business Administration.

[[Page D329]]


INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings on 
intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the 
intelligence community.
  Committee recessed subject to the call.