Congress

Today in Congress: April 19, 2007

Reuters

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THE SENATE

The Senate is in session.

Committees

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (2 p.m.): Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security Subcommittee holds a hearing on to the current state of the Postal Service along with the efforts underway to implement the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. Witnesses TBA. 342 Dirksen.

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (9 a.m.): Holds a hearing on “Dangerous Exposure: The Impact of Global Warming on Private and Federal Insurance.” John Stephenson, director of natural resources and environment at the Government Accountability Office; Eldon Gould, administrator of the Risk Management Agency at the Agriculture Department; Michael Buckley, deputy assistant administrator for mitigation of Federal Emergency Management Agency at the Homeland Security Department; and Andrew Castaldi, head of catastrophe and perils in the Americas Division of Swiss Re America Corporation, testify. 342 Dirksen.

Senate Finance (10 a.m.): Holds a hearing on ”Grains, Cane, and Automobiles: Tax Incentives for Alternative Fuels and Vehicles.” James Woolsey, vice president of Booz Allen, Hamilton; Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, Menlo Park, Calif.; Robert Farrington, principal engineer and manager of the Advanced Vehicle Systems Group at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colo.; Bruce Dale, professor of chemical engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich.; Jay Debertin, executive vice president and COO for processing and renewables at CHS Inc., Inver Grove Heights, Minn., testify. 215 Dirksen.

Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation (10 a.m.): Science, Technology and Innovation Subcommittee holds a hearing on “U.S. Competitiveness Through Basic Research.” Witnesses TBA. 253 Russell.

Senate Armed Services (2:30 p.m.): Strategic Forces Subcommittee holds a hearing on the FY2008 budget for military space programs. Undersecretary of the Air Force Ronald Sega; Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton, commander of the Air Force Space Command; Air Force Maj. Gen. William Shelton, commander of the Joint Functional Component Command for Space, U.S. Strategic Command; Navy Vice Adm. James McArthur Jr., commander of the Naval Network Warfare Command; Cristina Chaplain, director of Acquisition and Sourcing Management at the Government Accountability Office, testify. 232-A Russell.

Senate Armed Services (9:30 a.m.): Holds a hearing on management of costs under the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP) contract in Iraq. Claude Bolton, Jr., assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology; William Reed, director of the Defense Contract Audit Agency; Keith Ernst, acting director of the Defense Contract Management Agency; Patrick Fitzgerald, the auditor general of the Department of the Army; and Army Maj. Gen. Jerome Johnson, commanding general of the U.S. Army Sustainment Command, testify. 216 Hart.

Senate Appropriations (10 a.m.): Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee holds a hearing on rising highway fatalities. Nicole Nason, administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; John Hill, adminstrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; and Mark Rosenker, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, testify. 124 Dirksen.

Senate Appropriations (10 a.m.): Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Subcommittee holds a hearing on the FY2008 military construction budget for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. Keith Eastin, assistant secretary of the Army for installations and environment; Army Lt. Gen. Robert Wilson, assistant chief of staff for installation management; Maj. Gen. David Burford, assistant to the director of the Army National Guard; B.J. Penn, assistant secretary of the Navy for installations and environment; Maj. Gen. James Flock, assistant deputy commandant of the Marine Corps for installations and logistics; and Rear Adm. Mark Handly, Navy director of ashore readiness, testify. 138 Dirksen.

Senate Appropriations (10 a.m.): Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee holds a hearing on the FY2008 budget for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Marshal Service. John Clark, director of the U.S. Marshal Service; DEA Administrator Karen Tandy; and Acting ATF Director Michael Sullivan, testify. 192 Dirksen.

SENATE (SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON) AGING (10 a.m.): Holds a hearing on the current landscape of hormone therapy for women, focusing on the controversy surrounding bioidentical hormones. Jacques Rossouw, chief of the Women's Health Initiative Branch at the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health; Steve Galson, director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration; Eileen Harrington, deputy director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection; JoAnn Manson, chief of preventive medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School; Leonard Wartfsky, president of the Endocrine Society; Loyd Allen of the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists; and T.S. Wiley, writer/researcher and creator of the Wiley Protocol, testify. 562 Dirksen.

Senate (Select) Intelligence (2:30 p.m.): Holds a closed hearing on “FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) Modernization Legislation.” 219 Hart.

Senate Judiciary (9:30 a.m.): Holds a hearing on ”Department of Justice Oversight.” Attorney General Alberto Gonzales testifies. 216 Hart.

THE HOUSE

The House is in session.

Committees

House Appropriations (9:30 a.m.): Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee holds a hearing on agencies under its jurisdiction. Public witnesses testify. B-308 Rayburn.

House Armed Services (10 a.m.): Air and Land Forces Subcommittee holds a hearing on the “FY2008 National Defense Authorization Budget Request - Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Capabilities.” Davi D'Agostino and Sharon Pickup, directors of defense capabilities and management issues at the Government Accountability Office (GAO); Michael Sullivan, director of Acquisition and Sourcing Management Issues at the GAO; Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary Joe Landon, for control, communication, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; Army Brig. Gen. Walt Davis, commander of the Joint Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center of Excellence; Navy Rear Adm. Bruce Clingan, deputy chief of naval operations and deputy director of air warfare; Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Randolph Alles, commanding general of the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab; and Air Force Brig. Gen. Paul Dettmer, assistant deputy chief of staff for intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, testify. 2118 Rayburn.

House Appropriations (10 a.m.): Legislative Branch Subcommittee holds a hearing on FY2008 budget for the Government Accountability Office (GAO). U.S. Comptroller General David Walker; Gene Dodaro, chief operating officer of the GAO; and Sallyanne Harper, chief administrative officer at the GAO testifies. H-144, U.S. Capitol.

House Appropriations (10 a.m.): Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Subcommittee holds a hearing on Food Safety and Inspection Service. Agriculture Undersecretary Richard Raymond; David Goldman, acting administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service; and Scott Steele, budget officer for the Agriculture Department, testify. 2362-A Rayburn.

House Veterans Affairs (10 a.m.): Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Surgical Services at the W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury, North Carolina.” Witnesses TBA. 334 Cannon.

House Energy and Commerce (10 a.m.): Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee holds a hearing on “The Digital Future of the U.S.: Part 3: Spectrum Opportunities and the Future of Wireless.” John Muleta, CEO of M2Z Networks; Victor Meena Jr., president of CellularSouth, Inc.; Janice Obuchowski, chairman of Frontline Wireless, LLC; Shelley Spencer, president of Wirefree Partners, LLC; Barry West, chief technology officer at the Sprint Nextel Corporation; Michael Gallagher, partner and firmwide chairman, Communications Practice, Perkins Coie LLP, testify. 2123 Rayburn.

House Foreign Affairs (9:30 a.m.): Meets to markup H.Res.272, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade, and H.Con.Res.7, Calling on the League of Arab States to acknowledge the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan and to step up their efforts to stop the genocide in Darfur; and hearing on the “Current Situation in Darfur.” John Prendergast, senior adviser at the International Crisis Group; Mia Farrow, actress and UNICEF goodwill ambassador; and Alex Waal, director of the Social Science Research Council and lecturer at Harvard University, testify. 2172 Rayburn.

House Homeland Security (10 a.m.): HOUSE HOMELAND SECURITY -- 10 a.m. -- Management, Investigations, and Oversight Subcommittee holds a hearing on ”Addressing the Department of Homeland Security's Morale Crisis.” Marta Perez, chief human capital officer at the Homeland Security Department; Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union; David Cox, national secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees; and Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, testify. 311 Cannon.

House Homeland Security (1 p.m.): Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Cyber Insecurity: Hackers are Penetrating Federal Systems and Critical Infrastructure.” Dave Jarrell, manager of the Critical Infrastructure Protection Program at the Commerce Department; Donald Reid, senior coordinator for security infrastructure in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security at the State Department; Jerry Dixon, director of the National Cyber Security Division at the Homeland Security Department; Greg Wilshusen, director of information security issues at the Government Accountability Office; Ken Silva, chief security officer at VeriSign; Aaron Turner, cybersecurity strategist for national and homeland security in the Idaho National Laboratory; and Rob Thomas, president of Team Cymru, testify. 1539 Longworth.

House (Select) Intelligence: Holds a closed hearing on “National Clandestine Service/Human Intelligence.” Witnesses TBA. H-405, U.S. Capitol.

House Judiciary (3 p.m.): Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Shortfalls of 1986 Immigration Reform Legislation.” (PART ONE) Stephen Pitti, professor of history and american studies and director of the Program in Ethnicity, Race and Migration at Yale University; Muzaffar Chishti, director of the Migration Policy Institute's Office, New York University School of Law; Stephen Legomsky, professor at Washington University in St. Louis; Rosemary Jenks, director of government relations at Numbers USA, testify. 2141 Rayburn.

House Natural Resources (10 a.m.): Insular Affairs Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Current Economic, Social and Security Conditions of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.” Pedro Tenorio, resident representative for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island; Deputy Assistant Interior Secretary for Insular Affairs David Cohen; and Jeanette Franzel, director of financial management and assurance at the Government Accountability Office, testify. 1324 Longworth.

House Natural Resources (2 p.m.): National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee holds a markup of H.R.359, the “Cesar Estrada Chavez Study Act”; H.R.713, the ”Niagara Falls National Heritage Area Act”; H.R.986, the ”Eightmile Wild and Scenic River Act”; H.R.1080, the “Grand Teton National Park Extension Act of 2007”; H.R.1100, the “Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site Boundary Revision Act of 2007”; and a resolution expressing the sense of Congress that the National Museum of Wildlife Art, located at 2820 Rungius Road, Jackson, Wyoming, shall be designated as the National Museum of Wildlife Art of the United States. 1334 Longworth.

House Natural Resources (2 p.m.): Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Renewable Energy Opportunities and Issues on Federal Lands: Review of Title II, Subtitle B - Geothermal Energy of the Energy Policy Act.” Jim Hughes, director of the Bureau of Land Management; Jeff Tester, chairman of the MIT Climate Change Panel; Daniel Kunz, president of the US Geothermal Inc.; Paul Thomsen, public policy administrator of ORMAT Nevada; Randall Swisher, executive director of the American Wind Energy Association; Robert Gough, secretary of the Intertribal Council on Utility Policy; Lynn Jungwirth, executive director of The Watershed Research and Training Center; Joshua Bar-Lev, vice president of regulatory affairs at Bright Source Energy; and Will Lutgen Jr., executive director of the Northwest Public Power, testify Association, testify. 1324 Longworth.

House Judiciary (10 a.m.): Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Federal Judicial Compensation.” Witnesses TBA. 2141 Rayburn.

House Homeland Security (11:30 a.m.): Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Airport Security: The Necessary Improvements to Secure America's Airports.” Kip Hawley, administrator of the Transportation Security Administration and assistant secretary of the Homeland Security Department; Lauren Stover, assistant aviation director for security and communications at the Miami-Dade Aviation Department; Gerald Berry, president of Covenant Aviation Security; and Greg Principato, president of the Airports Council International-North America, testify. 340 Cannon.

House Ways and Means (2 p.m.): Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Energy and Tax Policy,” focusing on the current framework of tax incentives encouraging the development of alternative sources of energy. Witnesses TBA. B-318 Rayburn.

House Financial Services (10 a.m.): Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee holds a hearing on “The Expanding American Homeownership Act of 2007: H.R.1852 and Related FHA (Federal Housing Administration) Modernization Issues.” Brian Montgomery, assistant secretary for housing and federal housing commissioner at the Housing and Urban Development Department; Iona Harrison, of the National Association of Realtors; Lautaro Diaz, vice president of community development at the National Council of La Raza; John Robbins, chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association; Ed Smith Jr., chairman of the Government Affairs Committee and CEO of the Plaza Financial Group of the California Association of Mortgage Brokers; and William Killmer of the National Association of Home Builders and group executive vice president for advocacy, testify. 2128 Rayburn.

House Natural Resources (10 a.m.): Water and Power Subcommittee holds a markup of H.R.487, the “Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Equitable Compensation Amendments Act of 2007”; H.R.1114, the “Alaska Water Resources Act of 2007”; H.R.1140, the “South Orange County Recycled Water Enhancement Act”; H.R.1337, to provide for a feasibility study of alternatives to augment the water supplies of the Central Oklahoma Master Conservancy District and cities served by the District; H.R.1662, to amend the Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 to authorize improvements for the security of dams and other facilities. 1334 Longworth.

House Small Business (10 a.m.): Holds a hearing on ”Expanding Small Businesses' Access to Federal Contracts.” Paul Hsu, associate administrator for the Small Business Administration; Emily Murphy, former chief acquisition officer for the General Services Administration; Todd McCracken, executive director of the National Small Business Association; and Grady Taylor, executive vice president of Tri-Mega Purchasing Association, testify. 2360 Rayburn.

House Transportation and Infrastructure (2 p.m.): Water Resources and the Environment Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Nonpoint Source Pollution: The Impact of Agriculture on Water Quality.” Witnesses TBA. 2167 Rayburn.

House Veterans' Affairs (2 p.m.): Economic Opportunity Subcommittee holds a hearing on “State Approving Agencies.” State Approving Agencies promote and safeguard quality education and training programs for veterans and other eligible persons. George Scott, acting director of education, workforce, and income security issues at the Government Accountability Office; Joan Ryan, president of the National Association of State Approving Agencies; Donald Sweeney, legislative director of the National Association of State Approving Agencies; George Summerside, education program representative for the South Dakota Division of Veterans Affairs; Deputy Assistant Labor Secretary John McWilliam of the Veterans Employment and Training Service; and Anthony Swoope, director of the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training at the Labor Department; Carol Griffiths, chief of the Accrediting Agency Evaluation Unit, Accreditation and State Liaison Staff, Education Department; and Keith Wilson, director of the Education Service at the Veterans Affairs Department, testify. 334 Cannon.

House Science and Technology (2 p.m.): Research and Science Education Subcommittee holds a markup of a bill to authorize appropriations for FY2008-FY2010 for the National Science Foundation. 2318 Rayburn.

House Oversight and Government Reform (1 p.m.): Government Management, Organization, and Procurement Subcommittee holds a hearing on “The Contractor Tax Enforcement Act and Amendments to Title 31 of the United States Code.” Witnesses TBA. 2154 Rayburn.

House Agriculture (1 p.m.): Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research Subcommittee holds a hearing on conservation programs in the Farm Bill proposal. Jeff LaFleur, executive director of the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers' Association, on behalf of New England Farmers Union and National Farmers Union, Wareham, Mass.; Charles Jamison of the National Corn Growers Association, Dickerson, Md.; Lawrence Elworth, executive director of the Center for Agricultural Partnerships, Asheville, N.C.; Joel Nelsen, president of the California Citrus Mutual, Exeter, Calif.; Steve Foglesong of the National Cattleman's Beef Association, Astoria, Ill.; Douglas Wolf of Wolf L&G Farms, LLC., on behalf of the National Pork Producers Council, Lancaster, Wis.; Slade Lail of the American Tree Farm System, Plumbdent Farms, Duluth, Ga.; David Nomsen, vice-president of governmental affairs for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, on behalf of the Agriculture and Wildlife Working Group and the American Wildlife Conservation Partners, Garfield, Minn.; Ralph Grossi, president of the American Farmland Trust; Olin Sims, president of the National Association of Conservation Districts, McFadden, Wyo.; Thomas Beauduy, deputy director and counsel of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Harrisburg, Pa.; Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group; and Loni Kemp, senior policy analyst for The Minnesota Project, Canton, Minn., testify. 1300 Longworth.

House Appropriations (1:30 p.m.): Defense Subcommittee closed hearing on the U.S. Special Operations Command. Witnesses TBA. H-140, U.S. Capitol.

House Appropriations (1:30 p.m.): Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee holds a hearing on agencies under its jurisdiction. Members of Congress testify. B-308 Rayburn.

House Education and Labor (10:30 a.m.): Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee holds a hearing on ”Renewing the Spirit of National and Community Service.” Witnesses TBA. 2175 Rayburn.

House Energy and Commerce (2 p.m.): Meets to markup H.R.964, the “Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act,” to protect users of the Internet from unknowing transmission of their personally identifiable information through spyware programs. 2123 Rayburn.

House Appropriations (9 a.m.): State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee holds a hearing on public diplomacy and broadcasting programs. Undersecretary of State Karen Hughes, for public diplomacy and public affairs, testifies. 2359 Rayburn.

House Science and Technology (10 a.m.): Technology and Innovation Subcommittee holds a markup of the “Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Stimulation Act of 2007,” to reauthorize the National Institute of Standards and Technology. 2318 Rayburn.

House Transportation and Infrastructure (10 a.m.): Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee holds a hearing on “International High-Speed Rail Systems.” Jean-Marie Metzler, consulting director for TGV Development of French National Railways; Marc Noaro, commercial director for Eurostar; Apolinar Rodriguez Diaz, international director of Renfe Operadora; Ignacio Barron de Angoiti, director of high-speed rail for International Union of Railways; Hiroki Matsumoto, transportation counselor for the Embassy of Japan; and Quansheng Zhao, professor and director of the Division of Comparative and Regional Studies in the School of International Service of American University, testify. 2167 Rayburn.