Congress
Today in Congress: April 2, 2008
Reuters
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THE SENATE
Senate is in session.
Committees
Senate Environment and Public Works (10 a.m.): Holds a hearing on “Oversight on the Listing Decision for the Polar Bear Under the Endangered Species Act.” Douglas Inkley, senior scientist at the National Wildlife Federation; Kassie Siegel, director of the Center for Biological Diversity's Climate, Air, and Energy Program; and William Horn of Birch, Horton, Bittner & Cherot, testify. Contact: 202-224-8832 or Pete Rafle (Boxer), 202-228-3102 or 202-302-7086 Note: Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthrone has been invited to testify at the hearing. 406 Dirksen.
Senate Judiciary (9:30 a.m.): Holds a hearing on ”Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security,” focusing on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issues, and preparation for further implementation of Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative and REAL ID Act. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff testifies. Contact: Erica Chabot, 202-224-7703 or David Carle (Leahy), 202-224-3693 216 Hart.
Joint Economic (9:30 a.m.): Holds a hearing on “The Economic Outlook.” Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke testifies. Contact: 202-224-5171 106 Dirksen.
Senate Appropriations (10:30 a.m.): Labor, HHS, and Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee holds a hearing on ”National Labor Relations Board Representation Elections and Initial Collective Bargaining Agreements: Safeguarding Workers' Rights?” National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Chairman Peter Schaumber; NLRB member Wilma Liebman; Gordon Lafer, associate professor of the University of Oregon's Labor Education and Research Center, Eugene, Ore.; and John Raudabaugh, partner at Baker & McKenzie, LLP, Chicago, Ill., testify. Contact: Jesse Jacobs, 202-224-3904 138 Dirksen.
Senate Foreign Relations (9:30 a.m.): Holds a hearing on “Iraq After the Surge: Military Prospects.” Retired Army Gen. Barry McCaffrey, president of BR McCaffrey Associates LLC, and adjunct professor of international affairs at the U.S. Military Academy, Arlington, Va.; retired Army Lt. Gen. William Odom, senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and former director of the National Security Agency; Michele Flournoy, president of the Center for New American Security; and retired Army Maj. Gen. Robert Scales Jr., former commandant of the Army War College, and current CEO and president of Colgen, LP, testify. Contact: 202-224-4651 or Elizabeth Alexander (Biden), 202-224-5042 419 Dirksen.
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation (2:30 p.m.): Meets to markup S.2688, the “Commercial Seafood Consumer Protection Act”; S.J.Res.28, disapproving the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission with respect to broadcast media ownership; S.2607, to make a technical correction to section 3009 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005; H.R.3985, the “Over-the-Road Bus Transportation Accessibility Act of 2007”; H.R.802, the “Maritime Pollution Prevention Act”; and vote on the nomination of Robert Sturgell to be administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. Contact: 202-224-0411 or Andy Davis (Inouye) 202-224-4546 253 Russell.
Senate Armed Services (2:30 p.m.): Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee holds a hearing on Defense Department contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Deputy Defense Undersecretary for Acquisition and Technology James Finley; Deputy Defense Undersecretary for Logistics and Materiel Readiness Jackson Bell; Army Lt. Gen. Ross Thompson III, military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology; and Jeffrey Parsons, executive director of the Army Contracting Command, testify. Contact: 202-224-3871 or Tara Andringa (Levin), 202-228-3685 222 Russell.
Senate Armed Services (10 a.m.): Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee holds a hearing on the Defense Department's Cooperative Threat Reduction Program and the Proliferation Security Initiative, and nuclear nonproliferation programs at the National Nuclear Security Administration, in review of the Defense Authorization Request for FY2009 and the Future Years Defense Program. William Tobey, deputy administrator for defense nuclear nonproliferation at the National Nuclear Security Administration; and Joseph Benkert, principal deputy assistant secretary of for global security affairs at the Defense Department, testify. Contact: 202-224-3871 or Tara Andringa (Levin), 202-228-3685 232-A Russell.
Senate Foreign Relations (2:30 p.m.): Holds a hearing on “Iraq After the Surge: Political Prospects.” Yahia Said, director for Middle East and North Africa at the Middle East at the Revenue Watch Institute, New York, N.Y.; Stephen Biddle, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations; Nir Rosen, fellow at New York University's Center on Law and Security, New York, N.Y.; Patrick Clawson, deputy director for research at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, testify. Contact: 202-224-4651 or Elizabeth Alexander (Biden), 202-224-5042 419 Dirksen.
Senate Appropriations (10:30 a.m.): Defense Subcommittee holds a closed hearing on “National Reconnaissance Office/Space Programs.” Scott Large, director the Defense Department's National Reconnaissance Office; Robert Kehler, commander at the Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.; and Deputy Air Force Undersecretary for Space Programs Gary Payton, testify. Contact: Jesse Jacobs, 202-224-3904 S-407, U.S. Capitol.
Senate Appropriations (9:30 a.m.): Energy and Water Development Subcommittee holds a hearing on the Energy Department's budget request and justification for FY2009. Energy Undersecretary for Science Raymond Orbach; Assistant Energy Secretary Alexander Karsner, for energy efficiency and renewable energy; and David Frantz, director of the Energy Department's Office of Loan Guarantee, testify. Contact: Jesse Jacobs, 202-224-3904 124 Dirksen.
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (11 a.m.): Holds a hearing on “Nuclear Terrorism: Assessing the Threat to the Homeland.” Homeland Security Chief Intelligence Officer Charles Allen; Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, director of the Energy Department's Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence; Matthew Bunn of the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs; and Gary Ackerman of the University of Maryland's National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, testify. Contact: 202-224-2627 or Sheila Menz (Lieberman), 202-224-1389 or Jen Burita (Collins), 202-224-4751 342 Dirksen.
THE HOUSE
House is in session.
Committees
House (Select) Intelligence (8:45 a.m.): Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence Subcommittee closed briefing on “Hot Spots.” Contact: 202-225-4121 H-405, U.S. Capitol.
House Appropriations (10 a.m.): Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee holds a hearing on FY2009 appropriations for the agencies under its jurisdiction. Public witnesses testify. Contact: Kirsten Brost, 202-225-2771 H-309, U.S. Capitol.
House Appropriations (10 a.m.): Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee holds a hearing on the “Indian Health Service.” Acting Indian Health Service Director Bob McSwain testifies. Contact: Kirsten Brost, 202-225-2771 B-308 Rayburn.
House Appropriations (10 a.m.): Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee holds a hearing on the ”Office of Personnel Management.” Office of Personnel Management Director Linda Springer testifies. Contact: Kirsten Brost, 202-225-2771 2220 Rayburn.
Joint Economic (9:30 a.m.): Holds a hearing on “The Economic Outlook.” Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke testifies. Contact: 202-224-5171 106 Dirksen.
House Foreign Affairs (2 p.m.): Middle East and South Asia Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Strategic Chaos and Taliban Resurgence in Afghanistan.” Retired Army Lt. Gen. David Barno, director of the National Defense University's Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies; Seth Jones, political scientist at The RAND Corporation; and Mark Schneider, senior vice president of the International Crisis Group, testify. Contact: Lynne Weil or Melissa Silverman, 202-225-5021 210 Cannon.
House Appropriations (1:30 p.m.): Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee holds a hearing on the “Defense Budget.” Defense Comptroller Tina Jones; and Deputy Defense Undersecretary for Installations and Environment Wayne Arny, testify. Contact: Kirsten Brost, 202-225-2771 H-143, U.S. Capitol.
House Appropriations (10 a.m.): State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee holds a hearing on ”International Peacekeeping Activities and International Organizations.” Assistant Secretary of State Kristen Silverberg of the Bureau of International Organization Affairs, testifies. Contact: Kirsten Brost, 202-225-2771 2358-C Rayburn.
House Rules (3:30 p.m.): Meets to formulate a rule on H.R.4847, the “United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2007.” Contact: John Santore, 202-225-2888 or 202-225-9091 H-313, U.S. Capitol.
House Foreign Affairs (2 p.m.): International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Funding for United Nations Peacekeeping Operations: What is the U.S. Responsibility?” Assistant United Nations Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jane Lute and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State James Warlick, of the Bureau of International Organization Affairs, testify. Contact: Lynne Weil or Melissa Silverman, 202-225-5021 2200 Rayburn.
House Appropriations (3 p.m.): Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee holds a hearing on the “Legal Services Corporation (LSC).” LSC President Helaine Barnett and LSC Chairman Frank Strickland, testify. Contact: Kirsten Brost, 202-225-2771 H-309, U.S. Capitol.
House Appropriations (2 p.m.): Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee holds a hearing on the “National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission.” Jack Schenendorf, vice chairman of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission (NSTPRSC); and NSTPRSC Commissioners Frank Busalacchi, Steve Heminger, and Raymond Geddes testify. Contact: Kirsten Brost, 202-225-2771 2358-A Rayburn.
House Appropriations (11 a.m.): Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Subcommittee holds a hearing on the “Food and Drug Administration (FDA).” Jesse Goodman, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics, Evaluation and Research testifies. Contact: Kirsten Brost, 202-225-2771 2362-A Rayburn.
House Science and Technology (10 a.m.): Research and Science Education Subcommittee holds a hearing on ”International Science and Technology Cooperation.” White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director John Marburger III; National Science Foundation Director Arden Bement; Nina Fedoroff, science and technology advisor to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jeff Miotke, for science, space and health in the Bureau of Oceans and International and Environmental and Scientific Affairs; and Michael O'Brien, assistant administrator for external relations at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, testify. Contact: John Santore, 202-225-2888 or 202-225-9091 2318 Rayburn.
House Oversight and Government Reform (2 p.m.): Information Policy, Census, and National Archives Subcommittee holds a hearing on the “Federal Advisory Committee Act of 2008.” Witnesses TBA. Contact: Karen Lightfoot, 202-225-5051 2154 Rayburn.
House Natural Resources (11 a.m.): Meets to markup H.R.3513, to amend the Oregon Wilderness Act of 1984 to designate the Copper Salmon Wilderness and to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the North and South Forks of the Elk River in the State of Oregon as wild or scenic rivers; H.R.5151, to designate as wilderness additional National Forest System lands in the Monongahela National Forest in the State of West Virginia; H.R.831, the “Coffman Cove Administrative Site Conveyance Act”; and H.R.3734, to rename the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in the State of Idaho as the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in honor of the late Morley Nelson, an international authority on birds of prey, who was instrumental in the establishment of this National Conservation Area. Contact: Allyson Ivins Groff or Heather Warren, 202-226-9019 1324 Longworth.
House Judiciary (10:15 a.m.): Meets to markup H.R.2176, to provide for and approve the settlement of certain land claims of the Bay Mills Indian Community; H.R.4115, to provide for and approve the settlement of certain land claims of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians; H.R.5570, the “Religious Worker Visa Extension Act of 2008”; H.R.2760, a private bill for the relief of Shigeru Yamada, to allow him permanent residence status; H.R. 5060, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow athletes admitted as nonimmigrants described in section 101(a)(15)(P) of such Act to renew their period of authorized admission in 5-year increments; H.R.5569, to extend for 5 years the EB-5 regional center pilot program; H.R.5571, to extend for 5 years the program relating to waiver of the foreign country residence requirement with respect to international medical graduates; and H.R.1777, the “Need-Based Educational Aid Act of 2007.” Contact: Melanie Roussell, 202-225-3951 2141 Rayburn.
House Financial Services (10 a.m.): Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology Subcommittee holds a hearing on proposed regulations to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). Witnesses TBA. Contact: Heather Wong, 202-226-3314 or Steven Adamske, 202-225-7141 or 202-225-2685 2128 Rayburn.
House (Select) Energy Independence and Global Warming (1:30 p.m.): Meets to vote on whether to subpoena Environmental Protection Agency documents on the agency's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and hearing on ”From the Wright Brothers to the Right Solutions: Curbing Soaring Aviation Emissions.” FAA Assistant Administrator for Aviation Policy, Planning, and Environment Dan Elwell; Bob Meyers, principal deputy assistant administrator the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Air and Radiation; Tom Windmuller, senior vice president of the International Air Transport Association; James May, president and CEO of the Air Transport Association, testify. Contact: 202-225-4012 1310 Longworth.
House Energy and Commerce (10 a.m.): Meets to markup H.R.1108, to protect the public health by providing the Food and Drug Administration with certain authority to regulate tobacco products. Contact: Jodi Seth (Dingell, 202-225-4071) or the Energy and Commerce Press Office, 202-225-5735 2123 Rayburn.
House Appropriations (10 a.m.): Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Highway and Transit Programs: Urgent Funding Needs.” Assistant Transportation Secretary and CFO Phyllis Scheinberg; Federal Transit Administrator James Simpson; and Acting Federal Highway Administrator James Ray testify. Contact: Kirsten Brost, 202-225-2771 2358-A Rayburn.
House Appropriations (10 a.m.): Homeland Security Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Cargo, Container and Supply Chain Security.” Stephen Flynn, senior fellow for national security studies at the Council on Foreign Relations; Christopher Koch, president and CEO of the World Shipping Council; Jayson Ahern, deputy commissioner of Customs and Border Protection; and Vayl Oxford, director of the Homeland Security Department's Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, testify. Contact: Kirsten Brost, 202-225-2771 2359 Rayburn.
House Appropriations (10 a.m.): Energy and Water Development Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Department of Energy - Weapons Activities and Naval Reactors.” Energy Undersecretary for Nuclear Security Thomas D'Agostino, administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); Robert Smolen, deputy NNSA administrator for defense programs; and Kirkland Donald, deputy NNSA administrator for naval reactors, testify. Contact: Kirsten Brost, 202-225-2771 2362-B Rayburn.
House Administration (11 a.m.): Meets to markup H.R.5493, to provide that the usual day for paying salaries in or under the House of Representatives may be established by regulations of the Committee on House Administration; legislation to permit membership in the exercise facility established for employees of the House of Representatives and in the House Staff Fitness Program to be made available to other federal employees who are assigned to official duty at the House of Representatives; H.R.5036, the “Emergency Assistance for Secure Elections Act of 2008”; H.R.281, the ”Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act of 2007”; H.R.3032, to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to permit candidates for election for federal office to designate an individual who will be authorized to disburse funds of the authorized campaign committees of the candidate in the event of the death of the candidate; and an amendment to Regulations Governing the Use of Official Funds: Alternate Ride Home. Contact: Janice Crump, 202-225-2061 1310 Longworth.
House Veterans' Affairs (10 a.m.): Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Vision Issues.” Retired Army Staff Sgt. Brian Pearce and Angela Pearce, of Mechanicsville, Va.; Glen Minney, retired hospital corpsman in the Navy's Fleet Marine Force, Frankfurt, Ohio; Thomas Zampieri, director of government relations for the Blinded Veterans Association; Randolph Marshall, professor of clinical neurology and director of Columbia University Medical Center's Division of Cerebrovascular Diseases, representing NovaVision, Inc.; Navroze Mehta, president and CEO of NovaVision, Inc.; Mary Warren, associate professor of occupational therapy and director of graduate certification in Low Vision Rehabilitation Program at Universit, representing Performance Enterprises and Dynavision 2000; Gayle Clarke, CEO of Neuro Vision Technology Pty. Ltd.; James Orcutt, chief of ophthalmology at the Veterans Health Administration; Barbara Sigford, national program director for physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Veterans Health Administration; Glenn Cockerham, chief of ophthalmology at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Palo Alto Health Care System; Gregory Goodrich, research psychologist at the Western Blind Rehabilitation Center of the VA Palo Alto Health Care System; Col. Loree Sutton, director of the Defense Department's Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury; and Maj. Gen. Gale Pollock, deputy surgeon general for force management and chief of the Army Nurse Corps at the Defense Department, testify. Contact: Kristal Dekleer, 202-225-9756 334 Cannon.
House Transportation and Infrastructure (9 a.m.): Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee holds a hearing on “National Flood Plain Remapping: The Practical Impact,” focusing on the impact on state and local jurisdictions. Reps. Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Candice Miller (R-Mich.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif) and John Hall (D-N.Y.); Steven Stockton, deputy director of civil works for the Army Corps of Engineers; David Maurstad, assistant administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Mitigation Directorate; Les Stetman, executive director of the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council, St. Louis, Mo.; Larry Larson, executive director of the National Association of State Flood Plain Managers; and Chris Smith, president of the District of Columbia Building Industry Association, testify. Contact: Jim Berard, 202-225-6260 2167 Rayburn.
