Congress
Today in Congress: May 6, 2008
Reuters
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THE SENATE
The Senate is in session.
Committees
Senate Finance (11 a.m.): Holds a hearing on ”Seizing the New Opportunity for Health Reform.” Former Health and Human Services Secretaries Tommy Thompson and Donna Shalala, testify. 215 Dirksen.
Senate (Select) Intelligence (2:30 p.m.): Holds a hearing on the nomination of Michael Leiter to be director of the National Counterterrorism Center in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The nominee testifies. 216 Hart.
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation (10 a.m.): Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee holds a hearing on oversight of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA Administrator Conrad Lautenbacher; Jefferson Gray, superintendent of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary; Susan Williams, director of the Bodega Bay Marine Laboratory, University of California - Davis; and Kathy Fosmark, co-chair of the Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries, testify. 253 Russell.
Senate Environment and Public Works (10 a.m.): Holds a hearing on “Perchlorate and TCE (Trichloroethylene) in Water.” Benjamin Grumbles, assistant administrator for water at the Environmental Protection Agency; George Alexeeff, deputy director for scientific affairs in the California Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment; Mike Baker, chief of the Ohio EPA's Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, representing the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators; Carol Rowan West, director of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Research & Standards; Donna Lupardo, assemblywoman, 126th Assembly District, State of New York; Gail Charnley of HealthRisk Strategies; David Hoel, professor at the Medical University of South Carolinal; and Richard Wiles, executive director of the Environmental Working Group, testify. 406 Dirksen.
Senate Foreign Relations (2:30 p.m.): International Operations and Organizations, Democracy and Human Rights Subcommittee holds a hearing on the “Holocaust Era Insurance Restitution After ICHEIC (International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims)” Lawrence Eagleburger, former secretary of state and former chairman of the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims; Roman Kent, a Holocaust survivor and chairman of the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants, New York, N.Y.; Jack Rubin, a Holocaust survivor and member of the Advisory Committee of the Holocaust Survivors of West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Fla.; Stuart Eizenstat, partner at Covington & Burling LLP and former special representative of the president and secretary of state on Holocaust issues; Thane Rosenbaum, lecturer in law at the Fordham University School of Law School; Sam Dubbin, partner at Dubbin & Kravetz, LLP, Miami, Fla.; and Anna Rubin, director of the New York State Banking Department's Holocaust Claims Processing Office, testify. 419 Dirksen.
Senate Judiciary (2 p.m.): Administrative Oversight and the Courts Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Policing Lenders and Protecting Homeowners: Is Misconduct in Bankruptcy Fueling the Foreclosure Crisis?” Steve Bailey, head of Countrywide's Loan Serving Division; Cliff White of the U.S. Trustee's Office; Robin Atchley, former Countrywide borrower; Kate Porter, professor at the University of Iowa; and Debra Miller, Chapter 13 trustee from Northern District of Indiana, testify. 226 Dirksen.
THE HOUSE
The House is in session.
Committees
House Education and Labor (11 a.m.): -- Holds a hearing on “Do Federal Programs Ensure U.S. Workers Are Recruited First Before Employers Hire From Abroad?” Assistant Labor Secretary for Policy Leon Sequeira; William Carlson, administrator of the Employment and Training Administration's Office of Foreign Labor Certification, Labor Department; Bill Beardall, director of the Equal Justice Center, Austin, Texas; Andrew Sum, director/professor at Northeastern University's Center for Labor Market Studies; Javier Riojas, attorney/branch manager of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Eagle Pass, Texas; Bruce Goldstein, executive director of Farmworker Justice; and John Young, past executive director of the New England Apple Council, testify. 2175 Rayburn.
House (Select) Intelligence (10 a.m.): Technical and Tactical Intelligence Subcommittee holds a closed briefing on international trafficking in arms reduction. H-405, U.S. Capitol.
House Judiciary (2 p.m.): Commercial and Administrative Law Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Rulemaking Process and the Unitary Executive Theory.” Witnesses TBA. 2141 Rayburn.
House Transportation and Infrastructure (2 p.m.): Aviation Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Aviation and the Environment: Emissions.” Witnesses TBA. 2167 Rayburn.
House Energy and Commerce: Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee holds a hearing on “The Renewable Fuels Standard: Issues, Implementation, and Opportunities.” Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-S.D.); Principal Deputy Assistant Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Robert Myers, for the Office of Air and Radiation; Michael Goo, climate legislative director for the Natural Resources Defense Council; Bob Dinneen president of the Renewable Fuels Association; Charles Drevna, executive vice president of the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association; Randy Kramer, president of KL Process Design Group LLC; Scott Faber, vice president of federal affairs and the Grocery Manufacturers Association; Rick Tolman, CEO of the National Corn Growers Association; Mark Stowers, vice president of research and development for POET, an ethanol power plant; and Gawain Kripke, director of policy and research at Oxfam America, testify. 2123 Rayburn.
House Rules (3 p.m.): Meets to formulate a rule on H.R.5818, the “Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008”; and a resolution providing for consideration of the Senate amendments the bill (H.R.3221) to provide needed housing reform. H-313, U.S. Capitol.
House Foreign Affairs (10 a.m.): and Global Health Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Higher Education in Africa: Making the Link between Intellectual Capital and Regional Development.” Franklin Moore, deputy assistant administrator in the U.S. Agency for International Development's Bureau for Africa; Peter McPherson, president of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges; Suresh Babu, senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute; and Mora McLean, president and CEO, The Africa-America Institute, testify. 2172 Rayburn.
House Energy and Commerce (9:30 a.m.): Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee holds a hearing on H.R.5353, the “Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2008,” to establish broadband policy and direct the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a proceeding and public broadband summits to assess competition, consumer protection, and consumer choice issues relating to broadband Internet access services. Mitch Bainwol, chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America; Christopher Yoo, professor of law and founding director of the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Technology, Innovation, and Competition; Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press, representing Free Press, the Consumers Union and the Consumer Federation of America; Scott Savitz, CEO and founder of Shoebuy.com; Steve Peterman, executive producer of “Hannah Montana,” representing the Writers Guild of America, West; Kyle McSlarrow, president and CEO of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association; Michele Combs, vice president of communications for the Christian Coalition of America; and Walter McCormick, president and CEO of United States Telecom Association, testify. 2322 Rayburn.
House Foreign Affairs (2 p.m.): International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight Subcommittee holds a hearing on “City on the Hill or Prison on the Bay? The Mistakes of Guantanamo and the Decline of America's Image Emi MacLean, staff attorney for the Center for Constitutional Rights' Guantanamo Global Justice Initiative; Michael Mone, member of Esdaile, Barrett and Esdaile; Stephen Oleskey, partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, LLP; Elizabeth Gilson, attorney-at-law; and Lee Casey, partner at Baker and Hostetler, testify. 2172 Rayburn 2172 Rayburn.
House Homeland Security (10 a.m.): Holds a hearing on “The Resilient Homeland - Broadening the Homeland Security Strategy.” Assistant Homeland Security Secretary for Policy Stewart Baker; Susan Bailey, vice president of global network operations planning for AT*T* Yossi Sheffi, professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Erroll Southers, assistant chief of the Los Angeles Airport Police's Homeland Security & Intelligence Division, and adjunct professor of terrorism and public policy, associate director for educational programs at the University of Southern California's Nomeland Security Center for Risk & Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events; and Mary Arnold, vice president of government relations at SAP America, testify. 311 Cannon.
House Judiciary (9:30 a.m.): Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Subcommittee holds a markup of a resolution to authorize the issuance of subpoenas to compel the testimony of Chief of Staff to the Vice-President David Addington and former Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Yoo; and hearing on “From the Department of Justice to Guantanamo Bay: Administration Lawyers and Administration Interrogation Rules, Part I.” Philippe Sands of the University College London; Marjorie Cohn of the Thomas Jefferson School of Law; David Luban, of the Georgetown University Law Center; and David Rivkin, partner at Baker Hostetler, testify. Note: Former Attorney General John Ashcroft has agreed to appear in front of the panel at a later date, and former CIA Director George Tenet and former Defense Undersecretary Douglas Feith remain in dialogue with the committee about their availability 2141 Rayburn .
House Judiciary (1 p.m.): Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Federal Prison Industries - Examining the Effects of Section 827 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008”; and markup of H.R.5464, the “A Child Is Missing Alert and Recovery Center”; H.R.2352, the “School Safety Enhancements Act of 2007”; H.R.3480, the “Let Our Veterans Rest in Peace Act of 2007”; S.2135, the “Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2007”; H.R.5938, the “Former Vice President Protection Act of 2008”; H.R.5057, the “Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act of 2008”; H.R.1783, the “Elder Justice Act”; and H.R.5352, the “Elder Abuse Victims Act of 2008.” Witnesses TBA. 2237 Rayburn.
House Science and Technology (10 a.m.): Energy and Environment Subcommittee holds a markup of H.R.3957, the “Water Use Efficiency and Conservation Research Act”; and H.R.2339, the “Produced Water Utilization Act of 2007.” 2318 Rayburn.
House Veterans Affairs (10 a.m.): Holds a hearing on ”The Truth About Veterans' Suicides.” Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake; Principal Deputy Veterans Affairs Undersecretary Gerald Cross, for the Veterans Health Administration; Ira Katz, deputy chief patient care services officer for mental health at the Veterans Health Administration; Stephen Rathbun, interim head and associate professor of biostatistics at the University of Georgia; David Rudd, professor at Texas Tech University; and Ronald Maris, professor emeritus at the University of South Carolina, testify. 334 Cannon.
House Ways and Means (1 p.m.): Health Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Medicare's Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program.” Kerry Weems, acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Kathleen King, director of health care issues at the Government Accountability Office; Tom Ryan of the American Association for Homecare; Peter Thomas, Health Task Force co-chair at the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities; and Thomas Hoerger, senior fellow at the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International, testify. 1100 Longworth.
House Ways and Means (10 a.m.): Social Security Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Employment Eligibility Verification Systems and the Potential Impacts on the Social Security Administration's Serve Retirees, People with Disabilities, and Workers.” Reps. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), Dennis Moore (D-Kan.), Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) and Heath Shuler (D-N.C.); Richard Stana, director of homeland security and justice at the Government Accountability Office; Barbara Kennelly, president and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare; Greg Heineman, president of the National Council of Social Security Management Associations, Inc., Norfolk, Neb.; Mitchell Laird, president of MCL Enterprises, Phoenix, Ariz., representing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; John Travina, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Los Angeles, Calif.; Eugene Spafford, professor of computer science and director of the Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. representing the Association for Computing Machinery; and Susan Meisinger, president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource (HR) Management, representing the HR Initiative for a Legal Workforce, testify. B-318 Rayburn.
