Thursday, June 8, 2006 [[Page D595]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS House Committees ordered reported 20 sundry measures. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S5609-S5675 Measures Introduced: Eleven bills and three resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 3477-3487, S. Res. 505-506, and S. Con. Res. 98. Pages S5659-60 Measures Passed: Official Senate Photograph: Senate agreed to S. Res. 505, authorizing the taking of a photograph in the Chamber of the United States Senate. Page S5674 National Health IT Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 506, to designate the period beginning on June 5, 2006, and ending on June 8, 2006, as ``National Health IT Week''. Pages S5674-75 North Atlantic Council: Senate agreed to S. Res. 456, expressing the sense of the Senate on the discussion by the North Atlantic Council of secure, sustainable, and reliable sources of energy. Page S5675 Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act: Senate continued consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 8, to make the repeal of the estate tax permanent. Pages S5610-29 During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the following action: By 57 yeas to 41 nays (Vote No. 164), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate rejected the motion to close further debate on the motion to proceed to the bill. Page S5628 Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act: Senate continued consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 147, to express the policy of the United States regarding the United States' relationship with Native Hawaiians and to provide a process for the recognition by the United States of the Native Hawaiian governing entity. Pages S5631-40 During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the following action: By 56 yeas to 41 nays (Vote No. 165), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate rejected the motion to close further debate on the motion to proceed to the bill. Page S5640 National Defense Authorization--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 3 p.m. on Monday, June 12, 2006, Senate begin consideration of S. 2766, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces; that at 5:30 p.m., Senator Levin be recognized to offer an opening statement, following which, Senator Warner will then be recognized; and that no amendments be in order until Senator Warner is recognized. Page S5674 Stickler Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that on Tuesday, June 13, 2006, immediately following the official photograph of the Senate, Senate resume consideration of the nomination of Richard Stickler, of West Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health; that there be 30 minutes under the control of the Chairman of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, 15 minutes under the control of the Ranking Member of the Committee, and 15 minutes under the control of Senator Byrd for debate prior to the vote on the motion to invoke cloture; provided further, that if cloture is invoked on the nomination, Senate then vote immediately on confirmation of the nomination. Page S5674 Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations: By unanimous vote of 98 yeas (Vote No. EX. 166), Noel Lawrence Hillman, of New Jersey, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey. Pages S5640-44, S5675 [[Page D596]] By unanimous vote of 98 yeas (Vote No. EX. 167), Peter G. Sheridan, of New Jersey, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey. Pages S5640-44, S5675 Thomas L. Ludington, of Michigan, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan. Pages S5640-44, S5675 Sean F. Cox, of Michigan, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan. Pages S5640-44, S5675 Susan C. Schwab, of Maryland, to be United States Trade Representative, with the rank of Ambassador. Pages S5646-53, S5675 Messages From the House: Page S5658 Measures Referred: Page S5658 Enrolled Bills Presented: Page S5658 Executive Communications: Pages S5658-59 Executive Reports of Committees: Page S5659 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S5660-61 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S5661-62 Additional Statements: Pages S5656-58 Amendments Submitted: Pages S5672-73 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Pages S5673-74 Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--167) Pages S5628, S5640, S5643-44, S5644 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 6:53 p.m., until 9:30 a.m., on Friday, June 9, 2006. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S5675.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) APPROPRIATIONS: USAID Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2007 for the U.S. Agency for International Development, after receiving testimony from Randall L. Tobias, Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development. OVERHEAD IMAGERY SYSTEMS Committee on Armed Services: Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing to examine the satellite system that allows the United States to gather images of military targets in other countries from Stephen A. Cambone, Under Secretary for Intelligence, and Donald M. Kerr, Director, National Reconnaissance Office, and General James E. Cartwright, USMC, Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, all of the Department of Defense; and Patrick F. Kennedy, Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Management, and Mary Margaret Graham, Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Collection, both of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. DATA LOSS Committee on Armed Services: Committee met to receive a briefing regarding the loss of personal information regarding Department of Defense personnel as a result of the theft of a computer from a Department of Veterans Affairs analyst from Gail H. McGinn, Deputy Under Secretary for Plans, and Jeanne Fites, Deputy Under Secretary for Program Integration, both of the Department of Defense; Anita K. Blair, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Total Force Transformation and Military Personnel Policy; Daniel B. Denning, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army; and Lieutenant General Roger A. Brady, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force for Personnel. AL-ZARQAWI Committee on Armed Services: Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing on the death in Iraq of insurgent terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi from Lieutenant General James T. Conway, USMC, Director of Operations, J-3, and Rear Admiral David J. Dorsett, USN, Director of Intelligence, J-2, both of The Joint Staff. NOMINATIONS Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Sheila C. Bair, of Kansas, to be a Member and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, James B. Lockhart III, of Connecticut, to be Director of the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Donald L. Kohn, of Virginia, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and Kathleen L. Casey, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on National Ocean Policy Study concluded a hearing to examine opportunities and challenges posed by offshore aquaculture and the Federal [[Page D597]] government's role in setting the stage for more robust commercial production of cultured seafood, focusing on the development of the domestic marine aquaculture industry in the United States to meet the demand for seafood, after receiving testimony from Timothy R.E. Keeney, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce; David Bedford, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Juneau; John R. MacMillan, National Aquaculture Association, Buhl, Idaho; Tim Eichenberg, The Ocean Conservancy, San Francisco, California; and Marianne Cufone, Environmental Matters, Tampa, Florida. NOMINATIONS Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of R. Hunter Biden, of Delaware, who was introduced by Senator Carper, and Donna R. McLean, of the District of Columbia, both to be a Member of the Reform Board (Amtrak), and John H. Hill, of Indiana, to be Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Mark V. Rosenker, of Maryland, to be Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, who was introduced by Representative Issa, and Andrew B. Steinberg, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary, all of the Department of Transportation, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. NOMINATIONS Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Philip D. Moeller, of Washington, who was introduced by Senators Murray and Cantwell, and Jon Wellinghoff, of Nevada, who was introduced by Senator Reid, each to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Finance: Committee ordered favorably reported the following bills: An original bill entitled, Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Indian Health Care Improvement Act of 2006; and An original bill entitled, Improving Outcomes for Children Affected by Meth Act of 2006. NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the development of democracy, focusing on the contributions of NGOs, restrictions that a growing number of governments are placing on NGO activities, and how to protect NGOs work, after receiving testimony from Barry F. Lowenkron, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor; and Carl Gershman, National Endowment for Democracy, Mark Palmer, Freedom House, Morton H. Halperin, Open Society Institute, and Thomas Carothers, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, all of Washington, D.C. ASIAN ADOPTIONS Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs concluded a hearing to examine the status of Asian adoptions in the United States, after receiving testimony from Senators Craig and Landrieu; Catherine M. Barry, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs; Robert Divine, Acting Deputy Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security; Thomas Atwood, National Council For Adoption, Alexandria, Virginia; and Susan Soon-keum Cox, Holt International Children's Services, Eugene, Oregon. NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine ways to build an integrated preparedness and emergency management system, focusing on the status of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with the Department of Homeland Security, after receiving testimony from Michael Chertoff, Secretary, and Admiral Thad W. Allen, Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, both of the Department of Homeland Security; Donald F. Kettl, University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute of Government, Philadelphia; and John R. Harrald, George Washington University Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management, Washington, D.C. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the nominations of Andrew J. Guilford, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California, and Charles P. Rosenberg, to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Also, Committee began consideration of : S. 2453, to establish procedures for the review of electronic surveillance programs, agreeing to an amendment in the nature of a substitute, and S. 2468, to provide standing for civil actions for declaratory and injunctive relief to persons who refrain from electronic communications through fear of being subject to warrantless electronic surveillance for foreign intelligence purposes, agreeing to an amendment in the nature of a substitute, but did [[Page D598]] not take final action thereon, and recessed subject to call. COMMISSION ON SAFETY AND ABUSE IN AMERICA'S PRISONS Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Corrections and Rehabilitation held a hearing to examine the findings and recommendations of the Commission on Safety and Abuse in America's Prisons, which explored violence and abuse in America's prisons and jails and ways to make correctional facilities safer for prisoners and staff and more effective in promoting public safety and public health, receiving testimony from John J. Gibbons, Co-Chairman, Nicholas de B. Katzenbach, Co-Chairman, and Gary D. Maynard, Iowa Department of Corrections, and American Correctional Association, Marc H. Morial, National Urban League, and Pat Nolan, Prison Fellowship, and Justice Fellowship, all Commissioners, all of the Commission on Safety and Abuse in America's Prisons. Hearing recessed subject to the call. VETERANS' BENEFITS LEGISLATION Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine pending benefits related legislation, including related measures S. 2121, S. 2416, S. 2562, S. 2659, S. 2694, and S. 3363, after receiving testimony from Senators Burns and Pryor; Ronald R. Aument, Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits, and John H. Thompson, Deputy General Counsel, both of Department of Veterans Affairs; Donald L. Ivers, Alexandria, Virginia, former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; and Quentin Kinderman, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Richard F. Weidman, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Barton F. Stichman, National Veterans Legal Services Program, all of Washington, D.C. INTELLIGENCE Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence community. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 16 public bills, H.R. 5553- 5568; 4 private bills, H.R. 5569-5572; and 2 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 425 and H. Res. 856, were introduced. Pages H3641-42 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H3642-43 Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: H.R. 5293, to amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2007 through 2011, with an amendment (H. Rept. 109-493); and Conference report on H.R. 4939, making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, (H. Rept. 109-494). Pages H3587-H3627, H3641 Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2007: The House began consideration of H.R. 5522, making appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007. Further consideration is expected to resume tomorrow, Friday, June 9th. Pages H3518-48 Agreed to limit the number of amendments made in order for debate and the time limit for debate on each amendment during further proceedings. Pages H3546-47 Agreed to: Lynch amendment to increase funding (by offset) by $5 million for the State Department's program of nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, demining and related programs and activities; and Page H3533 Millender-McDonald amendment to increase funding for Bilateral Economic Assistance by $2 million (by offset). Pages H3532-34 Rejected: Obey motion that sought to increase funding for International Disaster and Famine Assistance for Sudan by $50 million and for the Department of State Global HIV/AIDS Initiative by $50 million by offsetting funding for Egypt by $100 million (by a recorded vote of 198 ayes to 225 noes, Roll No. 236). Pages H3537-46, H3547-48 Postponed proceedings: Blumenauer amendment (No. 1 printed in the Congressional Record of June 7th) increases funding for the Development Assistance account by $250 million (by offset) to provide clean water and anti-poverty assistance. Pages H3535-37 [[Page D599]] H. Res. 851, the rule providing for consideration of the bill was agreed to by voice vote, after agreeing to order the previous question without objection. Pages H3502-06 Committee Resignation: Read a letter from Representative DeLay wherein he resigned from the Committee on Appropriations, effective immediately. Pages H3548-50 Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006: The House passed H.R. 5252, to promote the deployment of broadband networks and services, by a yea-and-nay vote of 321 yeas to 101 nays, Roll No. 241. Pages H3551-87 Rejected the Solis motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Energy and Commerce with instructions to report the same forthwith to the House with amendments, by a yea-and-nay vote of 165 yeas to 256 nays, Roll No. 240, after ordering the previous question. Pages H3583-86 Agreed to: Barton Manager's amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 109-491) clarifies the following: (1) what constitutes a franchise area; (2) that a person or group seeking authority to provide service under a national franchise must agree to comply with all requirements the FCC promulgates pursuant to the consumer protection and customer service provisions in the bill; (3) that anyone with a national franchise shall be subject to all the cable operator provisions of Title VI of the Communications Act except for the ones specifically expected in the bill; and (4) that nothing in the legislation affects existing pole attachment law; Pages H3569-70 Wynn amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 109-491) allows a franchising authority to issue an order requiring compliance with FCC revised consumer protection rules; Pages H3571-73 Johnson, Eddie Bernice, of Texas, amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 109-491) increases discrimination penalty from $500,000 to $750,000 for a cable operator that denies access to cable service to residents because of the income of that group; Pages H3573-74 Rush amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 109-491) sets forth a complaint process to resolve fee disputes between a local franchise authority and a cable operator. A franchise authority or a cable operator must provide written notice to each other if there is a dispute regarding franchise fees or PEG/I-Net support. Both parties must meet within 30 days of notification. If the local franchise authority and the cable operator have not resolved the dispute within 90 days then both parties can petition the FCC to resolve the complaint. The FCC has 90 days to resolve any fee disputes. The amendment provides a 3-year limitation in bringing a complaint to the FCC regarding fee disputes; Pages H3574-75 Gutknecht amendment (No. 8 printed in H. Rept. 109-491) preserves FCC authority to require VOIP providers to: (1) Contribute to the Federal universal service fund when they interconnect, either directly or indirectly, with incumbent local exchange carrier networks; and (2) Properly compensate network owners for the use of their network just as incumbent and competitive carriers do today; and Pages H3581-82 Smith of Texas amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 109-491) clarifies that the language in section 201 (i.e. the new section 715(b)(3) of the Communications Act) that gives exclusive authority to the FCC to adjudicate complaints concerning network neutrality does not affect the applicability of the antitrust laws to cases involving network neutrality or the jurisdiction of the courts to hear such cases (by a recorded vote of 353 ayes to 68 noes, Roll No. 238). Pages H3575-76, H3582-83 Rejected: Markey amendment (No. 7 printed in H. Rept. 109-491) seeks to restore important non-discrimination requirements enforced by the Federal Communications Commission that from the inception of the Internet until August of 2005 were binding on telecommunications carriers. This amendment essentially has 3 parts: (1) provides a policy statement in addition to the general duties of broadband network providers; provides for preserved rights and exceptions to the general statutory duties in the first part; and provides an expedited complaint process and an antitrust savings clause (by a recorded vote of 152 ayes to 269 noes, Roll No. 239). Pages H3576-80, H3583 Withdrawn: Jackson-Lee of Texas amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 109-491) reduces the fee paid to local franchise authorities for PEG/iNet support by women-owned, small businesses, and socially and economically disadvantaged firms from 1% to 0.5%. Pages H3570-71 H. Res. 850, the rule providing for consideration of the bill was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 262 yeas to 151 nays, Roll No. 237, after agreeing to order the previous question. Pages H3506-18, H3550-51 A point of order was raised against the consideration of H. Res. 850 and it was agreed to proceed with consideration of the resolution, by a yea-and-nay vote of 254 yeas to 166 nays, Roll No. 235. Pages H3507-10 Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page H3499. [[Page D600]] Amendments: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the rule appear on page H3643. Quorum Calls--Votes: 4 yea-and-nay votes and 3 recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H3509-10, H3547-48, H3550-51, H3582-83, H3583, H3586, and H3586-87. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 12 midnight. Committee Meetings IRANIAN THREAT ASSESSMENT Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on Assessing the Iranian Threat, Its Geopolitics, and U.S. Policy Options. Testimony was heard from Patrick Clawson, Deputy Director, Research, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy; and Ray Takeyh, Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, Council on Foreign Relations. LINE ITEM VETO, CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES Committee on the Budget: Continued hearings on the Line Item Veto, Constitutional Issues. Testimony was heard from Louis Fisher, Specialist at the Law Library, Library of Congress; and public witnesses MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health approved for full Committee action the following: S. 655, A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the Community Health Center Reauthorization Act of 2006; the Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education Payment Program Reauthorization Act of 2006; and H.R. 4157, amended, Health Information Technology Promotion Act of 2005. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 5443, amended, Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2006; H.R. 5393, Natural Disaster Housing Reform Act of 2006; H.R. 5527, Mark-to-Market Extension Act of 2006; and H.R. 4804, amended, FHA Manufactured Housing Loan Modernization Act of 2006. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Government Reform: Ordered reported the following measures: H. Res. 826, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a National Youth Sports Week should be established; H.R. 1167, amended, To amend the Truth in Regulating Act to make permanent the pilot project for the report on rules; H.R. 4416, To reauthorize permanently the use of penalty and franked mail in efforts relating to the location and recovery of missing children; H.R. 4809, Regulation in Plain Language Act of 2006; H.R. 5216, Preservation of Records of Servitude, Emancipation, and Post- Civil War Reconstruction Act of 2006; H.R. 5525, Reservists Pay Security Act of 2006; S. 959, amended, Star-Spangled Banner and War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission Act; H.R. 5169, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1310 Highway 64 NW, in Ramsey, Indiana, as the ``Wilfred Edward `Cousin Willie' Sieg, Sr. Post Office;'' H.R. 5194, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8801 Sudley Road in Manassas, Virginia, as the ``Harry J. Parrish Post Office Building;'' H.R. 5224, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 350 Uinta Drive in Green River, Wyoming as the ``Curt Gowdy Post Office Building;'' H.R. 5426, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 326 South Main Street in Princeton, Illinois as the ``Congressman Owen Lovejoy Post Office Building;'' H.R. 5428, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 202 East Washington Street in Morris, Illinois, as the ``Joshua A. Terando Princeton Post Office Building;'' H.R. 5434, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 40 South Walnut Street in Chillicothe, Ohio, as the ``Larry Cox Post Office;'' H.R. 5504, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service at 6029 Broadmoor Street in Mission, Kansas, as the ``Larry Winn, Jr. Post Office Building; H.R. 5540, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 217 Southeast 2nd Street in Dimmitt, Texas, as the ``Sgt. Jacob Dan Dones Post Office;'' H. Res. 498, Supporting the goals and ideals of School Bus Safety Week; and S. 1445, A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 520 Colorado Avenue in Arriba, Colorado, as the ``William H. Emery Post Office.'' SECURITY OF PERSONAL INFORMATION AT FEDERAL AGENCIES Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing entitled ``Once More into the Data Breach: The Security of Personal Information at Federal Agencies.'' Testimony was heard from Clay Johnson III, Deputy Director, Management, OMB; R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs; David M. Walker, Comptroller General, GAO; William E. Gray, Deputy Commissioner, Systems, SSA; and Daniel Galik, Chief Mission Assurance and Security Services, IRS, Department of the Treasury. OVERSIGHT--ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION Committee on House Administration: Held a hearing entitled ``Oversight Hearing on the Election Assistance Commission.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Election Assistance Commission: Paul S. DeGregorio, Chairman; Ray Martinez [[Page D601]] III, Vice Chairman; Donetta L. Davidson and Gracia M. Hillman, both Commissioners. OVERSIGHT--REVIEW IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION Committee on International Relations: Held an oversight hearing to review Iraq Reconstruction. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of State: James Jeffrey, Senior Advisor to Secretary Rice and Coordinator for Iraq; and James R. Kunder, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Asia and the Near East, U.S. Agency for International Development; and Stuart W. Bowen, Jr., Special Inspector General, Iraq Reconstruction. OVERSIGHT--REMOVING AFRICAN ENTREPRENEURIAL OBSTACLES Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Rights and International Operations held an oversight hearing on Removing Obstacles for African Entrepreneurs. Testimony was heard from Manuel A. Rosales, Assistant Administrator, Office of International Trade, SBA; and public witnesses. PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS IMPLEMENTATION ACT Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution held a hearing on H.R. 4772, Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 2005. Testimony was heard from Daniel L. Siegel, Supervising Deputy Attorney General, State of California; and public witnesses. REFORMING MECHANICAL MUSIC LICENSING Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property approved for full Committee action H.R. 5553, Section 115 Reform Act of 2006. OVERSIGHT--WESTERN HEMISPHERE PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims held an oversight hearing entitled ``The Need to Implement WHTI to Protect U.S. Homeland Security.'' Testimony was heard from Paul Rosenzweig, Acting Assistant Secretary, Policy Development, Department of Homeland Security; and public witnesses. NOAA'S WEATHER SATELLITE PROGRAM Committee on Science: Held a hearing on The Future of NPOESS: Results of the Nunn-McCurdy Review of NOAA's Weather Satellite Program. Testimony was heard from Ronald M. Sega, Under Secretary, Air Force, Department of Defense; VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., USN, (Ret.) Under Secretary, Oceans and Atmosphere, and Administrator, NOAA, Department of Commerce; and Michael Griffin, Administrator, NASA. BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held a hearing on Reauthorization of the Brownfields Program--Successes and Future Challenges. Testimony was heard from Susan Parker Bodine, Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, EPA; John M. Magill, Deputy Director, Department of Development, State of Ohio; and public witnesses. VETERANS MEASURES--OVERSIGHT--VA'S FIDUCIARY PROGRAM Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 601, Native American Veterans Cemetery Act of 2005; and H.R. 4843, Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2006. The Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on the Veterans Benefits Administration's fiduciary program, including implementation of Title V of Public Law 108-454. Testimony was heard from Renee L. Szybala, Director, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs. BRIEFING--GLOBAL UPDATES/HOTSPOTS Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to receive a briefing on Global Updates/Hotspots. The Committee was briefed by departmental witnesses. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 2006 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate No meetings/hearings scheduled. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing entitled ``Cyber Security Challenges at the Department of Energy,'' 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087ÿ09390). The Periodicals postage is paid at Washington, D.C. 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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Record, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, Along with the entire mailing label from the last issue received. [[Page D602]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9:30 a.m., Friday, June 9 Senate Chamber Program for Friday: Senate will be in a period of morning business. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 9 a.m. Friday, June 9 House Chamber Program for Friday: Resume consideration of H.R. 5522--Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Bishop, Sanford D., Jr., Ga., E1047 Bishop, Timothy H., N.Y., E1071 Boehlert, Sherwood, N.Y., E1086 Bordallo, Madeleine Z., Guam, E1079, E1082 Brady, Robert A., Pa., E1047 Burgess, Michael C., Tex., E1075 Clay, Wm. Lacy, Mo., E1060 Cooper, Jim, Tenn., E1052, E1071 Costa, Jim, Calif., E1079, E1082 Costello, Jerry F., Ill., E1070 Crowley, Joseph, N.Y., E1066, E1068 DeFazio, Peter A., Ore., E1088 Dingell, John D., Mich., E1081 Drake, Thelma D., Va., E1067 Emanuel, Rahm, Ill., E1054, E1055, E1056 Eshoo, Anna G., Calif., E1052, E1054, E1055 Fitzpatrick, Michael G., Pa., E1054, E1065 Ford, Harold E., Jr., Tenn., E1088 Gallegly, Elton, Calif., E1050 Garrett, Scott, N.J., E1073 Gerlach, Jim, Pa., E1054 Graves, Sam, Mo., E1065, E1066, E1067, E1067, E1069, E1070, E1071, E1071, E1072, E1073 Green, Al, Tex., E1051 Hefley, Joel, Colo., E1076 Herseth, Stephanie, S.D., E1065, E1067, E1078 Higgins, Brian, N.Y., E1076 Holt, Rush D., N.J., E1060 Hooley, Darlene, Ore., E1077 Inglis, Bob, S.C., E1052 Kelly, Sue W., N.Y., E1074 Kennedy, Mark R., Minn., E1056 Kildee, Dale E., Mich., E1077 Kind, Ron, Wisc., E1072 Kirk, Mark Steven, Ill., E1085 Kucinich, Dennis J., Ohio, E1072 Lowey, Nita M., N.Y., E1060 McKeon, Howard P. ``Buck'', Calif., E1074 McMorris, Cathy, Wash., E1056 Markey, Edward J., Mass., E1050 Meehan, Martin T., Mass., E1061 Miller, Candice S., Mich., E1052 Miller, Gary G., Calif., E1086 Miller, Jeff, Fla., E1068, E1070 Moore, Dennis, Kans., E1078 Moran, James P., Va., E1047 Myrick, Sue Wilkins, N.C., E1053 Neal, Richard E., Mass., E1051 Northup, Anne M., Ky., E1074 Norton, Eleanor Holmes, D.C., E1080 Paul, Ron, Tex., E1074 Payne, Donald M., N.J., E1087 Pelosi, Nancy, Calif., E1079 Pombo, Richard W., Calif., E1047 Porter, Jon C., Nev., E1087 Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E1059, E1078, E1080, E1081, E1083, E1085, E1086 Rogers, Harold, Ky., E1060 Rogers, Mike, Ala., E1074 Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana, Fla., E1073 Ross, Mike, Ark., E1065, E1067, E1069, E1070, E1071 Sanchez, Loretta, Calif., E1076 Schakowsky, Janice D., Ill., E1077 Schwartz, Allyson Y., Pa., E1072 Serrano, Jose E., N.Y., E1055, E1056 Shaw, E. Clay, Jr., Fla., E1056 Sodrel, Michael E., Ind., E1088 Solis, Hilda L., Calif., E1059 Stark, Fortney Pete, Calif., E1059 Stearns, Cliff, Fla., E1076 Thompson, Mike, Calif., E1073 Walsh, James T., N.Y., E1073 Wamp, Zach, Tenn., E1053 Weldon, Curt, Pa., E1075 Weldon, Dave, Fla., E1066, E1068 Weller, Jerry, Ill., E1071 Wolf, Frank R., Va., E1057, E1083 Woolsey, Lynn C., Calif., E1069, E1070, E1078