Thursday, March 30, 2006 [[Page D303]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS The House passed H.R. 609, to amend and extend the Higher Education Act of 1965. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S2547-S2675 Measures Introduced: Six bills and one resolution were introduced, as follows: S. 2481-2486 and S. Res. 415. Pages S2602-03 Measures Reported: S. 65, to amend the age restrictions for pilots, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 109-225) S. 829, to allow media coverage of court proceedings. S. 1768, to permit the televising of Supreme Court proceedings. Page S2602 Securing America's Borders Act: Senate continued consideration of S. 2454, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for comprehensive reform, taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S2553-94 Adopted: By a unanimous vote of 94 yeas (Vote No. 83), Frist Amendment No. 3191 (to Amendment No. 3192), to require the Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection to collect statistics, and prepare reports describing the statistics relating to deaths occurring at the border between the United States and Mexico. Pages S2575-76 Pending: Specter/Leahy Amendment No. 3192, in the nature of a substitute. Page S2562 Kyl/Cornyn Amendment No. 3206 (to Amendment No. 3192), to make certain aliens ineligible for conditional nonimmigrant work authorization and status. Pages S2584-85, S2590-94 Cornyn Amendment No. 3207 (to Amendment No. 3206), to establish an enactment date. Pages S2585-89 Bingaman Amendment No. 3210 (to Amendment No. 3192), to provide financial aid to local law enforcement officials along the Nation's borders. Pages S2589-90 Alexander Amendment No. 3193 (to Amendment No. 3192), to prescribe the binding oath or affirmation of renunciation and allegiance required to be naturalized as a citizen of the United States, to encourage and support the efforts of prospective citizens of the United States to become citizens. Page S2590 A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the bill at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, March 31, 2006. Page S2675 Executive Reports of Committees: Senate received the following executive report of a committee: Report to accompany Protocol of 1997 Amending MARPOL Convention (Treaty Doc. 108-7) (Ex. Rept. 109-13). Page S2602 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: Daniel L. Cooper, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary for Benefits of the Department of Veterans Affairs for a term of four years. Gary D. Orton, of Nevada, to be United States Marshal for the District of Nevada for the term of four years. 3 Army nominations in the rank of general. Routine lists in the Army, Foreign Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Page S2675 Nominations Withdrawn: Senate received notification of withdrawal of the following nominations: Daniel P. Ryan, of Michigan, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, which was sent to the Senate on February 14, 2005. Page S2675 Messages From the House: Page S2600 Enrolled Bills Presented: Page S2600 [[Page D304]] Executive Communications: Pages S2600-02 Executive Reports of Committees: Page S2602 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S2603-04 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S2604-12 Additional Statements: Pages S2597-S2600 Amendments Submitted: Pages S2612-73 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Pages S2673-74 Privileges of the Floor: Page S2674 Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--83) Pages S2575-76 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 7:49 p.m., until 9:30 a.m., on Friday, March 31, 2006. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S2675.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) APPROPRIATIONS: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2007 for the Department of the Interior, after receiving testimony from P. Lynn Scarlett, Deputy Secretary, R. Thomas Weimer, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget, and Pamela K. Haze, Co-Director, Office of Budget, all of the Department of the Interior. APPROPRIATIONS: DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2007 for the Department of Energy's Supply and Conservation account, Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability account, Office of Nuclear Energy, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, Office of Environmental Management, Office of Fossil Energy Research and Development, and Office of Science, after receiving testimony from David K. Garman, Under Secretary for Energy, Science, and Environment, and Raymond L. Orbach, Director, Office of Science, both of the Department of Energy. APPROPRIATIONS: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2007 for the Department of Agriculture, after receiving testimony in behalf of funds for their respective activities from Keith Collins, Chief Economist, J.B. Penn, Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, Mark E. Rey, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, Eric M. Bost, Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, Richard A. Raymond, Under Secretary for Food Safety, and Charles Lambert, Acting Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, all of the Department of Agriculture. FLAT FEDERAL INCOME TAX Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the District of Columbia concluded a hearing to examine the potential effects of a flat Federal income tax in the District of Columbia, after receiving testimony from Natwar M. Gandhi, Chief Financial Officer for the Government of the District of Columbia; and Terence C. Golden, Federal City Council, Washington, D.C. DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Personnel concluded a hearing to examine the proposed defense authorization request for fiscal year 2007, focusing on reserve component personnel policies, after receiving testimony from Thomas F. Hall, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs; Lieutenant General H. Steven Blum, USA, Chief National Guard Bureau; Lieutenant General Clyde A. Vaughn, USA, Director, Army National Guard; Lieutenant General Daniel James III, USAF, Director, Air National Guard; Lieutenant General James R. Helmly, USA, Chief, Army Reserve; Vice Admiral John G. Cotton, USN, Chief, Navy Reserve; Lieutenant General John W. Bergman, USMC, Commander, Marine Forces Reserve; and Lieutenant General John A. Bradley, USAF, Chief, Air Force Reserve. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported an original bill to amend the Defense Production Act of 1950, to strengthen Government review and oversight of foreign investment in the United States, to provide for enhanced Congressional oversight with respect thereto. MCKINNEY-VENTO HOMELESS ASSISTANCE REAUTHORIZATION Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Housing and Transportation concluded a hearing to examine S. 1801, to amend the [[Page D305]] McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to reauthorize the Act, and provide for consolidation of HUD's homeless programs, after receiving testimony from Roy A. Bernardi, Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Philip F. Mangano, Executive Director, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness; Gail Dorfman, County Commissioner, Hennepin County, Minnesota; Steven R. Berg, National Alliance to End Homelessness, Washington, D.C.; Charles W. Gould, Volunteers of America, Alexandria, Virginia; Anthony Love, Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, Inc., Houston, Texas; and Dennis P. Culhane, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee ordered favorably reported S. 2389, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the unlawful acquisition and use of confidential customer proprietary network information, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. POLAR-ORBITING OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITES Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Disaster Prevention and Prediction concluded an oversight hearing to examine National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System, which provide data and imagery that are used by weather forecasters, climatologists, and the military to map and monitor changes in weather, climate, the oceans, and the environment, after receiving testimony from Gary E. Payton, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for Space Programs; David A. Powner, Director, Information Technology Management Issues, Government Accountability Office; Gregory W. Withee, Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce; David L. Ryan, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Redondo Beach, California. COMPETITION AND CONVERGENCE Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the state of competition and convergence in the telecommunications industry, after receiving testimony from Kyle McSlarrow, National Cable and Telecommunications Association, Earl Comstock, COMPTEL, Walter McCormick, US Telecom, Steve Largent, CTIA- The Wireless Association, and Mark Cooper, on behalf of Consumer Federation of America, Free Press, and Consumers Union, all of Washington, D.C.; and Jerry Ellig, George Mason University Mercatus Center, Arlington, Virginia. WATER PROJECTS Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power concluded a hearing to examine S. 1577, to facilitate the transfer of Spearfish Hydroelectric Plant Number 1 to the city of Spearfish, South Dakota, S. 1962, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to revise certain repayment contracts with the Bostwick Irrigation District in Nebraska, the Kansas Bostwick Irrigation District No. 2, the Frenchman-Cambridge Irrigation District, and the Webster Irrigation District No. 4, all a part of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, S. 2028, to provide for the reinstatement of a license for a certain Federal Energy Regulatory Commission project, S. 2035, to extend the time required for construction of a hydroelectric project in the State of Idaho, S. 2054, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of water resources in the State of Vermont, S. 2205, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain parcels of land acquired for the Blunt Reservoir and Pierre Canal features of the initial stage of the Oahe Unit, James Division, South Dakota, to the Commission of Schools and Public Lands and the Department of Game, Fish, and Parks of the State of South Dakota for the purpose of mitigating lost wildlife habitat, on the condition that the current preferential leaseholders shall have an option to purchase the parcels from the Commission, and H.R. 3812, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to prepare a feasibility study with respect to the Mokelumne River, after receiving testimony from Senator Thune; John Keys III, Commissioner of Reclamation, and Catherine L. Hill, Northeast Regional Hydrologist, U.S. Geologist Survey, both of the Department of the Interior; J. Mark Robinson, Director, Office of Energy Projects, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy; Mayor Jerry Krambeck, Spearfish, South Dakota; Laurence R. Becker, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Waterbury; C. Mel Lytle, San Joaquin County, Stockton, California, on behalf of the Mokelumne River Water and Power Authority; and Darla Pollman Rogers, Riter, Rogers, Wattier and Brown, LLP, on behalf of Preferential Leaseholders with the Blunt Reservoir and Pierre Canal. COST OF OIL Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the hidden cost of oil, focusing on the externality costs of U.S. dependence on fossil fuels, after receiving testimony from Milton R. Copulos, National Defense Council Foundation, Alexandria, Virginia; Hillard Huntington, Stanford [[Page D306]] University Energy Modeling Forum, Stanford, California; and Gary W. Yohe, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut. NUCLEAR AND RADIOLOGICAL THREAT Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations resumed hearings to examine securing the global supply chain relating to neutralizing the nuclear and radiological threat, focusing on programs that form the defense against nuclear terrorism including the Container Security Initiative, the Megaports Initiative, the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, and the role of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, a new office created within DHS to coordinate global nuclear detection architecture, receiving testimony from Senators Graham and Schumer; Michael P. Jackson, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security; Christopher L. Koch, World Shipping Council, Washington, D.C.; Gary D. Gilbert, Hutchison Port Holdings, Oakton, Virginia; and John P. Clancey, Maersk, Inc., Charlotte, North Carolina. Hearings recessed subject to the call. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT VETERANS' PREFERENCE Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia concluded an oversight hearing to examine the Federal Government's implementation of veterans' preference in the hiring of employees, including an evaluation of the laws designed to protect and promote the employment of veterans, the impact of workforce flexibilities on veterans, and how veterans' redress mechanisms are working, after receiving testimony from Dan G. Blair, Deputy Director, Office of Personnel Management; Charles S. Ciccolella, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training; James McVay, Deputy Special Counsel, Office of Special Counsel; Richard Weidman, Vietnam Veterans of America, Silver Spring, Maryland; and Joseph C. Sharpe, Jr., The American Legion, and Brian E. Lawrence, Disabled American Veterans, both of Washington, D.C. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items: S. 1768, to permit the televising of Supreme Court proceedings; S. 829, to allow media coverage of court proceedings; and The nominations of Michael A. Chagares, of New Jersey, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit, Patrick Joseph Schiltz, to be United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota, Gray Hampton Miller, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas, and Sharee M. Freeman, of Virginia, to be Director, Community Relations Service, and Jeffrey L. Sedgwick, of Massachusetts, to be Director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics, both of the Department of Justice. VETERANS' LEGISLATIVE PRESENTATIONS Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine legislative presentations of certain veterans' organizations, after receiving testimony from George Basher, National Association of State Directors of Veterans' Affairs, Albany, New York; Gerald S. Harvey, American Ex-Prisoners of War, Arlington, Texas; John Rowan, Vietnam Veterans of America, Silver Spring, Maryland; and Edward W. Kemp, AMVETS, Lanham, Maryland. 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. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 23 public bills, H.R. 5050- 5072; and 12 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 371-375; and H. Res. 746-752 were introduced. Pages H1388-90 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H1390-91 Reports Filed: There were no reports filed today. Privileged Resolution: The House agreed to table H. Res. 746, relating to a question of the privileges of the House, by a recorded vote of 216 ayes to 193 noes with 7 voting ``present'', Roll No. 76. Pages H1334-35 College Access and Opportunity Act of 2005: The House passed H.R. 609, to amend and extend the Higher Education Act of 1965 by a recorded [[Page D307]] vote of 221 ayes to 199 noes, Roll No. 81. Consideration of the bill began yesterday, March 29th. Pages H1326-34, H1335-63 Agreed to: Biggert amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 109-401) allows unaccompanied homeless youth to be considered as independent students upon verification of their living situation by a McKinney-Vento Act school district liaison, a shelter director, or a financial aid administrator; Pages H1335-36 Larsen of Washington amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 109-401) expresses the sense of Congress that student exchange and language education programs should focus on Chinese and Arabic, in light of the global importance of China and the Middle East; Page H1341 Souder amendment (No. 6 printed in H. Rept. 109-401) removes language in the bill that prohibits schools from denying transfers of credit based solely on the accreditation of the sending institution. The amendment maintains the requirement that schools publicly disclose their transfer policies, and would also require a school to disclose any policy that would deny transfers of credit solely on the accreditation of the institution where the credit was earned; Pages H1341-42 Gohmert amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 109-401) strikes certain reporting requirements for colleges and universities within Sec. 131(f). The amendment also strikes Sec. 495(a)(1) that would allow states to apply to the Secretary of Education to become recognized accreditors (by a recorded vote of 418 ayes to 2 noes, Roll No. 77); and Pages H1336-37, H1360 Kennedy of Rhode Island amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 109-401) makes child and adolescent mental health professionals eligible for loan forgiveness for high need professions under Sec. 421 of the bill (by a recorded vote of 380 ayes to 38 noes, Roll No. 78). Pages H1337-38, H1360-61 Rejected: King of Iowa amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 109-401) that sought to require institutions that receive any federal funding (including grants and scholarships) to submit to the U.S. Department of Education an annual report answering two questions. First, the report must state whether race, color, or national origin is considered in the student admissions process. If race, color, or nation origin is considered in the student admissions process, then the report must contain a subsequent analysis of how these factors are considered in the process (by a recorded vote of 83 ayes to 337 noes, Roll No. 79); and Pages H1338-41, H1361-62 Miller of California amendment (No. 7 printed in H. Rept. 109-401) in the nature of a substitute that sought to lower student loan interest rates; establish a new Predominantly Black Serving Institution program to boost college participation rates of low-income, black students; establish a new graduate Hispanic Serving Institution program; provide for year-round Pell grants; and repeal the Single Lender rule (by a recorded vote of 200 ayes to 220 noes, Roll No. 80). Pages H1342-54, H1362 Committee of the Whole proceeded with a pro forma amendment for the purposes of an additional 10 minutes of debate. Page H1360 H. Res. 742, the rule providing for further consideration of the bill was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 224 yeas to 188 nays, Roll No. 75, after agreeing to order the previous question without objection. Pages H1326-34 Calendar Wednesday: Agreed by unanimous consent to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday business of Wednesday, April 5, 2006. Page H1365 Meeting Hour: Agreed that when the House adjourns today it adjourn to meet at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 3rd, and further, when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 4, 2006, for Morning Hour debate. Page H1365 Congressional Award Board--appointment: The Chair announced the Speaker's appointment of the following Member of the House to the Congressional Award Board: Representative Chocola. Page H1365 Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on pages H1363-64. Senate Referrals: S. 2349 was held at the desk. Page H1364 Quorum Calls--Votes: One yea-and-nay vote and six recorded votes developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on pages H1331-34, H1334-35, H1360, H1361, H1361-62, H1362 and H1363. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 6:33 p.m. Committee Meetings RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Rural Development, and Research held a hearing to review the Rural Development Programs. Testimony was heard from Thomas C. Dorr, Under Secretary, Rural Development, USDA; Mark Drabenstott, Vice President and Director, Center for the Study of Rural America, Federal Reserve Bank, [[Page D308]] Kansas City, Missouri; Cheryl L. Cook, Deputy Secretary, Marketing and Economic Development, Department of Agriculture, State of Pennsylvania; and public witnesses. AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Research, Education, and Economics. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the USDA: Merle D. Pierson, Deputy Under Secretary, Research, Education and Economics; Edward B. Knipling, Administrator, Agricultural Research Service; Colien Hefferan, Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service; Susan Offutt, Administrator, Economic Research Service; R. Ronald Bosecker, Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service; and W. Scott Steele, Budget Officer. The Subcommittee also held a hearing on Avian Influenza. Testimony was heard from Bruce Gillen, MD., Director, National Vaccine Program, and Jesse Goodman, M.D., Director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, both with the Department of Health and Human Services; and the following officials of the USDA: Mike Johanns, Secretary; Ron DeHaven, M.D., Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; and W. Scott Steele, Budget Officer. DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense met in executive session to hold a hearing on Navy/MC Budget/Acquisition. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of the Navy: Donald C. Winter, Secretary, ADM Michael G. Mullen, USN, Chief of Naval Operations; and GEN Michael W. Hagee, USMC, Commandant of the Marine Corps. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, HHS, EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION, TREASURY, AND HUD, THE JUDICIARY, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Departments of Transportation, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies held a hearing on OMB. Testimony was heard from Joel Kaplan, Deputy Director, OMB. ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing on DOE, National Nuclear Security Administration. Testimony was heard from Linton F. Brooks, Under Secretary, Nuclear Security and Administrator for National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy. HOMELAND SECURITY Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a hearing on Preparedness. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Homeland Security: George Foresman, Under Secretary, Directorate of Preparedness; and Tracey Henke, Assistant Secretary, Office of Grants and Training. INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Native American Issues. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. SCIENCE, THE DEPARTMENTS OF STATE, JUSTICE, AND COMMERCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Science, the Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, and Related Agencies held a hearing on NASA. Testimony was heard from Michael D. Griffin, Administrator, NASA. The Subcommittee also held a hearing on FTC. Testimony was heard from Deborah P. Majoras, Chairman, FTC. NAVY SHIPBUILDING AND ACQUISITION Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Projection Forces held a hearing on the Department of the Navy's Fiscal Year 2007 shipbuilding acquisition strategy and how it supports the Navy's long-range fleet plan. Testimony was heard from Paul L. [[Page D309]] Francis, Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, GAO; the following officials of the CBO: J. Michael Gilmore, Assistant Director; and Eric J. Labs, Principal Analyst, both with the National Security Division; the following officials of the Department of the Navy: Delores M. Etter, Assistant Secretary, Research, Development and Acquisition; VADM Lewis W. Crenshaw, Jr., USN, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Resources, Requirements and Assessments (N8); LTG James N. Mattis, USMC, Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command and Deputy Commandant for Combat Development; RADM David Architzel, USN, Program Executive Officer for Carriers; RADM Charles S. Hamilton II, USN, Program Executive Officer for Ships; and RADM William H. Hilarides, USN, Program Executive Officer for Submarines, all with the Naval Sea Systems Command; Ronald O'Rourke, Specialist in National Defense, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; and a public witness. ARMY/MARINE CORPS EQUIPMENT AND ROTOCRAFT Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness and the Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces held a joint hearing on Army and Marine Corps reset strategies for ground equipment and rotorcraft. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: LTG David F. Melcher, USA, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8, U.S. Army; MG Jeanette K. Edmunds, USA, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, U.S. Army; and LTG Emersonardner, Jr., Deputy Commander of the Marine Corps, Programs and Resources, U.S. Marine Corps; and William Solis, Director, Defense Capabilities and Management Team, GAO. COMMUNICATIONS OPPORTUNITY, PROMOTION, AND ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2006 Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet held a hearing on the Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. OVERSIGHT--HUD Committee on Financial Services: Held an oversight hearing of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, including the Department's budget request for fiscal year 2007. Testimony was heard from Alphonso Jackson, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Government Reform: Ordered reported the following measures: H.R. 4368, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 60 Calle McKinley, West in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, as the ``Miguel Angel Garcia Mendez Post Office Building''; HR. 4561, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8624 Ferguson Road in Dallas, Texas, as the ``Francisco `Pancho' Medrano Post Office Building''; H.R. 4586, Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission Act of 2005; H.R. 4646, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 7320 Reseda Boulevard in Reseda, California, as the ``Coach John Wooden Post Office Building''; H.R. 4811, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 215 West Industrial Park Road in Harrison, Arkansas, as the ``John Paul Hammerschmidt Post Office Building''; H.R. 4995, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 7 Columbus Avenue in Tuckahoe, New York, as the ``Ronald Bucca Post Office''; H.R. 518, Honoring professional surveyors and recognizing their contributions to society; and H. Res. 737, Supporting the goals and ideals of Financial Literacy Month. DISASTER RESPONSE INFORMATION-SHARING Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing entitled ``The Need To Know: Information-Sharing Lessons for Disaster Response.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: Peter F. Verga, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Homeland Defense; and Linton Wells II, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Networks and Information Integration; Vance Hitch, Chief Information Officer, Department of Justice; and public witnesses. BRIEFING--AIRLINE PASSENGER PRESCREENING WATCHLIST Committee on Homeland Security: Met in executive session to receive a briefing on the Transportation Security Administration airline passenger prescreening watchlist. The Committee was briefed by Donna Bucella, Director, Terrorist Screening, FBI, Department of Justice; and Michael Resnick, Chief, Terrorist Identities Group, National Counter Terrorism Center, Office of the Director of National Intelligence. SAFE PORT ACT Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Cybersecurity approved for full committee action, as amended, H.R. 4954, SAFE Port Act. [[Page D310]] SHOULDER-FIRED MISSILES TERRORIST THREAT Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation held a hearing on The Terrorist Threat From Shoulder-Fired Missiles. Testimony was heard from John Hillen, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Department of State. LATIN AMERICA COUNTERNARCOTICS STRATEGIES Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere held a hearing on Counternarcotics Strategies in Latin America. Testimony was heard from Anne W. Patterson, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Department of State; Michael A. Braun, Chief of Operations, DEA, Department of Justice; and public witnesses. OVERSIGHT--CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW ACT Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law held an oversight hearing on the 10th anniversary of the Congressional Review Act. Testimony was heard from J. Christopher Mihm, Managing Director, Strategic Issues, GAO; Morton Rosenberg, Specialist in American Public Law, American Law Division, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; John V. Sullivan, Parliamentarian, U.S. House of Representatives; and a public witness. DEATH PENALTY REFORM ACT OF 2006 Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security held a hearing on H.R. 5040, Death Penalty Reform Act of 2006. Testimony was heard from Margaret P. Griffey, Chief, Capital Case Unit, Criminal Division, Department of Justice; and public witnesses. OVERSIGHT--WORK VISA INCREASES Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims held an oversight hearing on Should Congress Raise the H-1B Cap? Testimony was heard from public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 2134, Commission To Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of the American Latino Community Act of 2005; H.R. 3961, To authorize the National Park Service to pay for services rendered by subcontractors under a General Services Administration Indefinite Deliver/Indefinite Quantity Contract issued for work to be completed at Grand Canyon National Park; and H.R. 4294, Natural Resource Protection Cooperative Agreement Act. Testimony was heard from Representatives Becerra, Ros-Lehtinen, Renzi, and Porter; Michael Soukup, Associate Director, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science, National Park Service, Department of the Interior; and a public witness. LOBBYING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2006 Committee on Rules: Held a hearing on H.R. 4975, Lobbying Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006. Testimony was heard from Representatives Shays, Buyer, Kirk, Schmidt, Obey, Frank of Massachusetts, Cardin, Price of North Carolina, Meehan, Blumenauer, Doggett, Allen, Baird, Emanuel, and Bean. K-12 SCIENCE AND MATH EDUCATION Committee on Science: Held a hearing on K-12 Science and Math Education Across the Federal Agencies. Testimony was heard from Margaret Spellings, Secretary of Education; Arden Bement, Director, NSF; John J. Kelly, Deputy Under Secretary, Oceans and Atmosphere, NOAA, Department of Commerce; and James Decker, Principal Deputy Director, Office of Science, Department of Energy. SBA PROCUREMENT ASSISTANCE Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform and Oversight held an oversight hearing on the procurement assistance programs of the SBA. Testimony was heard from Anthony Martoccia, Associate Deputy Administrator, Office of Government Contracting and Business Development, SBA; and public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; GSA'S FY 2007 CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND LEASING PROGRAM Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management approved for full Committee action the following: GSA's Fiscal Year 2007 Capital Investment and Leasing Program; H. Con. Res. 360, Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service; H. Con. Res. 359, Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the District of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run; and H. Con. Res. 349, Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby, 10 a.m., 2253 Rayburn. The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the General Services Administration's Fiscal Year 2006 Capital Investment and Leasing Program. Testimony was heard from David L. Winstead, Commissioner, Public Buildings Service, GSA. [[Page D311]] OVERSIGHT--BARRIERS TO CLEANUP OF ABANDONED MINE SITES Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held an oversight hearing on Barriers to the Cleanup of Abandoned Mine Sites. Testimony was heard from Benjamin H. Grumbles, Assistant Administrator, Water, EPA; and public witnesses. OVERSIGHT--ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY/AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs held an oversight hearing on policy and operational issues facing Arlington National Cemetery and the American Battle Monuments Commission. Testimony was heard from John C. Metzler, Jr., Superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery; and John W. Nicholson, Secretary, American Battle Monuments Commission. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER HIGH-RISK ISSUES Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security continued hearings on Social Security number (SSN) high-risk issues. Testimony was heard from Representatives Dreier and Reyes; Cynthia M. Fagnoni, Managing Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security, GAO; Joel Winston, Associate Director, Division of Privacy and Identity Protection, Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC; and public witnesses. INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007 Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session and ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 5020, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2006 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: to hold hearings to examine the nominations of Uttam Dhillon, of California, to be Director of the Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, and Mark D. Acton, of Kentucky, to be a Commissioner of the Postal Rate Commission, 10 a.m., SD-342. Committee on the Judiciary: to hold hearings to examine the call to censure the President, 9:30 a.m., SH-216. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, to continue hearings entitled ``The Silicosis Story: Mass Tort Screening and the Public Health,'' 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 D312]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9:30 a.m., Friday, March 31 Senate Chamber Program for Friday: Senate will continue consideration of S. 2454, Securing America's Borders Act. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2 p.m., Monday, April 3 House Chamber Program for Tuesday: To be announced. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Ackerman, Gary L., N.Y., E476, E477 Baldwin, Tammy, Wisc., E471 Bilirakis, Michael, Fla., E474 Bonner, Jo, Ala., E473 Boren, Dan, Okla., E474 Cardin, Benjamin L., Md., E471, E483 Cooper, Jim, Tenn., E474 Costa, Jim, Calif., E474 Cuellar, Henry, Tex., E465, E467 Cummings, Elijah E., Md., E482 Ehlers, Vernon J., Mich., E463 Frank, Barney, Mass., E484 Gilchrest, Wayne T., Md., E472 Goodlatte, Bob, Va., E472 Hart, Melissa A., Pa., E463, E464, E465, E466, E468, E469 Hastings, Alcee L., Fla., E476 Holt, Rush D., N.J., E487, E487 Kanjorski, Paul E., Pa., E471 Kilpatrick, Carolyn C., Mich., E476 Kucinich, Dennis J., Ohio, E464, E468, E469 Lee, Barbara, Calif., E486, E488 Levin, Sander M., Mich., E469 McCollum, Betty, Minn., E464, E465, E466, E467, E470 Marchant, Kenny, Tex., E471 Meek, Kendrick B., Fla., E470 Mollohan, Alan B., W.Va., E487 Moore, Dennis, Kans., E488 Moore, Gwen, Wisc., E477 Moran, James P., Va., E477 Moran, Jerry, Kans., E473 Musgrave, Marilyn N., Colo., E474 Oberstar, James L., Minn., E482 Pelosi, Nancy, Calif., E485 Porter, Jon C., Nev., E465, E467 Rahall, Nick J., II, W.Va., E477 Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E478, E479, E481 Ross, Mike, Ark., E463, E466, E468 Ruppersberger, C.A. Dutch, Md., E480 Schiff, Adam B., Calif., E470 Shuster, Bill, Pa., E469 Skelton, Ike, Mo., E464, E467 Smith, Christopher H., N.J., E478 Thompson, Mike, Calif., E486 Towns, Edolphus, N.Y., E479, E480, E482, E483, E485, E486 Visclosky, Peter J., Ind., E485 Waxman, Henry A., Calif., E474 Weller, Jerry, Ill., E473 Wilson, Joe, S.C., E464, E466, E468 Wolf, Frank R., Va., E480, E482