109th Congress (2005 - 2006)

January 3 - December 8, 2006

Senate Committee Meetings by Date
Compiled from the Congressional Record's Daily Digests via Thomas at thomas.loc.gov

2006/01/03
Daily Digest - Tuesday, January 3, 2006; pages D1 - D2

Committee Meetings

No committee meetings were held.

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/01/18
Daily Digest - Wednesday, January 18, 2006; pages D4 - D8

Committee Meetings 

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

NOMINATION 

Committee on the Judiciary: On Monday, January 9 through Friday, January 13,
committee held hearings on the nomination of Samuel A. Alito, Jr., of New
Jersey, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States,
where the nominee, on Monday, was introduced by Senator Lautenberg and former
New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, and presented a statement in his
own behalf. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the nominee testified and answered
questions in his own behalf. On Thursday, testimony was received from Stephen
L. Tober, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Marna Tucker and John Payton, both of
Washington, DC, all on behalf of the American Bar Association; Judge Edward R.
Becker, Chief Judge Anthony J. Scirica, Judge Maryanne Trump Barry, Judge
Ruggero J. Aldisert, all of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Judge Leonard I.
Garth, Chicago, Illinois, all of the United States Court of Appeals; John J.
Gibbons, Gibbons, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione, Newark, New Jersey,
former United States Court of Appeals Judge (Ret.); Timothy K. Lewis,
Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis, Washington, DC, former United States Court
of Appeals Judge (Ret.); Edna Ball Alexrod, Law Offices of Edna Ball Alexrod,
South Orange, New Jersey; Michael J. Gerhardt, University of North Carolina
School of Law, Chapel Hill; Peter Kirsanow, Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan &
Aronoff, Cleveland, Ohio, and Commissioner, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights;
Samuel Issacharoff, New York University School of Law, New York, New York;
Carter Phillips, Sidley Austin, Washington, DC; and Goodwin Liu, University of
California, Berkeley; and on Friday, testimony was received from
Representatives Gonzalez and Wasserman Schultz; Nora Demleitner, Hofstra
University School of Law, Hempstead, New York; Erwin Chemerinsky, Duke
University Law School, Durham, North Carolina; Anthony Kronman, Yale Law
School, and Ronald S. Sullivan, Jr., both of New Haven, Connecticut; Beth
Nolan, Crowell & Moring, former Counsel to the President (1999-2001), Kate
Michelman, on behalf of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action
League (NARAL), Amanda Frost, American University Washington College of Law,
Reginald M. Turner, Jr., National Bar Association, and Theodore Shaw, NAACP
Legal Defense and Educational Fund, all of Washington, DC; Charles Fried,
former Solicitor General of the United States, and Laurence H. Tribe, both of
Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Fred Gray, Gray, Langford, Sapp,
McGowan, Gray & Nathanson, Tuskegee, Alabama; John G. S. Flym, Northeastern
University School of Law, Boston, Massachusetts; Kate Pringle, Friedman,
Kaplan, Seiler & Adelman, New York, New York; and Jack White, Kirkland &
Ellis, San Francisco, California. 

No Joint hearings noted.



2005/01/20
Daily Digest - Friday, January 20, 2006; pages D10 - D12

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

DECENCY

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: On Thursday, January, 19,
2005, Committee concluded a hearing to examine decency in broadcasting, cable,
and other media, after receiving testimony from Jack Valenti, on behalf of the
Motion Picture Association of America, Bruce T. Reese, Bonneville
International Corporation, on behalf of the National Association of
Broadcasters, and Jeff McIntyre, American Psychological Association, all of
Washington, D.C.; Charles W. Ergen, EchoStar Communications Corporation,
Englewood, Colorado; David L. Cohen, Comcast Corporation, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania; Brent Bozell, III, Parents Television Council, Alexandria,
Virginia; Martin D. Franks, CBS Corporation, New York, New York; and Alan
Rosenberg, Screen Actors Guild, Los Angeles, California.

PROTECTING CHILDREN

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: On Thursday, January, 19,
2005, Committee concluded a hearing to examine methods of protecting children
on the Internet, after receiving testimony from Senator Lincoln; James H.
Burrus, Deputy Assistant Director, Criminal Investigative Division, Federal
Bureau of Investigation, and Laura H. Parsky, Deputy Assistant Attorney
General, Criminal Division, both of the Department of Justice; James B.
Weaver, III, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Department of
Communication, Blacksburg; Tim Lordan, Internet Education Foundation,
Washington, D.C.; Tatiana S. Platt, America Online, Inc., Dulles, Virginia;
and Paul J. Cambria, Jr., Adult Freedom Foundation, Buffalo, New York.

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Foreign Relations: On Thursday, January, 19, 2005, Committee
concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Claudia A. McMurray, of
Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental
and Scientific Affairs, who was introduced by Senator Warner, and Bradford R.
Higgins, of Connecticut, to be Chief Financial Officer, and to be an Assistant
Secretary for Resource Management, both of the Department of State, after the
nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf.

BILATERAL MALARIA ASSISTANCE

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: On Thursday, January,
19, 2005, Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government
Information, and International Security concluded a hearing to examine
bilateral malaria assistance, focusing on progress on the President's malaria
initiative, malaria program reforms at United States Agency for International
Development, lessons on malaria control from the field, and what the experts
say about indoor residual spraying, after receiving testimony from Michael
Miller, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Global Health, United States Agency
for International Development; Donald R. Roberts, Uniformed Services
University of the Health Sciences; Simon Kunene, Swaziland Ministry of Health,
Mbabane; and Andy Arata, American Association for the Advancement of Science,
Washington, D.C.

                                    [Page: D11]

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/01/24
Daily Digest - Tuesday, January 24, 2006; pages D14 - D16

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

MINE SAFETY

Committee on Appropriations: On Monday, January 23, Subcommittee on Labor,
Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies concluded hearings
to examine mine safety issues, focusing on the Sago Mine disaster in West
Virginia, after receiving testimony from David G. Dye, Acting Assistant
Secretary for Mine Safety and Health, and Ray McKinney, Administrator, Coal
Mine Safety and Health, both of the Department of Labor; Bennett K. Hatfield,
International Coal Group, Inc., Ashland, Kentucky; J. Davitt McAteer, Wheeling
Jesuit University, Wheeling, West Virginia, former Assistant Secretary of
Labor for Mine Safety and Health; Chris R. Hamilton, West Virginia Coal
Association, Charleston; Cecil E. Roberts, United Mine Workers of America,
Fairfax, Virginia; and Bruce Watzman, National Mining Association, Washington,
D.C.

BROADCAST TELEVISION AND RADIO FLAG TECHNOLOGY

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings to examine digital audio broadcast issues and the use of audio flag
for the protection of digital music, focusing on the FCC's Broadcast Flag
Order and strategies to protect music and other audio content in a digital
age, after receiving testimony from Andrew Setos, Fox Entertainment Group,
Inc., and Thomas B. Patton, Philips Electronics North America Corporation,
both of New York, New York; Jonathan Band, American Library Association,
Chicago, Illinois, on behalf of the Library Copyright Alliance; Leslie Harris,
Center for Democracy and Technology, and Mitch Bainwol, Recording Industry
Association of America, Washington, D.C.; Gary Shapiro, Consumers Electronics
Association, Arlington, Virginia, on behalf of the Home Recording Rights
Coalition; and Dan Halyburton, Susquehanna Radio Corporation, York,
Pennsylvania, on behalf of the National Association of Broadcasters.

CATASTROPHIC PREPAREDNESS

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded
hearings to examine catastrophic planning and preparedness issues, focusing on
hurricane response activities including the Hurricane Pam Exercise, after
receiving testimony from Wayne Fairley, Chief, Response Operation Branch,
Response and Recovery Division (Region VI), Federal Emergency Management
Agency, Department of Homeland Security; Sean R. Fontenot, Louisiana Office of
Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, and Madhu Beriwal, Innovative
Emergency Management, Inc. (IEM), both of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Jesse
St. Amant, Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness for
Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.

NOMINATION

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the
nomination of Samuel A. Alito, Jr., of New Jersey, to be an Associate Justice
of the Supreme Court of the United States.

                                    [Page: D15]

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/01/25
Daily Digest - Wednesday, January 25, 2006; pages D17 - D20

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

U.S. VISITOR & IMMIGRANT STATUS INDICATOR TECHNOLOGY

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security concluded a
hearing to examine the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator
Technology (U.S. VISIT) program, relating to United States Entry/Exit Tracking
information, allowing for the collection of the information and sharing across
the immigration and border management systems, after receiving testimony from
James A. Williams, Director, U.S. VISIT Program, Department of Homeland
Security; and Randolph C. Hite, Director, Information Technology Architecture
and Systems Issues, Government Accountability Office.

IRAQ

Committee on Armed Services: Committee met in closed session to receive a
briefing regarding operations and intelligence in Iraq from Brigadier General
Carter Ham, USA, Deputy Director for Regional Operations, J-3, and Rear
Admiral David J. Dorsett, USN, Director of Intelligence, J-2, both of The
Joint Staff; and MaryBeth Long, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of
Defense for International Affairs.

                                    [Page: D19]

NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM PROPOSALS

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee held a hearing to
examine proposals to reform the National Flood Insurance Program, focusing on
the causes of the financial disarray of the Program, receiving testimony from
David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, Government
Accountability Office; David I. Maurstad, Acting Director and Federal
Insurance Administrator, Mitigation Division, Federal Emergency Management
Agency, Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate, Department of
Homeland Security; and Donald Marron, Acting Director, Congressional Budget
Office.

Hearing recessed subject to the call.

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
nominations of Mark D. Wallace, of Florida, to be U.S. Representative to the
United Nations for U.N. Management and Reform, with the rank of Ambassador,
and to be Alternate U.S. Representative to the Sessions of the General
Assembly of the United Nations, during his tenure of service as U.S.
Representative to the United Nations for U.N. Management and Reform, and
Jackie Wolcott Sanders, of Virginia, to be Alternate U.S. Representative for
Special Political Affairs in the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador,
and to be an Alternate U.S. Representative to the Sessions of the General
Assembly of the United Nations during her tenure of service as Alternate U.S.
Representative for Special Political Affairs in the United Nations, after the
nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf.

NOMINATION

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
nomination of Janet Ann Sanderson, of Arizona, to be Ambassador to the
Republic of Haiti, after the nominee testified and answered questions in her
own behalf.

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
nominations of Patricia Newton Moller, of Arkansas, to be Ambassador to the
Republic of Burundi, Robert Weisberg, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the
Republic of Congo, Bernadette Mary Allen, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the
Republic of Niger, and Steven Alan Browning, of Texas, to be Ambassador to the
Republic of Uganda, after the nominees testified and answered questions in
their own behalf.

LOBBYING REFORM

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine lobbying reform proposals and issues, focusing on S. 2128,
to provide greater transparency with respect to lobbying activities, and S.
2180, to provide more rigorous requirements with respect to disclosure and
enforcement of ethics and lobbying laws and regulations, after receiving
testimony from Senators McCain, Santorum, Coleman, Durbin, and Feingold; Dick
Clark, Aspen Institute Congressional Program, John Engler, National
Association of Manufacturers, and William Samuel, AFL-CIO, Fred Wertheimer,
Democracy 21, all of Washington. D.C.; and Paul A. Miller, American League of
Lobbyists, Alexandria, Virginia. 

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/01/26
Daily Digest - Thursday, January 26, 2006; pages D22 - D24

Committee Meetings

No committee meetings were held.

                                    [Page: D23]

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/01/27
Daily Digest - Friday, January 27, 2006; pages D25 - D28

Committee Meetings

No committee meetings were held. 

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/01/30
Daily Digest - Monday, January 30, 2006; pages D30 - D32

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

HURRICANE KATRINA

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee continued
hearings to examine Hurricane Katrina response issues, focusing on urban
search and rescue during a catastrophe, receiving testimony from William M.
Lokey, Operations Branch Chief, Response Division, Federal Emergency
Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security; Brigadier General Brod
Veillon, Louisiana National Guard, Jackson; Lieutenant Colonel Keith LaCaze,
Louisiana Department of Wildlife, Baton Rouge; and Timothy P. Bayard, New
Orleans Police Department, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Committee will meet again on Tuesday, January 31, 2006.

                                    [Page: D31]

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/01/31
Daily Digest - Tuesday, January 31, 2006; pages D33 - D38

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
Education, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine pandemic
influenza preparedness at Federal, State and local levels, after receiving
testimony from John Agwunobi, Assistant Secretary for Health, and Julie L.
Gerberding, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, both of the
Department of Health and Human Services; Mary Mincer Hansen, Iowa Department
of Public Health, Des Moines; Calvin B. Johnson, Pennsylvania Department of
Health, Harrisburg; Bruce W. Dixon, Allegheny County Department of Public
Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Joanne Godley, Philadelphia Department of
Social Services, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Richard Webby, St. Jude
Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee; George B. Abercrombie,
Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc., Branchburg, New Jersey; Daniel Soland, Chiron
Corporation, Emeryville, California; Christopher Viehbacher, GlaxoSmithKline,
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina; and John M. Barry, Tulane University
Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana.

VIDEO CONTENT

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine video content, focusing on video competition, program
access, and local sports programming, after receiving testimony from Ben Pyne,
Disney and ESPN Networks Affiliate Sales, New York, New York; Matt Polka,
American Cable Association, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Robert G. Lee, WDBJ
Television, Inc., Roanoke, Virginia; Joseph W. Waz, Jr., Comcast Corporation,
Washington, D.C.; Daniel M. Fawcett, DIRECTV, Inc., El Segundo, California;
and Doron Gorshein, The America Channel, Heathrow, Florida.

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
nominations of Kristie A. Kenney, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the
Republic of the Philippines, and Michael W. Michalak, of Michigan, for the
rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Senior
Official to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum, after the nominees
testified and answered questions in their own behalf.

HURRICANE KATRINA

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee continued
hearings to examine Hurricane Katrina response issues, focusing on the
challenges during a catastrophe, including the evacuation of New Orleans in
advance of Hurricane Katrina, receiving testimony from Johnny B. Bradberry,
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Joseph A. Donchess,
Louisiana Nursing Home Association, and Jimmy Guidry, Louisiana Department of
Health and Hospitals, all of Baton Rouge; Terry J. Ebbert, City of New Orleans
Office of Homeland Security and Public Safety, and Kevin U. Stephens, City of
New Orleans Health Department, both of New Orleans, Louisiana; and Walter S.
Maestri, Jefferson Parish Department of Emergency Management, Louisiana.
Committee will meet again on Wednesday, February 1.

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine the nominations of Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., of South Carolina,
to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor, and Richard Stickler, of West Virginia,
to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health, after the
nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf.

                                    [Page: D35]

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/02/01
Daily Digest - Wednesday, February 1, 2006; pages D40 - D46

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

WOMEN IN SPORTS

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine the importance of promoting and advancing opportunities for
women in physical activity and sports, after receiving testimony from Dorothy
G. Richardson, Vice-Chair, President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports,
Office of Public Health and Science, Department of Health and Human Services;
Dominique Dawes, Women's Sports Foundation, and Jenni Finch, both of East
Meadow, New York; Christine H.B. Grant, University of Iowa Department of
Health and Sport Studies, Iowa City; Judith M. Sweet, National Collegiate
Athletic Association, Washington, D.C.; Tara Erickson, University of Oregon
Department of Athletics, Eugene; Lynette Mund, West Fargo High School, Fargo,
North Dakota; Donna de Varona, Greenwich, Connecticut; and Catherine Reddick,
Durham, North Carolina.

HURRICANE KATRINA

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee continued
hearings to examine Hurricane Katrina response issues, focusing on managing
the crisis and evacuating New Orleans, and the role of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA), receiving testimony from Vincent Pearce, National
Response Program Manager, Department of Transportation; Brigadier General Mark
A. Graham, Deputy Commanding General, Fifth United States Army; Mayor C. Ray
Nagin, New Orleans, Louisiana; and Dwight David Brashear, Capital Area Transit
System, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Committee will meet again on Thursday, February 2.

GAMING APPLICATIONS

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee held an oversight hearing to examine
off-reservation gaming issues, focusing on the process for considering gaming
applications, the role of, and impact on, county governments, and the advent
of "reservation shopping", receiving testimony from George T. Skibine, Acting
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs for Policy and
Economic Development; Penny J. Coleman, National Indian Gaming Commission,
Washington, DC; Philip Harju, Cowlitz Indian Tribe of Washington, Longview;
Alvin Alexanderson, on behalf of the Citizens Against Reservation Shopping,
Stand Up for Clark County, and the American Land Rights Association,
Battleground, Washington; Duane Kromm, Solano County Board of Supervisors,
Fairfield, California, on behalf of the California State Association of
Counties; and Liz Thomas, Taxpayers of Michigan Against Casinos, Union Pier.

Hearing recessed subject to the call.

ENERGY MARKETS

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee held a hearing to examine consolidation
in the energy industry, focusing on factors that contribute to higher gasoline
prices, receiving testimony from William E. Kovacic, Commissioner, Federal
Trade Commission; James Wells, Director, Natural Resources and Environment,
Government Accountability Office; Connecticut Attorney General Richard
Blumenthal, Hartford; R. Preston McAfee, California Institute of Technology,
Pasadena; Tyson Slocum, Public Citizen, Washington, DC; and Timothy A.
Hamilton, Automotive United Trades Organization, Seattle, Washington.

Hearing recessed subject to the call.

DEATH PENALTY

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights,
and Property Rights held a hearing to examine the death penalty in the United
States, focusing on innocent people convicted and sent to death row and racial
disparity in the application of punishment, receiving testimony from John
McAdams, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Stephen B. Bright,
Southern Center for Human Rights, and Paul H. Rubin, Emory University, both of
Atlanta, Georgia; Jeffrey Fagan, Columbia Law School, New York, New York; Ann
Scott, Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Vicki A. Schieber, Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Hearing recessed subject to the call.

                                    [Page: D42]

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/02/02
Daily Digest - Thursday, February 2, 2006; pages D48 - D54

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine proposals to reform the National Flood Insurance Program,
focusing on strengthening the financial solvency of the program, after
receiving testimony from David R. Conrad, National Wildlife Federation, J.
Robert Hunter, Consumer Federation of America, David C. John, The Heritage
Foundation, and Paul J. Gessing, National Taxpayers Union, all of Washington,
D.C.; David Pressly, Pressly Development Company, Inc., Statesville, North
Carolina, on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders; Regina M.
Lowrie, Gateway Funding Diversified Financial Services, Fort Washington,
Pennsylvania, on behalf of the Mortgage Bankers Association; and Pamela Mayer
Pogue, Providence, Rhode Island, on behalf of the Association of State
Floodplain Managers, Inc.

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the CBO
budget and economic outlook, after receiving testimony from Donald B. Marron,
Acting Director, Congressional Budget Office.

TAX TREATIES

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
Convention between the Government of the United States of America and the
Government of Bangladesh for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the
Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income signed at Dhaka
on September 26, 2004 with an exchange of notes enclosed (Treaty Doc. 109-5),
Protocol Amending the Convention Between the Government of the United States
of America and the Government of the French Republic for the Avoidance of
Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on
Income and Capital, signed at Paris on August 31, 1994 (Treaty Doc. 109-4),
Protocol Amending the Convention Between the United States of America and the
French Republic for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of
Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Estates, Inheritances, and Gifts
signed at Washington on November 24, 1978 (Treaty Doc. 109-7), and Protocol
Amending the Convention Between the Government of the United States of America
and the Government of Sweden for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the
Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income signed at
Washington on September 30, 2005 (Treaty Doc. 109-8), after receiving
testimony from Patricia A. Brown, Deputy International Tax Counsel for Treaty
Affairs, Department of the Treasury; Thomas A. Barthold, Acting Chief of
Staff, Joint Committee on Taxation; and William A. Reinsch, National Foreign
Trade Council, Washington, D.C.

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
nominations of Gary A. Grappo, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Sultanate
of Oman, and Patricia A. Butenis, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the
People's Republic of Bangladesh, after the nominees testified and answered
questions in their own behalf.

HURRICANE KATRINA

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee continued
hearings to examine Hurricane Katrina response issues, focusing on the role of
the Governors in managing the catastrophe, receiving testimony from
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, Jackson; and Louisiana Governor Kathleen
Babineaux Blanco, Baton Rouge.

Hearings recessed subject to the call.

NOMINATION

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
nomination of Paul J. McNulty, of Virginia, to be Deputy Attorney General,
Department of Justice, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senators
Warner and Allen, testified and answered questions in their own behalf.

                                    [Page: D51]

VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS

Committee on Veterans Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing entitled "The
Jobs for Veterans Act Three Years Later: Are VETS' Employment Programs Working
for Veterans?", focusing on labor actions needed to improve accountability and
help states implement reforms to veterans employment services, after receiving
testimony from Charles S. Ciccolella, Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Veterans' Employment and Training; Sigurd R. Nilsen, Director, Education,
Workforce, and Income Security Issues, Government Accountability Office;
Anthony J. Principi, former Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Wesley Poriotis,
The Center for Military and Private Sector Initiatives, New York, New York;
Joseph C. Sharpe, Jr., The American Legion, Washington, D.C.; and Rick
Weidman, Vietnam Veterans of America, Silver Spring, Maryland.

NATIONAL SECURITY THREATS

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee concluded a hearing to examine
current and projected national security threats to the United States, focusing
on the global jihadist threat, extremism and challenges to effective
governance and legitimacy in Iraq and Afghanistan, weapons of mass destruction
and states of key concern, and Iran and North Korea, after receiving testimony
from John D. Negroponte, Director and General Michael V. Hayden (USAF),
Principal Deputy Director, both of National Intelligence; Robert S. Mueller
III, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice; Porter
J. Goss, Director, Central Intelligence Agency; General Michael D. Maples
(USA), Director, Defense Intelligence Agency; Charles Allen, Chief
Intelligence Officer, Department of Homeland Security; and Carol Rodley,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research.

INTELLIGENCE

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings on
intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the intelligence
community.

Committee recessed subject to call.

MEDICARE DRUG BENEFIT

Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded a hearing to examine ways to
meet the challenges of the Medicare Drug Benefit implementation, after
receiving testimony from Mark B. McClellan, Administrator, Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services; Linda
S. McMahon, Deputy Commissioner for Operations, Social Security
Administration; Timothy R. Murphy, Massachusetts Department of Public Health,
Boston; Susan Sutter, Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin, Horicon; Mark B. Ganz,
The Regence Group, Portland, Oregon, on behalf of the National Blue Cross Blue
Shield; Sharon Farr, Center for Individual and Family Services, and Michael
Donato, both of Mansfield, Ohio; Robert J. Kenny, Tillamook, Oregon. 

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/02/06
Daily Digest - Monday, February 6, 2006; pages D56 - D58

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

HURRICANE KATRINA

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee resumed a
hearing to examine Hurricane Katrina response issues, focusing on managing law
enforcement and communications in a catastrophe, pre-landfall preparation,
post-landfall deployment, the Wireless Priority Service (WPS), and the state
of law and order during the crisis, receiving testimony from Michael J.
Vanacore, Assistant Director, Office of Investigations, Office of
International Affairs, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Peter M.
Fonash, Deputy Manager and Director, National Communications System, both of
the Department of Homeland Security; Kenneth W. Kaiser, Special Agent in
Charge, Boston Field Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of
Justice; and Warren J. Riley, New Orleans Police Department, F.G. Dowden, New
Orleans Department of Homeland Security and Public Safety, and William L.
Smith, BellSouth Corporation, all of New Orleans, Louisiana.

                                    [Page: D57]

Committee will meet again on Thursday, February 9, 2006.

NSA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee held a hearing to examine wartime
executive power and the National Security Agency surveillance authority,
receiving testimony from Alberto R. Gonzales, Attorney General, Department of
Justice.

Hearings recessed subject to call.

Joint Meetings

EMPLOYMENT

Joint Economic Committee: on Friday, February 3, 2006, Committee concluded
hearings to examine the employment-unemployment situation for January 2006,
after receiving testimony from Kathleen P. Utgoff, Commissioner, Bureau of
Labor Statistics, Department of Labor.



2006/02/07
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 7, 2006; pages D60 - D64

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
defense authorization request for fiscal year 2007 and the future years
defense program, after receiving testimony from Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary
of Defense; General Peter Pace, USMC, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; and
General Peter J. Schoomaker, USA, Chief of Staff, United States Army.

                                    [Page: D61]

IRAQ CONTRACTING ISSUES

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
concluded a hearing to examine contracting issues in Iraq in review of the
defense authorization request for fiscal year 2007 and the future years
defense program, after receiving testimony from Claude M. Bolton, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology;
Major General Ronald L. Johnson, USA, Deputy Chief of Engineers and Deputy
Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and Stuart W. Bowen, Jr.,
Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.

2007 BUDGET

Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
President's fiscal year 2007 budget proposal, after receiving testimony from
Joshua B. Bolten, Director, Office of Management and Budget.

INTERNET NEUTRALITY

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee held a hearing
to examine proposals for government regulation of the Internet, focusing on
concentrations in broadband access, and efforts to protect network neutrality,
receiving testimony from Vinton G. Cerf, Google, Herndon, Virginia; Walter B.
McCormick, Jr., United States Telecom Association, Kyle McSlarrow, National
Cable and Telecommunications Association, Earl W. Comstock, COMPTEL, Kyle
Dixon, Progress and Freedom Foundation, Gary R. Bachula, Internet2, and J.
Gregory Sidak, Georgetown University Law Center, all of Washington, D.C.;
Jeffrey A. Citron, Vonage Holdings Corporation, Edison, New Jersey; and
Lawrence Lessig, Stanford Law School, Stanford, California.

Hearing recessed subject to the call.

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine the nominations of Robert C. Cresanti, of Texas, to be
Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology, who was introduced by Senator
Bennett, and Tyler D. Duvall, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary,
Nicole R. Nason, of Virginia, to be Administrator of the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, and David C. Sanborn, of Virginia, to be
Administrator of the Maritime Administration, who were introduced by Senator
Allen, Thomas J. Barrett, of Alaska, to be Administrator of the Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, who was introduced by Senator
Murkowski, and Roger Shane Karr, of the District of Columbia, to be an
Assistant Secretary, all of the Department of Transportation, after the
nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf.

2007 BUDGET

Committee on Finance: Committee held a hearing to examine the President's
proposed budget request for fiscal year 2007, receiving testimony from John W.
Snow, Secretary of the Treasury.

Hearings recessed subject to call.

NATO

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine
common defense to common security relating to the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO), focusing on the evolution of the NATO alliance and its
operations in Afghanistan, and other regions outside the alliance's borders,
after receiving testimony from General James L. Jones, Jr., USMC, Supreme
Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe
Mons, Belgium.

CONFERENCE SPENDING

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on
Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International
Security held a hearing to examine Federal agencies and conference spending,
focusing on the nature, extent, and benefits of their participation in events
for mission-related purposes, and accountability for the use of Federal funds,
receiving testimony from Charles Johnson, Assistant Secretary of Health and
Human Services for Budget, Technology and Finance; Sid Kaplan, Acting Chief
Financial Officer, Department of State; James M. Martin, Acting Deputy Chief
Financial Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development; Michael W.S.
Ryan, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Environmental Protection Agency; Scott
H. Evertz, former Director, White House Office of National AIDS Policy.

Hearing recessed subject to the call.

NOMINATIONS

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
nominations of Timothy C. Batten, Sr., to be United States District Judge for
the Northern District of Georgia, Thomas E. Johnston, to be United States
District Judge for the Southern District of West Virginia, who was introduced
by Senator Rockefeller and Representative Capito, Leo Maury Gordon, of New
Jersey, to be a Judge of the United States Court of International Trade, and
Aida M. Delgado-Colon, to be United States District Judge for the District of
Puerto Rico, who was introduced by Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Luis G.
Fortuno, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own
behalf.

                                    [Page: D62]

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/02/08
Daily Digest - Wednesday, February 8, 2006; pages D66 - D72

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

PHONE RECORD PRIVACY

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Consumer
Affairs, Product Safety, and Insurance concluded hearings to examine issues
with respect to the procurement and sale of consumers' private phone records,
and Federal efforts to protect the privacy and security of telephone records
and other types of sensitive consumer information, after receiving testimony
from Senator Schumer; former Representative Steve Largent, on behalf of
CTIA--The Wireless Association; Kris Anne Monteith, Chief, Enforcement Bureau,
Federal Communications Commission; Lydia B. Parnes, Director, Bureau of
Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission; Marc Rotenberg, Electronic
Privacy Information Center, and Cindy Southworth, National Network to End
Domestic Violence, both of Washington, D.C.; and Robert Douglas,
PrivacyToday.com, Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded a hearing to
examine the nominations of Terrence L. Bracy, of Virginia, to be a Member of
the Board of Trustees of the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in
National Environmental Policy Foundation, Dennis Bottorff, of Tennessee, who
was introduced by Senator Alexander, Robert M. Duncan, of Kentucky, who was
introduced by Senators McConnell and Bunning, Susan Richardson Williams, of
Tennessee, who was introduced by Senator Alexander, William B. Sansom, of
Tennessee, Howard A. Thrailkill, of Alabama, who was introduced by Senators
Sessions and Alexander, and Donald R. DePriest, of Mississippi, who was
introduced by Senators Cochran and Lott, all to be Members of the Board of
Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority, after the nominees testified and
answered questions in their own behalf.

MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT

Committee on Finance: Committee held a hearing to examine implementation of
the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, focusing on the volume of calls to
1-800-MEDICARE, pharmacy outreach, and total enrollment in the drug benefit
program, receiving testimony from Mark B. McClellan, Administrator, Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services;
William Fleming, Humana, Inc., Louisville, Kentucky; Susan E. Rawlings,
Wellpoint, Inc., Newbury Park, California; David W. Bernauer, Walgreen
Company, Deerfield, Illinois; Tobey Schule, Sykes Pharmacy, Kalispell,
Montana; Joy Paeth, Area Agency on Aging of Southwestern Illinois, Belleville;
and Pamela Willoughby, St. John's Episcopal Church and Bedford Presbyterian
Church, Bedford, Virginia.

Hearing recessed subject to the call.

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
nominations of Janice L. Jacobs, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic
of Senegal, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as
Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, and Jeanine E. Jackson, of
Wyoming, to be Ambassador to Burkina Faso, who was introduced by Senator Enzi,
after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf.

IRAQ

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine
ongoing efforts to achieve the reconstruction and development of Iraq,
focusing on improving primary health care, expanding access to electricity,
providing potable water, restoring sewage systems, improving local governance
and community development, connecting Iraq to the global economy, and
transforming primary education, after receiving testimony from Stuart W.
Bowen, Jr., Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR), Office
of the SIGIR, Department of Defense; James Jeffrey, Senior Advisor to the
Secretary of State for Iraq, Department of State; James R. Kunder, Assistant
Administrator for Asia and the Near East, U.S. Agency for International
Development; and Joseph A. Christoff, Director, International Affairs and
Trade, Government Accountability Office.

INDIAN TRIBES AND THE FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN ACT

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded an oversight hearings to
examine the application of the Federal Election Campaign Act to Indian tribes
and the Federal Election Commission's past decisions in this area, after
receiving testimony from Michael E. Toner, Chairman, and Robert D. Lenhard,
Vice Chairman, both of the Federal Election Commission; and Philip N. Hogen,
National Indian Gaming Commission, W. Ron Allen, National Congress of American
Indians, Lawrence Noble, Center for Responsive Politics, and James A. Thurber,
American University Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, all of
Washington, D.C.

LEGISLATIVE PROCESS TRANSPARENCY

Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee concluded a hearing to
examine procedures to bring greater transparency to the legislative process,
focusing on lobbying and related reforms, and strengthening the enforcement of
existing public advocacy laws and ethics rules that cover Members of Congress,
staff and lobbyists, after receiving testimony from Senators McCain, Feingold,
Coleman, and Obama; and former Representative Al Swift and Robert D. Hynes,
Jr., both of Colling Murphy Swift Hynes, LLC, James A. Thurber, Center for
Congressional and Presidential Studies, and Fred Wertheimer, Democracy 21, all
of Washington, D.C.

                                    [Page: D68]

INTELLIGENCE

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to receive a
briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence
community.

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/02/09
Daily Digest - Thursday, February 9, 2006; pages D73 - D76

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

TSA'S PASSENGER PRE-SCREENING PROGRAMS

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee held an
oversight hearing to examine commercial aviation security, focusing on
Transportation Security Administration's aviation passenger pre-screening
programs, Secure Flight and Registered Traveler, to discuss issues that have
prevented these programs from being launched, and to determine their future,
receiving testimony from Kip Hawley, Assistant Secretary, Transportation
Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security; Cathleen A. Berrick,
Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues, Government Accountability
Office; James C. May, Air Transport Association of America, Inc., and Timothy
D. Sparapani, American Civil Liberties Union, both of Washington, D.C.; and
Charles Barclay, American Association of Airport Executives, on behalf of The
American Association of Airport Executives and Airports Council
International-North America, and Bill Connors, National Business Travel
Association, both of Alexandria, Virginia.

Hearings recessed subject to the call.

BUDGET: DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to
examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2007 for the
Department of Energy, after receiving testimony from Samuel Bodman, Secretary
of Energy.

NATURAL GAS PRICES

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate
Change, and Nuclear Safety concluded a hearing to examine the impact of clean
air regulations on natural gas prices, including electricity generation, after
receiving testimony from Howard K. Gruenspecht, Deputy Administrator, Energy
Information Administration, Department of Energy; William Wehrum, Acting
Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, Environmental Protection
Agency; Arthur E. Smith, Jr., NiSource, Inc., Washington, D.C., on behalf of
the American Gas Association; and Joel Bluestein, Energy and Environmental
Analysis, Inc., and Jack N. Gerard, American Chemistry Council, both of
Arlington, Virginia.

                                    [Page: D75]

BUDGET: HHS

Committee on Finance: Committee held a hearing to examine the President's
proposed budget request for fiscal year 2007 for the Department of Health and
Human Services, receiving testimony from Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of
Health and Human Services.

Hearings recessed subject to the call.

COOPERATIVE THREAT REDUCTION

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine new
initiatives in cooperative threat reduction, focusing S. 1949, to provide for
coordination of proliferation interdiction activities and conventional arms
disarmament, after receiving testimony from Robert G. Joseph, Under Secretary
of State for Arms Control and International Security.

HURRICANE KATRINA

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine Hurricane Katrina response issues, focusing on the Defense
Department's role in the response, after receiving testimony from Paul McHale,
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense; Admiral Timothy J.
Keating, USN, Commander, United States Northern Command; Lieutenant General H.
Steven Blum, Chief, National Guard Bureau; Lieutenant General Russel L.
Honore, Commander, First U.S. Army; and Major General Bennett C. Landreneau,
The Adjutant General, State of Louisiana, and Director, Louisiana Office of
Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee held a hearing
to examine the role of education in global competitiveness, focusing on the
knowledge of math and science, and the respective high school reform and
national security language initiatives, receiving testimony from Margaret
Spellings, Secretary of Education.

Hearing recessed subject to the call.

INTELLIGENCE

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings on
intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the intelligence
community.

Committee recessed subject to call.

Joint Meetings

RUSSIA

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission): on
Wednesday, February 9, 2006, Commission concluded a hearing to examine the
current situation and future prospects for human rights, civil society, and
democratic governance in Russia, after receiving testimony from Daniel Fried,
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, and Barry F.
Lowenkron, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor,
both of the Department of State; Allison Gill, Human Rights Watch, Moscow,
Russia; Andrew C. Kuchins, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Andrei
Piontkovsky, Hudson Institute, and Natalia Bourjaily, International Center for
Not-for-Profit Law, all of Washington, D.C.; and Nicolai N. Petro, University
of Rhode Island, Kingston. 



2006/02/10
Daily Digest - Friday, February 10, 2006; pages D78 - D84

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

HURRICANE KATRINA

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee held a
hearing to examine Hurricane Katrina response issues, focusing on the roles of
the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management
Agency leadership, receiving testimony from Michael D. Brown, former Under
Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response, and Director, Federal
Emergency Management Agency, Patrick J. Rhode, former Acting Deputy Director
and Chief of Staff, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Robert B. Stephan,
Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection, and Matthew E. Broderick,
Director for Operations Coordination, all of the Department of Homeland
Security.

Committee will meet again on Monday, February 13.

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/02/13
Daily Digest - Monday, February 13, 2006; pages D86 - D90

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

HURRICANE KATRINA

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee held a
hearing to examine Hurricane Katrina response issues, focusing on waste,
fraud, and abuse during the disaster, expedited assistance for victims of
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and oversight of sheltering initiatives,
receiving testimony from Gregory D. Kutz, Managing Director, and John J. Ryan,
Special Agent, both of Forensic Audits and Special Investigations, Government
Accountability Office; Richard L. Skinner, Inspector General, Department of
Homeland Security; and Alice S. Fisher, Assistant Attorney General, Criminal
Division, and Chairman, Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force, Department of
Justice.

Committee will meet again on Tuesday, February 14.

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/02/14
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 14, 2006; pages D92 - D100

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
defense authorization request for fiscal year 2007 and the future years
defense program, after receiving testimony from Frances J. Harvey, Secretary,
and General Peter J. Schoomaker, USA, Chief of Staff, both of the United
States Army; and Lieutenant General H. Steven Blum, Chief of the National
Guard Bureau.

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine the nominations of Randall S. Kroszner, of New Jersey, and
Kevin M. Warsh, of New York, who was introduced by Senator Schumer, each to be
a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and Edward
P. Lazear, of California, to be a Member of the Council of Economic Advisers,
after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf.

BROADBAND

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine issues of municipal broadband and the role of Federal,
State and local government in the digital world, after receiving testimony
from Robert K. Sahr, South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, Pierre; Dianne
Munns, Iowa Utilities Board, on behalf of the National Association of
Regulatory Utility Commissioners, and John R. Perkins, National Association of
State Utility Consumer Advocates, both of Des Moines, Iowa; Michael F.
Altschul, CTIA--The Wireless Association, and Donald B. Berrryman, Earthlink,
Inc., both of Washington, D.C.; Douglas A. Boone, Premier Communications,
Sioux City, Iowa; and Dianah L. Neff, Philadelphia Chief Information Officer,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

CANADIAN SOFTWOOD LUMBER

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Trade,
Tourism, and Economic Development concluded a hearing to examine the economic
impacts of the Canadian softwood lumber dispute on U.S. industries, focusing
on the Administration's efforts to negotiate a settlement to the long-standing
trade dispute regarding softwood lumber from Canada, after receiving testimony
from Franklin L. Lavin, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade;
Susan Schwab, Deputy United States Trade Representative, Office of the United
States Trade Representative; Steve Swanson, The Swanson Group, Glendale,
Oregon, on behalf of the Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports; Bill Kluting,
Western Council of Industrial Workers, Monmouth, Oregon; and Barry Rutenberg,
Barry Rutenberg Homes, Gainesville, Florida, on behalf of the National
Association of Home Builders.

OLDER AMERICANS ACT

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Subcommittee on
Retirement Security and Aging met to discuss the reauthorization of the Older
Americans Act, receiving testimony from Jo Reed, AARP, Howard Bedlin, National
Council on Aging, Laura Howard, National Association of Nutrition and Aging
Service Programs, Patrick Flood, National Association of State Union on Aging,
Sany Markwood, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Karyne Jones,
National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, Inc., Bob Blancato, Matz, Blancato
and Associates, Inc., on behalf of the Elder Justice Coalition, Barbara B.
Kennelly, Leadership Council of Aging Organizations, and George J. Kourpias,
Alliance for Retired Americans, all of Washington, D.C.; Enid A. Borden, Meals
on Wheels Association of America, Alexandria, Virginia; Suzanne Mintz,
National Family Caregivers Association, Kensington, Maryland; Clayton S. Fong,
National Asian Pacific Center on Aging, Seattle, Washington; and Carmela G.
Lacayo, National Association for Hispanic Elderly, Pasadena, California.

                                    [Page: D95]

Subcommittee expects to discuss this and related issues again.

BUDGET: INDIAN PROGRAMS

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded an oversight hearing to
examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2007 for
Indian programs, after receiving testimony from James Cason, Associate Deputy
Secretary, and Ross Swimmer, Special Trustee for American Indians, both of the
Department of the Interior; Charles W. Grim, Assistant Surgeon General,
Director, Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services;
Darla Marburger, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Office of Elementary
and Secondary Education, and Tom Corwin, Director of Division of Elementary
and Secondary Vocational Analysis, both of the Department of Education;
Orlando J. Cabrera, Assistant Secretary, Office of Public and Indian Housing,
Department of Housing and Urban Development; Regina B. Schofield, Assistant
Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice; Joseph A.
Garcia, National Congress of American Indians, Kathleen Kitcheyan, National
Indian Health Board, Cheryl Parish and Gary Gordon, both of National American
Indian Housing Council, and Gary L. Edwards, National Native American Law
Enforcement Association, all of Washington, D.C.; and Ryan Wilson, National
Indian Education Association, Alexandria, Virginia. 

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/02/15
Daily Digest - Wednesday, February 15, 2006; pages D101 - D110

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch resumed
hearings to examine the progress of Capitol Visitor Center construction,
receiving testimony from Alan M. Hantman, Architect, and Robert C. Hixon, Jr.,
Capitol Visitor Center Project Manager, both of the Office of the Architect of
the Capitol; and Bernard L. Ungar, Director, and Terrell Dorn, Assistant
Director, both of Physical Infrastructure Issues, Government Accountability
Office.

                                    [Page: D102]

Hearings will continue on Wednesday, April 26, 2006.

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
nominations of Preston M. Geren, of Texas, to be Under Secretary of the Army,
who was introduced by Senators Hutchison and Cornyn, Michael L. Dominguez, of
Virginia, to be Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness,
who was introduced by Senator Allard, James I. Finley, of Minnesota, to be
Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology, who was
introduced by Senator Dayton, and Thomas P. D'Agostino, of Maryland, to be
Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, National Nuclear Security
Administration, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their
own behalf.

HURRICANE KATRINA REBUILDING

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine rebuilding needs in Hurricane Katrina-impacted areas,
focusing on the Federal response to the hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico,
including ongoing efforts to assist affected families and individuals in
finding both short-term and permanent housing, and the overall progress of the
recovery efforts in the five affected states, after receiving testimony from
Senators Landrieu and Vitter; Representative Baker; Alphonso R. Jackson,
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Donald E. Powell, Federal
Coordinator, Office for Gulf Coast Rebuilding, and David Garratt, Acting
Director of Recovery, Federal Emergency Management Agency, both of the
Department of Homeland Security; Martin J. Gruenberg, Acting Chairman, Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation; and Herbert Mitchell, Associate Administrator
for Disaster Assistance, Small Business Administration.

FEDERAL TAX GAP

Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the causes
and solutions to addressing the Federal tax gap, focusing on making
significant progress in improving tax compliance which rests on enhancing
current Internal Revenue Service techniques and adopting new legislative
actions, after receiving testimony from Mark W. Everson, Commissioner, and
Nina E. Olson, National Taxpayer Advocate, Taxpayer Advocate Service, both of
the Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury; and David M. Walker,
Comptroller General of the United States, Government Accountability Office.

VIDEO FRANCHISING

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine issues relating to video franchising, and competition in
the video marketplace, after receiving testimony from Representative
Blackburn; Ivan Seidenberg, Verizon, New York, New York; Edward E. Whitacre,
Jr., AT&T, Anthony T. Riddle, Alliance For Community Media, Gene Kimmelman,
Consumers Union, on behalf of Consumer Federation of America and Free Press,
and Gigi B. Sohn, Public Knowledge, all of Washington, D.C.; Thomas M.
Rutledge, Cablevision Systems Corporation, Bethpage, New York; Lori
Panzino-Tillery, National Association of Telecommunications Officers and
Advisors, San Bernardino, California, on behalf of National League of Cities,
United States Conference of Mayors, National Association of Counties,
Government Finance Officers Association and Telecommunity; and Brad A. Evans,
Cavalier Telephone, Richmond, Virginia.

NANOTECHNOLOGY

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine developments in nanotechnology, the science and technology
of building electronic circuits and devices from single atoms and molecules,
focusing on national priorities and agency missions, and moving closer to
achieving societal goals in areas such as healthcare, energy, security, and
quality of life, after receiving testimony from E. Clayton Teague, Director,
National Nanotechnology Coordination Office; Richard O. Buckius, Acting
Assistant Director for Engineering, National Science Foundation; Jeffery
Schloss, Division of Extramural Research, National Human Genome Research
Institute, and Co-Chair, National Institutes of Health Nanomedicine Roadmap
Initiative, Department of Health and Human Services; Mark E. Davis, California
Institute of Technology, Pasadena, on behalf of City of Hope; J. Clarence
Davies, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington, D.C.;
Timothy Swager, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge; Alan
Gotcher, Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc., Reno, Nevada; Todd L. Hylton, Science
Applications International Corporation, McLean, Virginia; and Bryant R.
Linares, Apollo Diamond, Inc., Ashland, Massachusetts.

PACE-ENERGY ACT

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to
examine S. 2197, to improve the global competitiveness of the United States in
science and energy technology, to strengthen basic research programs at the
Department of Energy, and to provide support for mathematics and science
education at all levels through the resources available through the Department
of Energy, including at the National Laboratories, after receiving testimony
from Raymond L. Orbach, Director of the Office of Science, Department of
Energy; Charles M. Vest, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge; and
Luis M. Proenza, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio.

                                    [Page: D103]

FIRE RETARDANT AIRCRAFT

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Public Lands and
Forests concluded an oversight hearing to review the progress made on the
development of interim and long-term plans for use of fire retardant aircraft
in Federal wildfire suppression operations, after receiving testimony from
Mark Rey, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and
Environment; Nina Rose Hatfield, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior
for Policy, Management and Budget; James Hall, Hall and Associates LLC,
Washington, D.C.; and James B. Hull, Texas Forest Service, College Station,
Texas, on behalf of the National Association of State Foresters.

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee ordered favorably
reported the nominations of Terrence L. Bracy, of Virginia, to be a Member of
the Board of Trustees of the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in
National Environmental Policy Foundation, Dennis Bottorff, of Tennessee,
Robert M. Duncan, of Kentucky, Susan Richardson Williams, of Tennessee,
William B. Sansom, of Tennessee, Howard A. Thrailkill, of Alabama, and Donald
R. DePriest, of Mississippi, all to be Members of the Board of Directors of
the Tennessee Valley Authority.

BUDGET: EPA

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded a hearing to
examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2007 for the
Environmental Protection Agency, after receiving testimony from Stephen L.
Johnson, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency.

BUDGET: FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2007 for foreign affairs,
after receiving testimony from Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State.

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee ordered favorably reported the
nominations of Claudia A. McMurray, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of
State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs,
Bradford R. Higgins, of Connecticut, to be Assistant Secretary for Resource
Management and Chief Financial Officer, Department of State, Jackie Wolcott
Sanders, of Virginia, to be U.S. Alternate Representative for Special
Political Affairs in the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador, and to
be U.S. Alternate Representative to the Sessions of the General Assembly of
the United Nations during her tenure of service as U.S. Alternate
Representative for Special Political Affairs in the United Nations, Janet Ann
Sanderson, of Arizona, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Haiti, Bernadette
Mary Allen, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Niger, Patricia
Newton Moller, of Arkansas, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Burundi,
Steven Alan Browning, of Texas, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Uganda,
Robert Weisberg, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Congo,
Michael W. Michalak, of Michigan, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure
of service as United States Senior Official to the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation Forum, Janice L. Jacobs, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the
Republic of Senegal, and to serve concurrently and without additional
compensation as Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Jeanine E.
Jackson, of Wyoming, to be Ambassador to Burkina Faso, James D. McGee, of
Florida, to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as
Ambassador to the Union of Comoros; Kristie A. Kenney, of Virginia, to be
Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines, Gary A. Grappo, of Virginia, to
be Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, Patricia A. Butenis, of Virginia, to
be Ambassador to the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Donald T. Bliss, of
Maryland, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as U.S.
Representative on the Council of the International Civil Aviation
Organization, Ben S. Bernanke, of New Jersey, to be United States Alternate
Governor of the International Monetary Fund; and 2 Foreign Service Officer
promotion lists.

HURRICANE KATRINA

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee held a
hearing to examine Hurricane Katrina response issues, focusing on the Homeland
Security Department's preparation and response, boosting state capabilities,
the Federal Management Agency (FEMA), debris removal, and enhancing
communications between Federal and state government agencies, receiving
testimony from Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security.

Hearing recessed subject to the call.

                                    [Page: D104]

MINE SAFETY TECHNOLOGY

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Subcommittee on
Employment and Workplace Safety met to discuss communication and mine safety
technology issues, receiving testimony from Starnes Walker, Technical
Director, Office of Naval Research, U.S. Navy; Bob Campman, Grace Industries,
Fredonia, Pennsylvania; Pat Droppleman, Ocenco Corporation, Pleasant Prairie,
Wisconsin; R. Larry Grayson, University of Missouri-Rolla Department of Mining
and Nuclear Engineering, Rolla; Wes Kenneweg, Draeger Industries, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania; Roy Nutter, West Virginia University College of Engineering and
Mineral Resources, Morgantown; Dennis O'Dell, UMWA, Fairfax, Virginia; Sam
Shearer, CSE Corporation, Monroeville, Pennsylvania; Gary Zamel, Mine Site
Technologies Pty. Ltd, Artarmon, NSW, Australia.

NOMINATIONS

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
nominations of Stephen G. Larson, to be United States District Judge for the
Central District of California, who was introduced by Senator Feinstein, Jack
Zouhary, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio,
who was introduced by Senator DeWine, and John F. Clark, of Virginia, to be
Director of the United States Marshals Service, Department of Justice, who was
introduced by Senators Warner and Allen, after the nominees testified and
answered questions in their own behalf.

INTELLIGENCE

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to receive a
briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence
community.

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/02/16
Daily Digest - Thursday, February 16, 2006; pages D111 - D118
Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

ATOMIC ENERGY DEFENSE ACTIVITIES

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded a hearing to examine
priorities and plans for the atomic energy defense activities of the
Department of Energy and to review the President's proposed budget request for
fiscal year 2007 for atomic energy defense activities of the Department of
Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration, after receiving
testimony from Samuel W. Bodman, Secretary of Energy.

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported the
nominations of Preston M. Geren, of Texas, to be Under Secretary of the Army,
James I. Finley, of Minnesota, to be Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for
Acquisition and Technology, Thomas P. D'Agostino, of Maryland, to be Deputy
Administrator for Defense Programs, National Nuclear Security Administration,
and 3,576 military nominations in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee ordered favorably
reported the nominations of Randall S. Kroszner, of New Jersey, and Kevin M.
Warsh, of New York, each to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System, and Edward P. Lazear, of California, to be a Member of
the Council of Economic Advisers.

MONETARY POLICY REPORT

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine the semiannual monetary policy report to the Congress,
after receiving testimony from Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman, Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System.

                                    [Page: D113]

BUDGET: FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2007 for foreign affairs,
after receiving testimony from Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State.

NOAA BUDGET

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year
2007 for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), after
receiving testimony from Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., U.S. Navy
(Ret.), Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and NOAA,
Administrator.

OIL AND GAS LEASING

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to
examine S. 2253, to require the Secretary of the Interior to offer the 181
Area of the Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas leasing, after receiving testimony
from Johnnie Burton, Director, Minerals Management Service, Department of the
Interior; Thomas E. Skains, Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Charlotte, North
Carolina; Timothy S. Parker, Dominion Exploration and Production, Inc.,
Houston, Texas; Michael Gravitz, U.S. Public Interest Research Group,
Washington, D.C.; and Stephen R. Wilson, CF Industries Holdings, Inc., Long
Grove, Illinois.

PARKS LEGISLATION

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks
concluded a hearing to examine S.J. Res. 28, resolution approving the location
of the commemorative work in the District of Columbia honoring former
President Dwight D. Eisenhower, S. 1870, to clarify the authorities for the
use of certain National Park Service properties within Golden Gate National
Recreation Area and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, S. 1913,
to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to lease a portion of the Dorothy
Buell Memorial Visitor Center for use as a visitor center for the Indiana
Dunes National Lakeshore, S. 1970, to amend the National Trails System Act to
update the feasibility and suitability study originally prepared for the Trail
of Tears National Historic Trail and provide for the inclusion of new trail
segments, land components, and campgrounds associated with that trail, H.R.
562, to authorize the Government of Ukraine to establish a memorial on Federal
land in the District of Columbia to honor the victims of the manmade famine
that occurred in Ukraine in 1932-1933, and H.R. 318, to authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of
designating Castle Nugent Farms located on St. Croix, Virgin Islands, as a
unit of the National Park System, after receiving testimony from John Parsons,
Associate Regional Director for Lands, Resources and Planning, National
Capital Region, National Park Service, Department of the Interior; and
Chadwick Smith, Cherokee Nation, Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

ENERGY OUTLOOK

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to
examine the Energy Information Administration's 2006 annual energy outlook on
trends and issues affecting the United States' energy market, after receiving
testimony from Guy Caruso, Administrator, Energy Information Administration,
Department of Energy.

TRADE AGENDA

Committee on Finance: Committee held a hearing to examine the Administration's
trade agenda for 2006, receiving testimony from Robert J. Portman, United
States Trade Representative.

Hearing recessed subject to the call.

NOMINATION

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
nomination of Richard A. Boucher, of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary of
State for South Asian Affairs, after the nominee testified and answered
questions in his own behalf.

COMPETITIVENESS IN EDUCATION

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee met to discuss
the role of education in global competitiveness, receiving testimony from
Erick Ajax, E.J. Ajax and Sons, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota; Bob Bailey,
Central Virginia Community College, and Wanda E. Brooks-Crocker, Framatome
ANP, Inc., both of Lynchburg, Virginia; Michael J. Bzdack, Johnson and
Johnson, Inc., New Brunswick, New Jersey; Sandy Day, Omaha Public Schools,
Omaha, Nebraska; Carrie Langston, Chugwater School, Chugwater, Wyoming; Tom
Layzell, Council on Postsecondary Education, Frankfort, Kentucky; Mary
Morningstar, University of Kansas Department of Special Education, Lawrence;
Mel Riddile, JEB Stuart High School, Falls Church, Virginia; Eric Schwarz,
Citizen Schools, Boston, Massachusetts; Jim Shelton, Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation, Washington, D.C.; Robin Willner, IBM Global Community Initiatives,
Armonk, New York; Reygan Freeney, Iowa City, Iowa; and Edna Varner,
Chattanooga, Tennessee.

                                    [Page: D114]

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following
business items:

H.R. 683, to amend the Trademark Act of 1946 with respect to dilution by
blurring or tarnishment, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and

The nominations of Timothy C. Batten, Sr., to be United States District Judge
for the Northern District of Georgia, Thomas E. Johnston, to be United States
District Judge for the Southern District of West Virginia, Aida M.
Delgado-Colon, to be United States District Judge for the District of Puerto
Rico, Leo Maury Gordon, of New Jersey, to be a Judge of the United States
Court of International Trade, Carol E. Dinkins, of Texas, to be Chairman of
the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, Alan Charles Raul, of the
District of Columbia, to be Vice Chairman of the Privacy and Civil Liberties
Oversight Board, and Paul J. McNulty, of Virginia, to be Deputy Attorney
General, Reginald I. Lloyd, to be United States Attorney for the District of
South Carolina, and Stephen C. King, of New York, to be a Member of the
Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States, all of the
Department of Justice.

BUDGET: VA PROGRAMS

Committee on Veterans Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2007 for the Department of
Veterans Affairs, after receiving testimony from R. James Nicholson, Secretary
of Veterans Affairs, who was accompanied by several of his associates; Steve
Robertson, The American Legion, Quentin Kinderman, Veterans of Foreign Wars,
Brian Lawrence, Disabled American Veterans, and Carl Blake, Paralyzed Veterans
of America, all of Washington, D.C.; and David G. Greineder, AMVETS, Lanham,
Maryland.

BUSINESS MEETING

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to consider
pending intelligence matters.

Committee recessed subject to the call.

Joint Meetings

ECONOMIC REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
economic report of the President, after receiving testimony from Katherine
Baicker and Matthew J. Slaughter, both Members, Council of Economic Advisers.



2006/02/17
Daily Digest - Friday, February 17, 2006; pages D120 - D122

Committee Meetings

No committee meetings were held.

No Joint meetings noted.



2006/02/27
Daily Digest - Monday, February 27, 2006; pages D124 - D130

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

DUBAI PORTS WORLD PURCHASE

Committee on Armed Services: On Thursday, February 23, 2006, Committee met to
receive a briefing to discuss the national security implications of the
acquisition of Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Navigation Company by Dubai
Ports World--a government-owned and controlled firm of the United Arab
Emirates from Gordon England, Deputy Secretary, and Peter Flory, Assistant
Secretary for International Security Policy, both of the Department of
Defense, Bob Joseph, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International
Security, and Tony Wayne, Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Economic and
Business Affairs, both of the Department of State, Robert Kimmitt, Deputy
Secretary, and Clay Lowery, Assistant Secretary for International Affairs,
both of the Department of the Treasury, and Michael Jackson, Deputy Secretary,
Rear Admiral Thomas Gilmour, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for
Protection, Stewart Baker, Assistant Secretary for Policy, and Jayson Ahern,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operation, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, all of the Department of Homeland Security, all of behalf of the
Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

                                    [Page: D125]

DUBAI PORTS WORLD PURCHASE

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee met in open
and closed sessions to receive a briefing to discuss Dubai Ports World
purchase of Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company from Clay Lowery,
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs; Stewart Baker,
Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, and International Affairs, Rear
Admiral Thomas Gilmour, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security, and
Environmental Protection, U.S. Coast Guard, and Jay Ahern, Assistant
Commissioner for Field Operations, Customs and Border Protection, all of the
Department of Homeland Security; Beth McCormick, Deputy Under Secretary and
Acting Director, Defense Technology Security Administration, Department of
Defense; and Alan Misenheimer, Director of Arabian Peninsula and Iran Affairs,
Department of State.

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/02/28
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 28, 2006; pages D131 - D138

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

APPROPRIATIONS: DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security concluded a
hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2007 for the
Department of Homeland Security, after receiving testimony from Michael
Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security.

U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded open and closed hearings to
examine current and future worldwide threats to the national security of the
United States, after receiving testimony from John D. Negroponte, Director,
and General Michael V. Hayden, USAF, Principal Deputy Director, both of the
Office of National Intelligence; and Lieutenant General Michael D. Maples,
USA, Director, Defense Intelligence Agency.

FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION BUDGET

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year
2007 for the Federal Transit Administration, Department of Transportation,
after receiving testimony from Sandra Bushue, Deputy Administrator, Federal
Transit Administration, Department of Transportation; Mayor Patrick L.
McCrory, Charlotte, North Carolina, on behalf of the United States Conference
of Mayors; and William Millar, American Public Transportation Association,
Washington, D.C.

UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND CONTRIBUTIONS

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine proposed reforms of the Universal Service Fund (USF)
contribution system, including the distribution side of the universal service
equation, and wireless carriers providing mobile broadband services, after
receiving testimony from Glen Post, CenturyTel, Inc., Monroe, Louisiana; Tom
Simmons, Midcontinent Communications, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Trent
Boaldin, Epic Touch Company, Elkhart, Kansas; Bonnie Cramer, AARP, Raleigh,
North Carolina; and Paul W. Garnett, CTIA--The Wireless Association,
Washington, D.C.

PORT SECURITY

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine the security of terminal operations at U.S. ports, after
receiving testimony from Michael P. Jackson, Deputy Secretary, Admiral Jayson
Ahern, Assistant Commissioner, Field Operations, Customs and Border
Protection, and Rear Admiral Thomas H. Gilmour, Assistant Commandant for
Prevention, United States Coast Guard, all of the Department of Homeland
Security; H. Edward Bilkey, DP World, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Robert
Scavone, P&O Ports North America, Inc, Iselin, New Jersey; Tay Yoshitani,
National Association of Waterfront Employers, and Christopher Koch, World
Shipping Council, both of Washington, D.C.; and Michael Mitre, International
Longshore and Warehouse Union, Los Angeles, California.

FOREST SERVICE BUDGET

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to
examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2007 for the
Forest Service, after receiving testimony from Dale Bosworth, Chief, Forest
Service, and Mark Rey, Under Secretary Natural Resources and Environment, both
of the Department of Agriculture.

WATER REUSE AND RECYCLING PROGRAM

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power
concluded a hearing to examine the current status of the Bureau of Reclamation
Reuse and Recycling Program (Title XVI of Public Law 102-575), after receiving
testimony from John W. Keys, III, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation,
Department of the Interior; Betsy A. Cody, Specialist in Natural Resources
Policy, Resources, Science, and Industry Division, Congressional Research
Service, Library of Congress; Virginia Grebbien, Orange County Water District,
Fountain Valley, California; Thomas F. Donnelly, National Water Resources
Association, Arlington, Virginia; and Richard Atwater, Inland Empire Utilities
Agency, Chino, California, on behalf of the WateRuse Association.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE ACCESS ACT

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on
Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of
Columbia concluded a hearing to examine S. 2060, to extend the District of
Columbia College Access Act of 1999 and make certain improvements, S. 1838, to
provide for the sale, acquisition, conveyance, and exchange of certain real
property in the District of Columbia to facilitate the utilization,
development, and redevelopment of such property, and H.R. 3508, to authorize
improvements in the operation of the government of the District of Columbia,
after receiving testimony from Mayor Anthony A. William, Washington, D.C.;
Sally L. Stroup, Assistant Secretary of Education for Postsecondary Education;
and Paul Hoffman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and
Wildlife and Parks.

                                    [Page: D133]

OFF-RESERVATION GAMING

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded an oversight hearing to
examine Indian gaming activities, focusing on land into trust and the two-part
determination related to off-reservation gaming, after receiving testimony
from George T. Skibine, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for
Policy and Economic Development for Indian Affairs; Ron Suppah, Confederated
Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, Pendleton; Cheryle A.
Kennedy, Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, Grand
Ronde; Carol York, Hood River County Commissioner, Hood River, Oregon; Michael
Lang, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, Portland, Oregon; and Cheryl Schmit,
Stand Up for California, Penryn.

NSA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee resumed hearings to examine issues
relating to wartime executive power and the NSA's surveillance authority,
receiving testimony from R. James Woolsey, Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean,
Virginia, Former Director of Central Intelligence; Harold Hongju Koh, Yale Law
School, New Haven, Connecticut; Ken Gormley, Duquesne University School of
Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Douglas W. Kmiec, Pepperdine University,
Malibu, California; Bruce Fein, Fein and Fein, and Robert A. Levy, Cato
Institute, both of Washington, D.C.; and Robert F. Turner, University of
Virginia Center for National Security Law, Charlottesville.

Hearings recessed subject to the call.

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee ordered favorably reported an
original bill to provide greater transparency in the legislative process.

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS

Committee on Veterans Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine
certain legislative recommendations and concerns of wartime service-connected
disabled veterans, after receiving testimony from Paul W. Jackson, David W.
Gorman, and Joseph A. Violante, all of the Disabled American Veterans,
Washington, D.C.

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/03/01
Daily Digest - Wednesday, March 1, 2006; pages D140 - D150

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Committee on Appropriations : Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, Education, and Related Agencies concluded hearings to examine
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2007 for the Department of
Education, after receiving testimony from Margaret Spellings, Secretary of
Education.

APPROPRIATIONS--LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch concluded
hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2007 for the
Library of Congress and the Open World Leadership Center, after receiving
testimony from James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress, who was accompanied
by several of his associates.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Airland concluded hearings to
examine Army Transformation and the future combat systems acquisition strategy
in review of the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2007 and the
future years defense program, after receiving testimony from Claude M. Bolton,
Jr., Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology
and Army Acquisition Executive; General Richard A. Cody, USA, Vice Chief of
Staff, United States Army; Paul L. Francis, Director, Acquisition and Sourcing
Management, Government Accountability Office; and David R. Graham, Deputy
Director, Strategy Forces and Resources Division, Institute for Defense
Analyses.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Personnel concluded hearings to
examine active component, reserve component, and civilian personnel programs
in review of the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2007, after
receiving testimony from David S. C. Chu, Under Secretary of Defense for
Personnel and Readiness; Lieutenant General Franklin L. Hagenbeck, USA, Deputy
Chief of Staff for Personnel, United States Army; Vice Admiral John C. Harvey,
Jr., USN, Chief of Naval Personnel, United States Navy; Lieutenant General H.
P. Osman, USMC, Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, United
States Marine Corps; and Lieutenant General Roger A. Brady, USAF, Deputy Chief
of Staff, Personnel, United States Air Force.

REGULATORY RELIEF PROPOSALS

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine regulatory relief proposals to remove regulatory burden
from the banking industry, after receiving testimony from John M. Reich,
Director, Office of Thrift Supervision, and Julie L. Williams, First Senior
Deputy Comptroller and Chief Counsel, Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency, both of the Department of the Treasury; Donald L. Kohn, Member,
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Douglas H. Jones, Acting
General Counsel, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; JoAnn M. Johnson,
Chairman, National Credit Union Administration; Gavin Gee, Idaho Department of
Finance, Boise, on behalf of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Linda
Jekel, Washington Department of Financial Institutions, Olympia, on behalf of
the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors; H. Greg McClellan,
MAX Federal Credit Union, Montgomery, Alabama, on behalf of the National
Association of Federal Credit Unions; Bradley E. Rock, Bank of Smithtown,
Smithtown, New York, on behalf of the American Bankers Association; Edmund
Mierzwinski, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, Travis Plunkett, Consumer
Federation of America, Margot Saunders, National Consumer Law Center, and
Steve Bartlett, The Financial Services Roundtable, all of Washington, D.C.; F.
Weller Meyer, Acacia Federal Savings Bank, Falls Church, Virginia, on behalf
of America's Community Bankers; Joe McGee, Legacy Community Federal Credit
Union, Birmingham, Alabama, on behalf of the Credit Union National
Association; and Terry Jorde, CountryBank USA, Cando, North Dakota, on behalf
of Independent Community Bankers of America.

2007 BUDGET: HHS

Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2007 for the Department of
Health and Human Services, after receiving testimony from Michael O. Leavitt,
Secretary of Health and Human Services.

WINTER STORMS

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Disaster
Prevention and Prediction concluded a hearing to examine the role of the
National Weather Service in forecasting and warning for winter storms, after
receiving testimony from Louis W. Uccellini, Director, National Centers for
Environmental Prediction, National Weather Service, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce, and Mayor Denise Michels,
Nome, Alaska, on behalf of the Alaska Conference of Mayors.

                                    [Page: D142] 

U.S. TERRITORIES ECONOMIES

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded an oversight
hearing to examine the state of the economies and fiscal affairs in the
Territories of Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands, after receiving testimony from
American Samoa Delegate Eni Faleomavaega, and American Samoa Governor Togiola
T.A. Tulafono, both of Vailoatai; Virgin Islands Delegate Donna M.
Christensen, and Virgin Islands Governor Charles W. Turnbull, both of St.
Croix; Guam Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo, and Guam Governor Felix Perez
Camacho, both of Hagatna; Northern Mariana Islands Resident Representative
Pedro A. Tenorio, Saipan; and David B. Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of
the Interior for Insular Affairs.

FOREIGN GUEST WORKER TREE PLANTING CONTRACTS

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Public Lands and
Forests concluded a hearing to examine the role of the Forest Service and
other Federal agencies in protecting the health and welfare of foreign guest
workers carrying out tree planting and other service contracts on National
Forest System lands, and to consider related Forest Service guidance and
contract modifications issued in recent weeks, after receiving testimony from
Mark Rey, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and
Environment; Victoria A. Lipnic, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment
Standards Administration; D. Michael Dale, Northwest Workers' Justice Project,
Portland, Oregon; Cassandra Moseley, University of Oregon Institute for a
Sustainable Environment, Eugene; Lynn Jungwirth, Watershed Research and
Training Center, Hayfork, California; and Cindy Wood, Wood's Fire and
Emergency Services, Inc., Portola, California, on behalf of the National
Wildfire Suppression Association.

YUCCA MOUNTAIN PROJECT

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded a hearing to
examine the status of the Yucca Mountain Project, focusing on the proposed
spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste repository at Yucca
Mountain, Nevada, after receiving testimony from Senators Reid and Ensign;
William Wehrum, Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation,
Environmental Protection Agency; Paul M. Golan, Acting Director, Office of
Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, Department of Energy; Robert R. Loux,
Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects, Office of the Governor, Carson City;
Robert Fri, Resources for the Future, Washington, D.C., on behalf of the
National Research Council; Allison M. MacFarlane, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, Cambridge; and Dade W. Moeller, Dade Moeller and Associates,
McLean, Virginia, on behalf of the Health Physics Society.

BUDGET: DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded
hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year
2007 for the Department of Homeland Security, after receiving testimony from
Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security.

PROTECTING AMERICA'S COMPETITIVE EDGE (PACE) ACT

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Subcommittee on Education
and Early Childhood Development held hearings to examine S. 2198, to ensure
the United States successfully competes in the 21st century global economy,
focusing on efforts to improve math and science and technology education,
receiving testimony from Henry L. Johnson, Assistant Secretary of Education
for Elementary and Secondary Education; Arden L. Bement, Jr., Director,
National Science Foundation; Thomas W. Rudin, The College Board, New York, New
York; James B. Hunt, Jr., Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy,
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, former Governor of North Carolina; Peter
O'Donnell, Jr., O'Donnell Foundation, Dallas, Texas, on behalf of the National
Academies' Committee on Prospering in the Global Economy of the 21st Century;
and Joshua R. Tagore, University High School of Science and Engineering,
Hartford, Connecticut.

Hearing recessed subject to the call.

RYAN WHITE CARE ACT

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act relating to
fighting the AIDS epidemic of today, after receiving testimony from Elizabeth
Duke, Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department
of Health and Human Services.

NOMINATIONS

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
nominations of Norman Randy Smith, of Idaho, to be United States Circuit Judge
for the Ninth Circuit, who was introduced by Senators Craig and Crapo, and
Patrick Joseph Schiltz, to be United States District Judge for the District of
Minnesota, who was introduced by Senator Coleman, after the nominees testified
and answered questions in their own behalf.

                                    [Page: D143] 

BORDER VIOLENCE

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology, and
Homeland Security held joint hearings with the Subcommittee on Immigration,
Border Security, and Citizenship to examine Federal strategies to end border
violence, focusing on border-related volent crime, criminal networks that
smuggle people and drugs across U.S. borders, and certain programs implemented
to address these problems, receiving testimony from Paul K. Charlton, United
States Attorney for the District of Arizona, Department of Justice; David
Aguilar, Chief of Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection, and Marcy
Forman, Director of Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, both
of the Department of Homeland Security; Sheriff Larry A. Dever, Cochise
County, Arizona; Sheriff A. D'Wayne Jernigan, Val Verde County, Texas, on
behalf of the Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition; Lavoyger Durham, El Tule
Ranch, Falfurrias, Texas; and T. J. Bonner, National Border Patrol Council,
American Federation of Government Employees (AFL-CIO), Campo, California.

Hearing recessed subject to the call.

NOMINATION

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine the nomination of Eric M. Thorson, of Virginia, to be
Inspector General, Small Business Administration, after the nominee, who was
introduced by Senator Grassley, testified and answered questions in his own
behalf.

INTELLIGENCE

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to receive a
briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence
community. 

Joint Meetings

COBELL V. NORTON

Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs concluded a joint oversight
hearing with the House Committee on Resources to examine the settlement of
Cobell v. Norton, focusing on S. 1439 and H.R. 4322, to provide for Indian
trust asset management reform and resolution of historical accounting claims,
after receiving testimony from Stuart E. Eizenstat, Covington and Burling,
John Bickerman, Bickerman Dispute Resolution, and Joseph Garcia, National
Congress of American Indians, all of Washington, D.C.; Sandra K. Johnigan,
Johnigan, P.C., Dallas, Texas; Mike Marchand, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest
Indians, Portland, Oregon; Keller George, United South and Eastern Tribes,
Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; and Harold Frazier, Great Plains Tribal Chairman's
Association, Eagle Butte, South Dakota.



2006/03/02
Daily Digest - Thursday, March 2, 2006; pages D151 - D176

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

APPROPRIATIONS: DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, the
Judiciary, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies concluded a
hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2007 for the
Department of Housing and Urban Development, after receiving testimony from
Alphonso Jackson, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

NUCLEAR ENERGY AND POWER

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
concluded a hearing to examine an outline of the Global Nuclear Energy Plan
and the future of nuclear power, after receiving testimony from Clay Sell,
Deputy Secretary of Energy.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
defense authorization request for fiscal year 2007 and the future years
defense program, after receiving testimony from Michael W. Wynne, Secretary,
and General T. Michael Moseley, USAF, Chief of Staff, both of the United
States Air Force.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
concluded a hearing to examine military installations, military construction,
environmental programs, and base realignment and closure programs in review of
the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2007, after receiving
testimony from Philip W. Grone, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for
Installations and Environment; Keith E. Eastin, Assistant Secretary of the
Army for Installations and Environment; B.J. Penn, Assistant Secretary of the
Navy for Installations and Environment; and William C. Anderson, Assistant
Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment, and Logistics.

DUBAI PORTS WORLD

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine implementation of the Exon-Florio Amendment, focusing on
Dubai Ports World acquisition of Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation
Company, the role of terminal operators, and U.S. Coast Guard actions under
the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, after receiving testimony
from Robert M. Kimmitt, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury; Eric Edelman, Under
Secretary of Defense for Policy; Stewart Baker, Assistant Secretary of
Homeland Security for Policy; and Robert Joseph, Under Secretary of State for
Arms Control and International Security.

                                    [Page: D153]  

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BUDGET

Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2007 for the Department of
Defense, after receiving testimony from Gordon England, Deputy Secretary,
Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr., U.S. Navy, Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of
Staff, and Tina W. Jonas, Under Secretary (Comptroller), all of the Department
of Defense.

UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND DISTRIBUTIONS

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee held hearings to
examine proposed reforms of the Universal Service Fund (USF) distribution
system, including funds for wireless infrastructure development for rural
consumers, and benefits of the USF to rural America, after receiving testimony
from Jeff Mao, Maine Department of Education, Augusta; Shirley Bloomfield,
National Telecommunications Cooperative Association, Alexandria, Virginia, on
behalf of the Coalition To Keep America Connected; Carson Hughes, Telapex,
Inc., Bismarck, North Dakota, on behalf of the Wireless Independent Group; and
Ben Scott, Free Press, Washington, D.C., on behalf of sundry organizations.

Hearing recessed subject to the call.

BUDGET: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to
examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2007 for the
Department of the Interior, after receiving testimony from Gale A. Norton,
Secretary, R. Thomas Weimer, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and
Budget, and John Trezise, Director, Office of Budget, all of the Department of
the Interior.

A NUCLEAR IRAN

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee met in closed session to receive a
briefing on challenges and responses with respect to a nuclear Iran from John
D. Negroponte, Director of National Intelligence, Office of the Director of
National Intelligence.

A NUCLEAR IRAN

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
challenges and responses with respect to Iran's campaign to acquire nuclear
weapons, focusing on limits placed on the International Atomic Energy Agency
inspections and uranium enrichment, after receiving testimony from Ronald F.
Lehman, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California; and
Patrick Clawson, Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and Ray Takeyh,
Council on Foreign Relations, both of Washington, D.C.

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee ordered
favorably reported S. 2128, to provide greater transparency with respect to
lobbying activities, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.

MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine the state of mine safety and health, after receiving
testimony from David G. Dye, Acting Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and
Health, Ray McKinney, Administrator, Coal Mine Safety and Health, Mine Safety
and Health Administration, both of the Department of Labor; John Howard,
Director, and Jeffrey Kohler, Associate Director for Mining and Construction,
both of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services;
Michael Peelish, Foundation Coal Corporation, Linthicum Heights, Maryland, on
behalf of National Mining Association; Michael E. Neason, Hanson Aggregates,
Louisville, Kentucky, on behalf of American Society of Safety Engineers;
Thomas Novak, Virginia Tech Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering,
Blacksburg; and Cecil E. Roberts, United Mine Workers of America, Fairfax,
Virginia.

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following
business items:

S. 2178, to make the stealing and selling of telephone records a criminal
offense; and

The nominations of Jack Zouhary, to be United States District Judge for the
Northern District of Ohio, Stephen G. Larson, to be United States District
Judge for the Central District of California, and Terrance P. Flynn, to be
United States Attorney for the Western District of New York.

Also, committee began consideration of proposed legislation to amend the
Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for comprehensive reform and to
provide conditional nonimmigrant authorization for employment to undocumented
aliens.

VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS

Committee on Veterans Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine
legislative presentations of certain veterans organizations, after receiving
testimony from Joseph L. Barnes, Fleet Reserve Association, Deirdre Parke
Holleman, the Retired Enlisted Association, and MSGT Morgan D. Brown (Ret.),
Air Force Sergeant's Association, all of Washington, D.C.; Colonel Robert F.
Norton, USA (Ret.), Military Officers Association of America, Alexandria,
Virginia; and Rose Elizabeth Lee, Gold Star Wives of America, Inc., Arlington,
Virginia.

                                    [Page: D154] 

INTELLIGENCE

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to receive a
briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence
community. 

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/03/03
Daily Digest - Friday, March 3, 2006; pages D177 - D184

Committee Meetings

No committee meetings were held. 

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/03/06
Daily Digest - Monday, March 6, 2006; pages D185 - D187

Committee Meetings

No committee meetings were held. 

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/03/07
Daily Digest - Tuesday, March 7, 2006; pages D189 - D196

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING

Committee on Appropriations: Committee held a hearing to examine the proposed
supplemental funding request for additional resources to assist the Gulf Coast
region in its recovery from hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico in 2005, after
receiving testimony from Alabama Governor Bob Riley, Montgomery; Louisiana
Governor Kathleen Blanco, Baton Rouge; Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour,
Jackson; and Texas Governor Rick Perry, Austin.

Hearings continue tomorrow.

APPROPRIATIONS: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense concluded a hearing to
examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2007 for the Department of
Defense, after receiving testimony from Tina W. Jonas, Under Secretary of
Defense (Comptroller); and Vice Admiral Evan M. Chanik, USN, Director, Force
Structure, Resources and Assessments (J8).

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION

Committee on Armed Services: Committee continued open and closed hearings to
examine military strategy and operational requirements in review of the
defense authorization request for fiscal year 2007 and the future years
defense program, receiving testimony from Admiral William J. Fallon, USN,
Commander, United States Pacific Command; General Burwell B. Bell, III, USA,
Commander, United Nations Command and Republic of Korea-United States Combined
Forces Command, Commander, United States Forces Korea; and General James L.
Jones, USMC, Commander, United States European Command and Supreme Allied
Commander, Europe.

Hearing recessed subject to the call.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces concluded open
and closed hearings to examine the nuclear weapons and defense environmental
cleanup activities of the Department of Energy in review of the defense
authorization request for fiscal year 2007 and the future years nuclear
security program, after receiving testimony from Linton F. Brooks,
Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration, and James A. Rispoli,
Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, both of the Department of
Energy.

CREDIT RATING AGENCIES

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine the current oversight and operation of credit rating
agencies, after receiving testimony from Paul Schott Stevens, Investment
Company Institute, Damon A. Silvers, AFL-CIO, and Alex J. Pollock, American
Enterprise Institute, both of Washington, D.C.; Colleen S. Cunningham,
Financial Executives International, Florham Park, New Jersey; Glenn L.
Reynolds, CreditSights, Inc., and Vickie A. Tillman, Standard and Poor's
Credit Market Services, both of New York, New York; Frank Partnoy, University
of San Diego School of Law, San Diego, California; and Jeffrey J. Diermeier,
CFA Institute, Charlottesville, Virginia.

RURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine rural telecommunications, including telephony, data
transmission, video transmission and mobility, after receiving testimony from
Thomas Dorr, Under Secretary, and James M. Andrew, Administrator, Rural
Utilities Service, both of the Department of Agriculture; Mark Goldstein,
Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, Government Accountability Office;
Mark K. Johnson, Regulatory Commission of Alaska, Anchorage; Ray Baum,
Commissioner, Public Utility Commissioner of Oregon, Salem; William Squires,
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group, Missoula, Montana; Larry Sarjeant, Qwest
Communications, and Joe Garcia, National Congress of American Indians, both of
Washington, D.C.; and Craig Mundie, Microsoft, Redmond, Washington.

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to
examine the goal of U.S. energy independence, focusing on how the United
States can facilitate the advancement of technologies to create new sources of
energy, how to make more efficient use of existing energy resources, and how
to increase access to domestic resources in an environmentally safe way, after
receiving testimony from R. James Woolsey, Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean,
Virginia, former Director of Central Intelligence Agency; Susan M. Cischke,
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan; Frank A. Verrastro, Center for
Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C.; and Amory B. Lovins,
Rocky Mountain Institute, Snowmass, Colorado.

                                    [Page: D191] 

U.S.-OMAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

Committee on Finance: On Monday, March 6, Subcommittee on International Trade
held a hearing to examine the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement, receiving
testimony from Susan C. Schwab, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative; Edward S.
Walker, Jr., Middle East Institute, David Hamod, National U.S. Arab Chamber of
Commerce, and Thea M. Lee, AFL-CIO, all of Washington, D.C.; and Robert
Hemphill, AES Corporation, Arlington, Virginia.

Hearing recessed subject to the call.

NOMINATION

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
nomination of Randall L. Tobias, of Indiana, to be Administrator of the United
States Agency for International Development, after the nominee, who was
introduced by Senator Bayh, testified and answered questions in his own
behalf.

2005 GULF COAST HURRICANES RESPONSE

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee met to discuss
the response of community-based organizations to the 2005 Gulf Coast
hurricanes, receiving testimony from Cynthia Fagnoni, Managing Director,
Education, Workforce and Income Security Issues, Government Accountability
Office; Kay Wilkins, American Red Cross, Metairie, Louisiana; Jayne Wright,
Louisiana State Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster and Food Bank of
Central Louisiana, Alexandria; Todd Hawks, Salvation Army, Arlington,
Virginia; Craig Nemitz, America's Second Harvest, and Heather Feltman,
Lutheran Disaster Response, both of Chicago, Illinois; Mostafa Mahbood,
Islamic Relief USA, Burbank, California; Almetra Franklin, St. Mary Community
Action Agency, Franklin, Louisiana; Tanya Harris, Association of Community
Organizations for Reform Now, New Orleans, Louisiana; Lorna Bourg, Southern
Mutual Help Association, New Iberia, Louisiana; Thomas E. Green, Office of
Community Services, Little Rock, Arkansas; and Ande Miller, National Voluntary
Organizations Active in Disaster, Tom Hazelwood, United Methodist Committee on
Relief, William Daroff, United Jewish Communities, and Welton Gaddy,
Interfaith Alliance, all of Washington, D.C.

Hearing recessed subject to the call.

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS

Committee on Veterans Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
legislative presentation of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, after receiving
testimony from James R. Mueller, Robert E. Wallace, and Dennis Cullinan, all
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Washington, D.C.

BUSINESS MEETING

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to consider
pending intelligence matters.

Committee recessed subject to the call. 

No Joint hearings noted.



2006/03/08
Daily Digest - Wednesday, March 8, 2006; pages D197 - D208

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet)

SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING

Committee on Appropriations: Committee continued hearings to examine the
proposed supplemental funding request for additional resources to assist the
Gulf Coast region in its recovery from hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico in
2005, receiving testimony from Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland
Security; Alphonso Jackson, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; and
John Paul Woodley, Assistant Secretary of the Army, Civil Works.

Hearings will continue tomorrow.

                                    [Page: D198] 

DC FLAT TAX

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on District of Columbia concluded a
hearing to examine potential effects of a flat Federal income tax in the
District of Columbia, after receiving testimony from former Representative
Richard K. Army, FreedomWorks, Daniel J. Mitchell, Heritage Foundation,
Stephen J. Entin, Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation, and
Chris Edwards, Cato Institute, all of Washington, D.C.

DOD QUADRENNIAL DEFENSE REVIEW

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded open and closed hearings to
examine the Department of Defense quadrennial defense review, after receiving
testimony from Gordon England, Deputy Secretary, and Christopher Ryan Henry,
Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Policy, both of the Department of
Defense; and Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr., USN, Vice Chairman, Joint
Chiefs of Staff.

EXPORT-IMPORT BANK REAUTHORIZATION

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on
International Trade and Finance concluded a hearing to examine the proposed
reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, focusing on a
new claims reconsideration procedure at the Bank, and technology upgrades,
after receiving testimony from James H. Lambright, Chairman and President
(Acting), Export-Import Bank of the United States; Gerald F. Rama, PNC Bank,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on behalf of the Bankers' Association for Finance
and Trade; Al Merritt, MD International, Inc., Miami, Florida; and John
Matthews, Boeing Capital Corporation, Seattle, Washington, on behalf of sundry
organizations.

2007 BUDGET

Committee on the Budget: Committee met to mark up a proposed concurrent
resolution setting forth the fiscal year 2007 budget for the Federal
Government, but did not complete consideration thereon, and will meet again
tomorrow.

PIRACY AND COUNTERFEITING IN CHINA

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Trade,
Tourism, and Economic Development concluded a hearing to examine impacts of
piracy and counterfeiting of American goods and intellectual property in
China, after receiving testimony from Chris Israel, Coordinator for
International Intellectual Property Enforcement, Department of Commerce;
Franklin J. Vargo, National Association of Manufacturers, Washington, D.C.;
Andy York, Leupold and Stevens, Inc., Beaverton, Oregon; and William P.
Alford, Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following measures:

S. 1131, to authorize the exchange of certain Federal land within the State of
Idaho, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;

S. 1288, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into cooperative
agreements to protect natural resources of units of the National Park System
through collaborative efforts on land inside and outside of units of the
National Park System, with amendments;

S. 1346, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of
maritime sites in the State of Michigan, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute;

S. 1378, to amend the National Historic Preservation Act to provide
appropriation authorization and improve the operations of the Advisory Council
on Historic Preservation, with amendments;

S. 1913, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to lease a portion of the
Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center for use as a visitor center for the
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, and for other purposes, with an amendment in
the nature of a substitute;

S. 1970, to amend the National Trails System Act to update the feasibility and
suitability study originally prepared for the Trail of Tears National Historic
Trail and provide for the inclusion of new trail segments, land components,
and campgrounds associated with that trail, with an amendment in the nature of
a substitute;

S. 2197, to improve the global competitiveness of the United States in science
and energy technology, to strengthen basic research programs at the Department
of Energy, and to provide support for mathematics and science education at all
levels through the resources available through the Department of Energy,
including at the National Laboratories, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute;

S. 2253, to require the Secretary of the Interior to offer the 181 Area of the
Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas leasing;

S. Con. Res. 60, designating the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City,
Missouri, as America's National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, with
amendments;

S.J. Res. 28, approving the location of the commemorative work in the District
of Columbia honoring former President Dwight D. Eisenhower;

                                    [Page: D199] 

H.R. 318, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability
and feasibility of designating Castle Nugent Farms located on St. Croix,
Virgin Islands, as a unit of the National Park System;

H.R. 326, to amend the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Act of 2000 to
adjust the boundary of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area;

H.R. 409, to provide for the exchange of land within the Sierra National
Forest, California, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;

H.R. 1129, to authorize the exchange of certain land in the State of Colorado,
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;

H.R. 1728, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability
and feasibility of designating the French Colonial Heritage Area in the State
of Missouri as a unit of the National Park System; and

H.R. 2107, to amend Public Law 104-329 to modify authorities for the use of
the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Maintenance Fund.

Also, committee announced the following subcommittee assignments:

Subcommittee on Energy: Senators Alexander (Chairman), Burr, Martinez, Talent,
Allen, Bunning, Murkowski, Craig, Thomas, Burns, Dorgan, Akaka, Johnson,
Landrieu, Feinstein, Cantwell, Salazar, and Menendez.

Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests: Senators Craig (Chairman), Burns,
Thomas, Talent, Smith, Alexander, Murkowski, Allen, Wyden, Akaka, Dorgan,
Johnson, Landrieu, Feinstein, and Cantwell.

Subcommittee on National Parks: Senators Thomas (Chairman), Alexander, Allen,
Burr, Martinez, Smith, Akaka, Wyden, Landrieu, Salazar, and Menendez.

Subcommittee on Water and Power: Senators Murkowski (Chairman), Smith, Craig,
Burr, Martinez, Burns, Bunning, Talent, Johnson, Dorgan, Wyden, Feinstein,
Cantwell, Salazar, and Menendez.

HEALTH CARE TAX POLICY

Committee on Finance: Committee held a hearing to examine the health care tax
policy of the United States, focusing on health savings accounts,
employer-provided health care, and consumer-centric health plans, receiving
testimony from Paul H. O'Neill, former Secretary of the Treasury; Leonard E.
Burman, Urban Institute, Washington, D.C.; and Robert W. Lane, Deere and
Company, Moline, Illinois, on behalf of the Business Roundtable.

Hearing recessed subject to the call.

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the
nominations of Richard T. Miller, of Texas, to be U.S. Representative on the
Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, with the rank of
Ambassador, and to be U.S. Alternate Representative to the Sessions of the
General Assembly of the United Nations during his tenure of service as U.S.
Representative on the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, and
John A. Simon, of Maryland, to be Executive Vice President of the Overseas
Private Investment Corporation, after the nominees testified and answered
questions in their own behalf.

SERVICEMEMBERS' PROTECTION ACT

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace
Corps and Narcotics Affairs concluded a hearing to examine the impact of the
American Servicemembers' Protection Act on Latin America, after receiving
testimony from Peter DeShazo, Center for Strategic and International Studies,
Adam Isacson, Center for International Policy, and Ruth Wedgewood, Johns
Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced and International Studies,
all of Washington, D.C.

HURRICANE KATRINA

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine Hurricane Katrina response issues, focusing on
recommendations for reform, after receiving testimony from Senator Mikulski;
David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, Government
Accountability Office; Richard L. Skinner, Inspector General, Department of
Homeland Security; Bruce P. Baughman, Alabama State Emergency Management
Agency, Montgomery, on behalf of the National Emergency Management
Association; Frank J. Cilluffo, George Washington University Homeland Security
Policy Institute, Washington, D.C.; and Herman B. Leonard, Harvard University,
Cambridge, Massachusetts.

CRIME VICTIMS FUND RESCISSION

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on
Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International
Security concluded a hearing to examine the proposed rescission of Crime
Victims Fund balances relative to the President's budget request for fiscal
year 2007, after receiving testimony from Paul R. Corts, Assistant Attorney
General for Administration, Department of Justice; Ed Meese, The Heritage
Foundation, and Steve Derene, National Association of VOCA Assistance
Administrators, both of Washington, D.C.; and Marsha Kimble, Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma.

                                    [Page: D200] 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee ordered
favorably reported the following business items:

S. 1902, to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize funding for the
establishment of a program on children and the media within the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention to study the role and impact of electronic
media in the development of children; and,

The nominations of Michell C. Clark, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary
for Management, Department of Education, Jean B. Elshtain, of Tennessee, to be
a Member of the National Council on the Humanities, Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., of
South Carolina, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor, Allen C. Guelzo, of
Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the National Council on the Humanities, Arlene
Holen, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Federal Mine Safety
and Health Review Commission, George Perdue, of Georgia, to be a Member of the
Board of Trustees of the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation,
Anne-Imelda Radice, of Vermont, to be Director of the Institute of Museum and
Library Services, Craig T. Ramey, of West Virginia, to be a Member of the
Board of Directors of the National Board for Education Sciences, Sarah M.
Singleton, of New Mexico, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the
Legal Services Corporation, Richard