Today in Congress: May 14, 2009

Washington Post

The Senate convenes at 9:30 a.m. ET and will resume consideration of H.R.627, the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights. A few key witnesses on the Hill today include: Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair testifying at a closed hearing before the Defense Subcommittee; Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations committee on Middle East peace solutions; And Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen testify before the Senate Armed Services committee.

Senate Indian Affairs (10:30 a.m.): Meets to vote on the nomination of Larry Echo Hawk to be assistant secretary for Indian affairs at the Interior Department. 628 Dirksen.

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The Senate convenes at 9:30 a.m. ET and will resume consideration of H.R.627, the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights. A few key witnesses on the Hill today include: Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair testifying at a closed hearing before the Defense Subcommittee; Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations committee on Middle East peace solutions; And Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen testify before the Senate Armed Services committee.

Committees

Senate Appropriations (10:30 a.m.): Defense Subcommittee holds a closed hearing on “Overview of the FY2010 National Intelligence Program and Military Intelligence Program.” Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair; and Defense Undersecretary for Intelligence James Clapper, testify. SVC-217, U.S. Capitol.

Senate Armed Services (9:30 a.m.): Holds a hearing on “The Defense Authorization Request for FY2010 and the Future Years Defense Program.” Defense Secretary Robert Gates; and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen, testify. 106 Dirksen.

Senate Finance (10 a.m.): Holds a closed meeting on “Financing Comprehensive Health Care Reform.” 215 Dirksen.

Senate Foreign Relations (2 p.m.): Holds a hearing on “The Middle East: The Road to Peace.” Former UK Prime Minister and envoy on the Middle East Tony Blair testifies. 419 Dirksen.

Senate Indian Affairs (10:30 a.m.): Meets to vote on the nomination of Larry Echo Hawk to be assistant secretary for Indian affairs at the Interior Department. 628 Dirksen.

THE HOUSE

The House meets at 10 a.m. for legislative business. On the schedule is complete consideration for H.R. 2187, the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act, and H.R. 2346, the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009. Adrian Fenty, Mayor of Washington D.C., testifies before the House Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee. Attorney General Eric Holder appears before the House Judicial committee.

Committees

House Transportation and Infrastructure (11 a.m.): Holds a hearing on “FEMA: Restoring the Nation’s Capabilities for Effective Emergency Management and Disaster Response.” 2167 Rayburn.

House Oversight and Government Reform (2 p.m.): Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Protecting the Protectors: An Assessment of Front-line Federal Workers in Response to the H1N1 Flu.” 2154 Rayburn.

House Appropriations (9:15 a.m.): Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee holds a hearing on the District of Columbia. D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty; D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray; and D.C. Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi, testify. 2362-A Rayburn.

House Armed Services (10 a.m.): Holds a hearing on the FY2010 National Defense Authorization Budget Request from the Department of the Navy. Acting Secretary of the Navy B.J. Penn; Navy Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations; and Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James Conway, testify. 2118 Rayburn.

House Armed Services (2:30 p.m.): Holds a hearing on the FY2010 National Defense Authorization Budget Request from the Department of the Army. Army Secretary Pete Geren; and Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey Jr., testify. 2118 Rayburn.

House Education and Labor (10 a.m.): Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Improving Child Nutrition Programs to Reduce Childhood Obesity.” 2175 Rayburn.

House Judiciary (10 a.m.): Holds a hearing on the Justice Department. Attorney General Eric Holder testifies. 2141 Rayburn.

House Science and Technology (2 p.m.): Holds a hearing on “An Overview of the Federal Research & Development Budget for FY2010.” John Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, testifies. 2318 Rayburn