This Week's Senate Committee Schedule

Hearings of Note: It's another huge week in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which we knew would constantly be the case as soon as Democrats took over and oversight of a crooked White House actually started happening.

On Tuesday, Judiciary will call FBI Director Robert Mueller in to testify on what kinds of Constitutional corners his crew has been cutting over the last few years in a hearing called “Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”

Another big day in Judiciary is Thursday when a hearing is held on "Preserving Prosecutorial Independence: Is the Department of Justice Politicizing the Hiring and Firing of U.S. Attorneys?" Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) will be grilling D. Kyle Sampson, the former Chief of Staff to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

And I like the follow-up notice for the Thursday meeting that indicates time will be allocated to "discuss the possibility of the issuance of certain subpoenas in connection with investigation into replacement of United States Attorneys."

Foreign Relations Committee: You can bring up eight nominations for a vote in one day but you still can't hide the scumbag. In addition to seven other people, Sam Fox, of Missouri, comes back to the committee to get a vote on whether he should get to be the new U.S. Ambassador to Belgium.

It's been a month since Fox, who gave a whopping $50,000 to the Swift Boat Liars to help them tank John Kerry's (D-MA) 2004 presidential campaign with smears and lies, was slapped around by Kerry and Barack Obama (D-IL) in his first visit to this committee.

Let's see how many Senators agree with George W. Bush that it's a good idea to have someone who has proven himself to have no character as our chief diplomat to an important European ally.

Here's the full Senate Committee schedule for the week:

Aging

Mar 28, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. To hold hearings to examine affordable drug coverage that works for Wisconsin, focusing on preserving senior care.

Appropriations

Mar 26, 2007 at 3:30 p.m. To hold hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008 for mind, brain and behavioral research at the National Institutes of Health. (Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee)

Mar 28, 2007 at 9:45 a.m. To hold hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008 for the Department of Labor. (Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee)

Mar 28, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008 for the United States Agency for International Development and foreign assistance programs. (State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee)

Mar 28, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008 for the United States Navy. (Defense Subcommittee)

Mar 28, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To hold hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008 for United States Forest Service. (Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee)

Mar 28, 2007 at 3 p.m. To hold hearings to examine the proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008 for the Department of the Treasury. (Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee)

Mar 30, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008 for the Office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper, and the United States Capitol police. (Legislative Branch Subcommittee)

Armed Services

Mar 26, 2007 at 2 p.m. To receive a briefing on the reorganization of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. (Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee)

Mar 27, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the nominations of James R. Clapper, Jr., of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, Claude M. Kicklighter, of Georgia, to be Inspector General, Department of Defense, S. Ward Casscells, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense, and William Charles Ostendorff, of Virginia, to be Principal Deputy Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration.

Mar 27, 2007 at 3:30 p.m. To receive a closed briefing on Special Operations Command's global operation. (Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee)

Mar 28, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the Strategic Forces Program in review of the Defense Authorization Request for fiscal year 2008 and the future years Defense Program. (Strategic Forces Subcommittee)

Mar 28, 2007 at 3:30 p.m. To hold hearings to examine active component, reserve component, and civilian personnel programs in review of the Defense Authorization Request for fiscal year 2008 and the future years Defense Program. (Personnel Subcommittee)

Mar 29, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the Department of the Navy in review of the Defense Authorization Request for fiscal year 2008 and the future years Defense Program.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Mar 27, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine competition and consumer choice relating to exclusive sports programming.

Mar 28, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the future of the Coast Guard Dive Program. (Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee)

Mar 28, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To hold hearings to examine transitioning to a next generation Human Space Flight System. (Space, Aeronautics, and Related Agencies Subcommittee)

Energy and Natural Resources

Mar 26, 2007 at 2 p.m. To hold hearings to examine the progress of the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme and to receive information on lessons learned for policymakers who want to better understand how a market-based trading program could operate efficiently and effectively in the United States.

Environment and Public Works

Mar 28, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine reducing government building operational costs through innovation and efficiency, focusing on legislative solutions.

Finance

Mar 27, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine opportunities and challenges in the U.S.-China economic relationship.

Mar 28, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine risks and reform, focusing on the role of currency in the U.S.-China relationship.

Mar 29, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine clean energy from the margins to the mainstream.

Foreign Relations

Mar 28, 2007 at 11:45 a.m. Business meeting to consider the following:

• S.193, to increase cooperation on energy issues between the United States Government and foreign governments and entities in order to secure the strategic and economic interests of the United States
• S.613, to enhance the overseas stabilization and reconstruction capabilities of the United States Government
• H.R.1003, to amend the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 to reauthorize the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy
• S.Res.30, expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the need for the United States to address global climate change through the negotiation of fair and effective international commitments
• S.Res.65, condemning the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist and human rights advocate Hrant Dink and urging the people of Turkey to honor his legacy of tolerance
• S.Res.76, calling on the United States Government and the international community to promptly develop, fund, and implement a comprehensive regional strategy in Africa to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian operations, contain and reduce violence, and contribute to conditions for sustainable peace in eastern Chad, and Central African Republic, and Darfur, Sudan.

Committee will also consider the following nominations:

• Katherine Almquist, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development
• Paul J. Bonicelli, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development
• Curtis S. Chin, of New York, to be United States Director of the Asian Development Bank, with the rank of Ambassador
• Eli Whitney Debevoise II, of Maryland, to be United States Executive Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
• Sam Fox, of Missouri, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Belgium
• Zalmay Khalilzad, of Maryland, to be the Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and the Representative of the United States of America in the Security Council of the United Nations
• Margrethe Lundsager, of Virginia, to be United States Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund
• Douglas Menarchik, of Texas, to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. (Reappointment).

Mar 29, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. To hold hearings to examine an update on Iran; may be followed by a business meeting to consider pending calendar business.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Mar 27, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the Employee Free Choice Act, focusing on restoring economic opportunity for working families.

Mar 27, 2007 at 1 p.m. To hold hearings to examine ensuring safe medicines and medical devices for children.

Mar 28, 2007 at 3 p.m. To hold hearings to examine No Child Left Behind Reauthorization, focusing on effective strategies for engaging parents and communities in schools.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Mar 26, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To hold hearings to examine a review of the Real ID Act of 2005 and the proposed regulations released by the Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2006, implementing Act, focusing on efforts to secure drivers' licenses and identification cards. (Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia Subcommittee)

Mar 29, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine eliminating and recovering improper payments, focusing on the Office of Management and Budget report entitled Payments. (Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security Subcommittee)

Indian Affairs

Mar 29, 2007 at 9:15 a.m. To hold an oversight hearing to examine Indian trust fund litigation.

Intelligence

Mar 27, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To hold closed hearings to examine intelligence matters; Terrorist Ideology

Mar 29, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. Closed business meeting and hearing regarding certain intelligence matters; Compartmented Programs

Judiciary

Mar 26, 2007 at 3 p.m. To hold hearings to examine the problem of human trafficking and the legal options to stop the problem. (Human Rights and the Law Subcommittee)

Mar 27, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. To hold oversight hearings to examine the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Mar 29, 2007 at 10 a.m. To continue hearings to examine Department of Justice hiring and firing of United States Attorneys, focusing on preserving prosecutorial independence.

Mar 29, 2007 at 2 p.m. Business meeting to consider the following:

• S.236, to require reports to Congress on Federal agency use of data mining
• S.376, to amend title 18, United States Code, to improve the provisions relating to the carrying of concealed weapons by law enforcement officers
• S.849, to promote accessibility, accountability, and openness in Government by strengthening section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act)
• S.119, to prohibit profiteering and fraud relating to military action, relief, and reconstruction efforts
• S.621, to establish commissions to review the facts and circumstances surrounding injustices suffered by European Americans, European Latin Americans, and Jewish refugees during World War II
• S.Res.108, designating the first week of April 2007 as "National Asbestos Awareness Week"

Will also meet to discuss the possibility of the issuance of certain subpoenas in connection with investigation into replacement of United States Attorneys.

Rules and Administration

Mar 28, 2007 at 10 a.m. Business meeting to consider S.223, to require Senate candidates to file designations, statements, and reports in electronic form.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Mar 29, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. Business meeting to markup S.163, to improve the disaster loan program of the Small Business Administration.

Veterans' Affairs

Mar 27, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. To hold an oversight hearing to examine Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense cooperation and collaboration, focusing on health care issues.

Mar 29, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. To hold joint hearings with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to examine the legislative presentation of AMVETS, American Ex-Prisoners of War, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Gold Star Wives of America, Fleet Reserve Association, the Retired Enlisted Association, Military Officers Association of America, and the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs.