This Week's Senate Committee Schedule

The Senate returns this week after the Spring recess and, with the appearance of embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales before the Judiciary Committee set for April 17, the committee schedule for this week is less exciting than we thought it would be.

One hearing of interest will take place on Thursday, when the Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs committees hold a joint meeting to look into how the administrative hand-off is made from the Department of Defense to the Department of Veterans Affairs when wounded troops return from Iraq and Afghanistan and leave the military. With the history of screw-ups and maltreatment of Veterans by the Bush administration, this could be interesting.

But the meeting to watch this week takes place Wednesday when Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) presides over a hearing entitled “Responding to The Inspector General’s Findings of Improper Use of National Security Letters by the FBI” in Judiciary's Constitution subcommittee. Feingold may be the Senate's biggest foe of how Team Bush has trashed the U.S. Constitution and this one could be good for some fireworks.

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

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

Apr 10, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold a field hearing to examine Federal food and nutrition assistance programs. Atlanta Community Food Bank, 732 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd., NW, Atlanta, Georgia.

Appropriations

Apr 11, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the FY 2008 National Guard and Reserves Budget Overview. (Defense Subcommittee)

Apr 11, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To hold hearings to receive testimony on the Department of Energy's budget request and justification for fiscal year 2008. (Energy and Water Development Subcommittee)

Apr 11, 2007 at 3 p.m. To hold hearings to receive testimony on the Office of Management and Budget's budget request and justification for fiscal year 2008. (Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee)

Apr 13, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. To hold hearings to receive testimony on the Fiscal Year 2008 budget request for the Office of the Secretary of the Senate and the Library of Congress. (Legislative Branch Subcommittee)

Armed Services

Apr 10, 2007 at 3 p.m. To hold closed hearings to examine overseas basing plans in review of the Defense Authorization Request for fiscal year 2008 and the future years Defense Program; to be followed by a open hearing on military installation, environmental, and base closure programs in review of the Defense Authorization Request for fiscal year 2008 and the future years Defense Program. (Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee)

Apr 11, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. To receive testimony on nuclear nonproliferation programs at the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program and the Proliferation Security Initiative at the Department of Defense in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2008 and the Future Years Defense Program. (Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee)

Apr 11, 2007 at 3 p.m. To receive testimony on Ballistic Missile Defense Programs in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2008 and the Future Years Defense Program. (Strategic Forces Subcommittee)

Apr 12, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. There will be a joint hearing of the Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs committees to receive testimony on the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs disability rating systems and the transition of service members from the Department of Defense to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Apr 11, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the availability and affordability of property and casualty insurance in the Gulf Coast and other coastal regions.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Apr 10, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold an oversight hearing to examine the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Apr 10, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and the Future of 9-1-1 Services

Apr 11, 2007 at 9:15 a.m. Oversight of the Property and Casualty Insurance Industry

Apr 11, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. Airline Service Improvements

Apr 12, 2007 at 10 a.m. Transportation Workers Identification Credentials (TWIC) Implementations

Energy and Natural Resources

Apr 12, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine S.987, to enhance the energy security of the United States by promoting biofuels.

Finance

Apr 11, 2007 at 10 a.m. An Examination of the Medicare Advantage Program

Apr 12, 2007 at 10 a.m. Filing Your Taxes: An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure

Apr 12, 2007 at 2:15 p.m. Hearing on International Perspectives on Alternative Energy Policy: Incentives and Mandates and their Impacts. (Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure Subcommittee)

Foreign Relations

Apr 11, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. Darfur: A ‘Plan B’ to Stop Genocide?

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Apr 12, 2007 at 10 a.m. Closing the Gap: Equal Pay for Women Workers

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Apr 12, 2007 at 2 p.m. GAO’s Analysis of the Gulf Coast Recovery: A Dialogue on Removing Obstacles to the Recovery Effort

Indian Affairs

Apr 12, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. Meeting to consider pending legislation, to be followed immediately by an oversight hearing on Tribal Colleges and Universities

Intelligence

Apr 10, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To hold closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters.

Apr 12, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To hold closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters.

Judiciary

Apr 9, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. A field hearing on “Examining Health Care Mergers in Pennsylvania.” Kirby Auditorium, National Constitution Center, 111 S. Independence Mall E, Philadelphia, PA.

Apr 11, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. To hold hearings on judicial Nominations

Apr 11, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To hold hearings on “Responding to The Inspector General’s Findings of Improper Use of National Security Letters by the FBI” (Constitution Subcommittee)

Apr 12, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. An Executive Business Meeting has been scheduled.

Rules and Administration

Apr 11, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold an oversight hearing to examine the Smithsonian Institution.

Veterans' Affairs

Apr 11, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. To hold hearings to examine issues relative to Filipino veterans.

Apr 12, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. There will be a joint hearing of the Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs committees to receive testimony on the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs disability rating systems and the transition of service members from the Department of Defense to the Department of Veterans Affairs.