This Week's Senate Committee Schedule

In general, it looks like a slow week on the committee front with all eyes turned to the main chambers of both houses of Congress for response and next steps as George W. Bush vetoes the Democratic plan to begin withdrawing American troops from the Iraqi civil war.

But there may be a few hearings of note...

The Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee will hold a hearing today on "Halliburton and United States business ties to Iran." I'm not sure precisely what this is all about, but any oversight hearing that includes the name "Halliburton" has got to be a good thing. Along the same lines, the Finance Committee will take a look at "Offshore Tax Evasion: Stashing Cash Overseas." There's no witness list posted yet and they don’t mention Halliburton specifically in the hearing notice, but I think we can read between those lines.

I'm not sure exactly what the Intelligence Committee is looking into on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) on Tuesday but, given that the do-nothing, Republican Congress did nothing on the White House trashing it for two years or more, even calling a meeting is a vast improvement.

Finally, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs will hold a hearing on Thursday "to examine the internet as a portal to violent Islamist extremism."

With committee Chairman Joe Lieberman (WhoCares-CT) enabling every lie and scare tactic coming out of the Bush administration when it comes to terrorism, look for the committee to recommend that the Internet be shut down entirely -- and especially those damn Progressive bloggers.

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

Aging

May 2, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the Nursing Home Reform Act (Public Law 100-203), focusing on what has been accomplished and what challenges still remain.

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

May 1, 2007 at 2 p.m. To hold hearings to examine conservation policy recommendations for the farm bill.

Appropriations

May 1, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008 for United States Forest Service. (Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee)

May 2, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. To hold hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008 for global health. (Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee)

May 2, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. To hold closed hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008 for defense intelligence. (Defense Subcommittee)

May 2, 2007 at 3 p.m. To hold hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008 for the government of the District of Columbia, focusing on federally-funded entities. (Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee)

May 3, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008 for the Equal Employment Opportunity. (Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee)

May 3, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2088 for the Office of the Secretary of the Senate and the Library of Congress. (Legislative Branch Subcommittee)

May 3, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008 for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee)

Armed Services

May 1, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To hold hearings to examine the Department of Defense transportation programs in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2008 and the Future Years Defense Program. (SeaPower Subcommittee)

May 2, 2007 at 4:40 p.m. To hold hearings to examine the Department of Energy atomic energy defense programs in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2008. (Strategic Forces Subcommittee)

May 3, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the United States Central Command in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2008 and the Future Years Defense Program, with the possibility of a closed session in S-407 following the open session.

May 3, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To hold closed hearings to examine Navy force structure requirements and programs to meet those requirements in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2008 and the Future Years Defense Program; to be immediately followed by an open session in SR-222. (SeaPower Subcommittee)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Apr 30, 2007 at 2 p.m. To hold hearings to examine Halliburton and United States business ties to Iran. (Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism Subcommittee)

May 1, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine improving air service to small and rural communities. (Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security Subcommittee)

May 1, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To hold hearings to examine Electronic On-Board Recorders (EOBR's) and truck driver fatigue reduction. (Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security Subcommittee)

May 2, 2007 at 9:15 a.m. To hold hearings to examine United States trade relations with China. (Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism Subcommittee)

May 2, 2007 at 4:00 p.m. 2006 Nobel Laureates (Science, Technology, and Innovation Subcommittee)

May 3, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. Pending Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Legislation

Energy and Natural Resources

May 3, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine S.27, to authorize the implementation of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement. (Water and Power Subcommittee)

May 3, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To hold hearings to examine the following legislation:

• S. 390: Utah Recreational Land Exchange Act of 2007
• S. 647: Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act of 2007
• S. 1139: National Landscape Conservation System Act
• H.R. 276: Piedras Blancas Historic Light Station Outstanding Natural Area Act of 2007
• H.R. 356: To remove certain restrictions on the Mammoth Community Water District's ability to use certain property acquired by that District from the United States
• S. 205: Copper Valley Native Allotment Resolution Act of 2007
• H.R. 865: Copper Valley Native Allotment Resolution Act of 2007

(Public Lands and Forests Subcommittee)

Finance

May 1, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine advanced technology vehicles, focusing on the road ahead. (Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure Subcommittee)

May 2, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the Medicare prescription drug benefit, focusing on monitoring early experiences.

May 3, 2007 at 10 a.m. Offshore Tax Evasion: Stashing Cash Overseas

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Apr 30, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To hold hearings to examine the Federal government's role in empowering Americans to make informed financial decisions. (Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia Subcommittee)

May 1, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the nomination of Howard Charles Weizmann, of Maryland, to be Deputy Director of the Office of Personnel Management.

May 3, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the internet as a portal to violent Islamist extremism.

Indian Affairs

May 3, 2007 at 9:30 p.m. To hold hearings to examine S.310, a bill to express the policy of the United States regarding the United States relationship with Native Hawaiians and to provide a process for the recognition by the United States of the Native Hawaiian governing entity.

Intelligence

May 1, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To hold hearings to examine the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Public Law 95-511).

May 3, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. Closed business meeting to consider certain intelligence matters.

Judiciary

May 1, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine process patents.

May 2, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine strengthening the security of international travel documents, focusing on interrupting terrorist travel. (Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security Subcommittee)

May 3, 2007 at 10 a.m. Business meeting to consider the following legislation:

• S. 376: Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2007
• S. 221: A bill to amend title 9, United States Code, to provide for greater fairness in the arbitration process relating to livestock and poultry contracts
• S. 495: Personal Data Privacy and Security Act of 2007
• S. 239: Notification of Risk to Personal Data Act of 2007
• S. 1202: A bill to require agencies and persons in possession of computerized data containing sensitive personal information, to disclose security breaches where such breach poses a significant risk of identity theft

The committee will also examine the following nominations:

• Debra Ann Livingston, of New York, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit
• Roslynn Renee Mauskopf, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York
• Richard Sullivan, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York
• Joseph S. Van Bokkelen, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Indiana.