Hill Heat

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on H.R. 4174, legislation introduced by Rep. Tom Allen of Maine on November 14, 2007. The Committee will also examine the current status of science on ocean acidification and research and monitoring activities focused on ocean acidification and its potential impacts on marine organisms and marine ecosystems.

Witnesses

• Dr. Richard A. Feely, Supervisory Chemical Oceanographer, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Dr. Feely will discuss the quantification of oceanic uptake of carbon dioxide and NOAA’s monitoring program; major research issues to be addressed including the relationship between the ocean acidification process and carbon cycling processes in the ocean.
• Dr. Joan Kleypas, Scientist, Institute for the Study of Society and Environment, National Center for Atmospheric Research. Dr. Kleypas will discuss the impacts of ocean acidification on marine life and marine ecosystems, particularly on coral reef ecosystems.

• Dr. Scott Doney, Senior Scientist, Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Dr. Doney will discuss the gaps in our understanding of ocean acidification and the implications of ocean acidification for marine resource management. Dr. Doney will also discuss current interagency efforts and federal programs addressing ocean acidification.

• Dr. Ken Caldeira, Scientist, Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution for Science of Washington. Dr. Caldeira will discuss the ongoing changes in the global carbon cycle and its relationship to ocean acidification including the research and modeling efforts needed to better understand ocean acidification and to project its impacts and develop strategies for adaptation and mitigation.
• Mr. Brad Warren, Director, Productive Oceans Partnership Program, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership. The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership provides policy and technical guidance to seafood suppliers and producers. The Productive Oceans Partnership Program was formed to address the issue of ocean acidification. Mr. Warren will discuss the potential impacts of ocean acidification on the world seafood industry and the steps the Partnership is recommending to deal with the problem of ocean acidification.

The following nominations will be considered:

• Bartholomew H. chilton, to be Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
• Walter Lukken, to be Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
• Scott O’Malia, to be Commissioner of the Commodity Ftures Trading Commission

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008 H.R. 6063.

The Senate will convene at 9:30 am.

Speakers:

MORNING BUSINESS

• Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.)
• Bill Nelson (D-Fla.)
• John Cornyn (R-Texas)
• Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.)
• Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.)
• Tom Carper (D-Del.)
• George Voinovich (R-Ohio)
• Kit Bond (R-Mo.)
• David Vitter (R-La.)
• Pete Domenici (R-N.Mex.)

11:30 AM: Other business.

Morning business resumes at 12:15 PM.

• Thad Cochran (R-Miss.)
• Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.)

The Senate will convene at 10am.

Morning business until 11am. The first 30 minutes will be under Republican control; the next 30 minutes will be under Democratic control.

Following morning business, the Senate will resume post-cloture consideration of the motion to proceed to the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2008 (S. 3036).

The Senate will recess for the Weekly Caucus Lunches from 12:30pm till about 2:15pm.

By unanimous consent, all time during any adjournment, recess, or period of morning business will count toward the 30-hour post-cloture time limitation.

The hearing will examine energy market manipulation and federal enforcement regimes. The hearing will also consider the current state of the oil and gas markets and their impact on consumers, as well as solicit testimony and discussion as to the key factors the Federal Trade Commission should incorporate into its upcoming rulemaking on its new responsibility to prevent manipulation in the wholesale oil and petroleum distillate markets.

Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 3036, Climate Security Act, and vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Witness

• Abdalla Salem El-Badri, secretary general of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

E&E News:

Tensions are expected to be high Thursday, with Abdalla Salem El-Badri, secretary general of OPEC, invited to testify before the House Judiciary Committee.

The secretary general’s appearance will likely come after the House approves “NOPEC” legislation, a largely symbolic effort to sue OPEC nations for price fixing.

Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) and other members will likely question El-Badri over OPEC’s considerable role in the global oil market as well as President Bush’s recent meeting with Saudi leaders to urge them to release additional oil onto the global market.

Several energy analysts, however, say U.S. lawmakers hold little sway with OPEC officials and that calls for OPEC members to increase production is hypocritical given the opposition to increases in domestic drilling.

“We’re not willing to produce more so we are a bad example in terms of resource nationalism,” Lucian Pugliaresi, president of Energy Policy Research Information, told a House panel this month.

Beutel made a similar observation Friday. “We don’t really have the moral high ground when it comes to calling for increased production,” he said.

Witnesses

• David Sandalow, Esq., Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
• Anne Korin, Co-director, Institute for the Analysis of Global Security
• Mr. Paul J. Saunders, Executive Director, The Nixon Center

As oil and gas hit new records above $128 a barrel and $3.78 this week, many analysts are predicting even further increases in the price of gasoline as we edge towards the travel months of summer. To explore the Bush administration’s contributions to this energy crisis and the administration’s refusal to respond, Chairman Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming announced today that Secretary of Energy Stephen Bodman will testify before the Committee on Thursday, May 22, as Americans prepare for the Memorial Day weekend, the beginning of the summer driving season.

Chairman Markey will also seek answers from Secretary Bodman on why the Bush administration continues to defend $18 billion in tax breaks to the top five most profitable oil companies that House Democrats want to redirect to fund renewable energy that could help consumers.

Witness

• Samuel Bodman, Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy