Ambassador Harry Thomas, who also serves as director general of the Foreign Service and director of human resources at the State Department, says state department employees today are facing more remote, dangerous locations. He reiterates the commitment of the human resources department to providing adequate resources and training to prepare these employees. However, the current budget makes it difficult to provide necessary training (:36).

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) says that at a time when our nation’s diplomacy is at an all-time low, the State Department continues to be underfunded. He goes on to describe specific shortfalls the department is facing (:39).

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Deputy Director of the Office of Management Steve McMillin and Budget discusses the President’s food bill request during a conference call. (0:52)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

General Obering, director of the Missile Defense Agency, discusses legacy satellites and the future of satellite defense at a House Armed Services Committee hearing on the missile defense budget. (0:30)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The House Armed Services Committee Strategic Forces Subcommittee held a hearing to examine the fiscal year 2009 National Defense Authorization Budget Request of Missile Defense Programs.

Witnesses from high ranking Defense positions fielded questions about the budget request, including Air Force Lt. Gen. Henry Obering, director of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). Obering talked about how the budget ensures America will not only continue to have strong short term military capabilities, but will protect us in the “long term as well.”

Obering said the budget request by President Bush for missile defense programs is “extremely modest” in comparison to what it does for our country. Obering mentioned that he hopes the military’s success in doing things with missiles like shooting down satellites continue while still being “operationally affordable” in coming years.

The House Armed Services held a hearing on the partnerships between the State Department and the Department of Defense. Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff testified on joint capacity programs and funding for strengthening military and governance capabilities of U.S. allies, particularly undeveloped or young states. Mullen made an opening statement but did not offer testimony. He was available only to answer questions for members.

In his opening statement, chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) criticized the fact that interagency cooperation is often ad hoc and are not the result of advanced planning. He mentioned that Rice had appealed for more funding for these capacity building programs but the “administration has not taken the hint.” Currently the Defense Department foots the bill for adding weapons and training to states like the Philippines, Nepal, and Lebanon. The idea behind supporting these militaries is to prevent terrorist groups or rebel guerrillas from creating a crisis that would require U.S. military intervention or threaten U.S. security.
(more…)

The House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies interrogated FBI Director Robert Mueller on a number of issues pertaining to the progress of his department. Issues covered during the hearing were the FBI’s fiscal year 2009 budget request, the progress the FBI has made in counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and cyber security, and the methods the department uses to carry out their wide-spanning activities. (more…)

The senior fellow at Project HOPE, Gail Wilensky, talks about the new retirement age and the cost of Medicare. (:55)

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Justices Kennedy and Thomas appeared. Justice Thomas, as he does in oral arguments at the Court, spoke only when directly addressed.

Chairman Serrano (D-NY) opened the hearing by talking about the awkwardness of calling a co-equal branch of government before a committee to ask it to justify its budget request. He also several times joking asked if the Supreme Court could rule whether people born in Puerto Rico were eligible to the presidency (to which Justice Kennedy joking responded that they were certainly eligible to be Supreme Court Justices).

Much of the hearing focused on the Supreme Court building modernization project, which is currently expected to be completed 16 months after the original projected completion date of May 2008. Justice Kennedy, appearing a bit uncomfortable and at one point jokingly saying, “please do I have to talk about this?” discussed the reasons for the overrun and pointed out that the project was still on budget.

Other topics included judicial pay increases (the Justices agreed that it didn’t make sense to pay judges less than a first-year associate), education of young people on American history (Justice Kennedy expressed concern that youth are not taught enough about American history and principles, and “you cannot defend what you cannot know”), and cameras in the courtroom (the Justices agreed they would not help anything and presented risks of personality overtaking issues in coverage).

At the House Armed Services Committee Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee hearing on “The FY2009 National Defense Authorization Budget Request - Department of Defense Science and Technology: Responding to the 21st Century Irregular Warfare Threat Environment,” Allan Shaffer, principle deputy director of Defense Research and Engineering at the Defense Department, says over the last two years we have begun to reshape the investment of the department to work on programs in non-conventional areas, such as biometrics, human social modeling, locating tagging and tracking, surveillance, and cyber protection. While we are currently well positioned to support the force, he says, there is still much to accomplish. (:45)

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download