Daybook

PRESIDENT BUSH

Meets with congressional leaders at the White House.

ECONOMIC REPORTS

10 a.m. —Bureau of Labor Statisticsreleases the metropolitan area employment and unemployment figures for June. Location: 200 Constitution Ave. NW. Contact: 202/606-5902.

FEDERAL AGENCIES

9 a.m. —Fire Administrationholds a meeting of the Board of Visitors for the National Fire Academy to introduce new board members and review National Fire Academy Program activities. Location: Building H, Room 300, National Emergency Training Center, Emmitsburg, Md. Contact: 301/447-1117.

4 p.m. — Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service holds a forum to gather public comment on a draft environmental-impact statement related to regulations regarding the importation, interstate movement and environmental release of genetically engineered organisms. Location: USDA Center at Riverside, 4700 River Road, Riverdale. Contact: 301/734-5673.

SUPREME COURT

No oral arguments are scheduled. Contact: 202/479-3211.

SENATE

In session. Contact: Republican Cloakroom, 202/224-8601, or Democratic Cloakroom, 202/224-8541.

SENATE COMMITTEES

9:30 a.m. —Energy and Natural Resources Committeeholds a hearing on recent advances in clean-coal technology. Carl Bauer, Energy Department, and Jerry Hollinden, URS Corp., testify. Location: 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Contact: 202/224-4971.

9:30 a.m. —Foreign RelationsAfrican affairs subcommittee holds a hearing, “Exploring the U.S. Africa Command and a New Strategic Relationship With Africa.” Jendayi Frazer, assistant secretary of state for African affairs, and Theresa Whelan, deputy assistant defense secretary for African affairs, testify. Location: 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Contact: 202/224-4651.

2:30 p.m. —Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee holds a hearing, “Oversight of the U.S. Department of Commerce.” Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez testifies. Location: 253 Russell Senate Office Building. Contact: 202/224-1251.

HOUSE

Meets at 10 a.m. for legislative business. Contact: Republican Cloakroom, 202/225-2020, or Democratic Cloakroom, 202/225-1600.

HOUSE COMMITTEES

11 a.m. —Administration Committeeholds a hearing, “The Smithsonian in Transition.” Rep. Doris Matsui, California Democrat; Charles Bowsher, former U.S. comptroller general; Christian Samper, acting Smithsonian secretary; and A. Sprightley Ryan, Smithsonian inspector general, testify. Location: 1310 Longworth House Office Building. Contact: 202/225-2061.

2 p.m. —Armed Servicesmilitary personnel subcommittee holds a hearing on active Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve recruiting and retention. Michael Dominguez, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, and Army Lt. Gen. Michael Rochelle, U.S. Army headquarters, testify. Location: 2212 Rayburn House Office Building. Contact: 202/225-4151.

2 p.m. —Foreign AffairsMiddle East and South Asia subcommittee holds a hearing, “Political Crises in South Asia: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.” Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., New Jersey Democrat, and Steven Mann, State Department, testify. Location: 2172 Rayburn House Office Building. Contact: 202/225-5021.

GENERAL AGENDA

Farming and rural communities — all day —The Agriculture Department holds its fourth annual Community and Faith-Based Organizations Partners Meeting on “Challenge, Choice, Change: Solutions that Strengthen Farming and Rural Communities.” Events begin at 9:30 a.m.

Highlights — 1 p.m. — Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns delivers keynote address.

3:15 p.m. — Discussions on the Animal Identification Act, “Coordination and Cooperation Between Minority-Serving Institutions and Community-Based Organizations,” “Disaster Preparedness and Policy,” and “New and Beginning Farmers”

Location: DoubleTree Hotel, 300 Army/Navy Drive, Arlington. Contact: 202/720-4623; 800/880-4143.

Energy industry —10 a.m. —The U.S. Chamber of Commerce holds a briefing on the state of the energy industry with William Kovacs, vice president of environment technology and regulatory affairs. Location: USCC, 1615 H St. NW. Contact: 202/463-5682.

Small business — 10 a.m. —Sen. John Kerry, Massachusetts Democrat, delivers opening remarks at a Senate Small Business Committee round-table discussion, “The Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Findings and Recommendations of a Five-Year Study of the Small Business Innovation Program by the National Academies.” Location: 428-A Russell Senate Office Building. Contact: 202/224-5175.

Free trade — 2 p.m. —The Club for Growth holds a press conference to announce its free-trade petition and to protest legislation that would attach high tariffs to U.S. imports in China. Rep. Jim McCrery, Louisiana Republican, and former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, Texas Republican, participate. Location: Capitol Hill Club, 300 First St. SE. Contact: 202/887-7039.

Ice cream social — 6 p.m. —The Library of Congress hosts a summer ice cream social for members of Congress, congressional staff and the press to celebrate “American Treasures of the Library of Congress,” a decadelong rotating exhibition of the rarest, most interesting or significant items relating to America’s history. Location: LOC, Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. Contact: 202/707-0022.

Film discussion — 7:30 p.m. —The Center for American Progress (CAP) and Warner Independent Pictures hold a film discussion and screening of “The 11th Hour,” a documentary that examines the state of the global environment. Former Environmental Protection Agency administrator Carol Browner, Albright Group LLC, and Nadia Conners, writer and director, “The 11th Hour,” participate. Location: CAP, 1333 H St. NW, 10th floor. Contact: 202/682-1611.

c Compiled by FIND/AFP and The Washington Times